On 10.12.98, Capt Soe Hlaing from (State Peace and Development Council) SPDC’s LIB424 raped and killed Nang Sa, aged 19, at Nawng Kaw village, Wan Zard, Kae-See township. On that morning, Nang Sa was watering her vegetable garden just outside Nawng Kaw village when Capt Soe Hlaing came and asked for some vegetables, saying that he was not taking them free but would pay for them and told Nang Sa to come and give them to him at a nearby farm hut.

When Nang Sa reached the hut, Soe Hlaing threatened her with his pistol and forced her into the hut, then raped her. After raping her, he beat her on the head with a heavy stick and killed her, taking away her necklace and money. On 11.12.98, Nawng Kaw village headman, Loong Kang Law, who secretly saw when Capt Soe Hlaing left the farm house and found out what had happened, went to Kae-See town and complained about it to the town community leader, stressing that the culprit in Nang Sa’s murder was none other than Capt Soe Hlaing.

Soe Hlaing later somehow heard that he was being suspected of committing rape and murder by the headman. Early in the morning, at about 4:30 a.m., of 13.12.98, Capt Soe Hlaing and some troops came to Nawng Kaw village, and surrounded and searched the headman’s house. After searching for a while, the troops said they found a walkie-talkie in the house and Soe Hlaing immediately ordered the arrest of the headman. The villagers were certain that the walkie-talkie was secretly planted earlier by Soe Hlaing’s men to frame the headman. Soe Hlaing and his troops tied the headman to a house pillar and interrogated him while beating and torturing him. They asked him where he got the walkie-talkie, which Shan resistance group had given it to him etc., and poured hot water down his throat and beat and kicked him until he died while still being tied to the pillar in his house.

RAPE AND KILLING OF RELOCATED VILLAGERS IN KUN-HING
During 19-21.10.98, SPDC troops in Kun-Hing led by Capt Htun Maung raped 4 women and shot dead 3 men villagers, who had been forcibly relocated to the town some time before, in the outskirts of Kun-Hing town. On 19.10.98, the said troops went on patrol and met the following 4 women who were working on a farm 3 miles north of Kun-Hing:

1. Nang Zarm Oo, aged 26, originally from Kaeng Lom village (not her real name)
2. Nang Nu Harn, aged 18, originally from Kaeng Lom village (not her real name)
3. Nang Sai Leng, aged 22, originally from Ho Yarn village (not her real name)
4. Nang Mawn Zing, aged 20, originally from Ho Yarn village (not her real name)

Capt Htun Maung and his officers took them to a place and forced the women to massage them, and raped the women all night. Meanwhile, on 20.10.98, the troops that were sent to guard the surrounding area of the farm shot dead 2 villagers who they saw approaching them. The 2 villagers were Loong Sai, aged 30, husband of Nang Zarm Oo and Sai Mint Awng, aged 25, husband of Nang Sai Leng, who came looking for their wives who had not returned home the previous night.

The troops continued to rape the women for one more night and returned to Kun-Hing the next day, on 21.10.98, bringing the women with them. When they got to a place not very far from the town, they met a man who had just rounded up his draught-oxen and was about to take them back to town. They shot him dead without asking any questions and took his oxen for meat. The man was Loong Pan-Ta, aged 51, originally from Kaeng Lom village. The 4 women were released after they reached Kun-Hing town. Before releasing them, Capt Maung Htun warned them not to mention to anyone about the rape, or he would come and kill the families of anyone who did.

RAPE AND KILLING IN KUN-HING
During 14-17.10.98, SPDC troops in Kun-Hing led by Capt Aung Khin raped a woman and shot dead 2 porters and 4 farming villagers in the countryside of Kun-Hing township.

On 14.10.98, a woman named Nang Mo Phawng (not her real name), aged 21, and her brother Sai Wun-Na, aged 17, from Long Maw village were going to reap rice at their farm in the countryside of Kun-Hing town. When they got to a place about 2 miles from town and 1 mile from their farm, they ran into some SPDC troops who were patrolling the area and they took them to their commander Aung Khin. Aung Khin asked them some questions and said that he needed a guide and he would take Nang Mo Phawng along, and told Sai Wun-Na to go back home and tell their family about it.

The troops continued their patrol, searching deserted villages in the outlying areas. At night, when they rest at a deserted village, Aung Khin forced Nang Mo Phawng to stay in the same deserted house with him and tried to rape her. When Nang Mo Phawng tried to resist, he threatened to shoot her with his pistol, and slapped her so hard she almost fainted. He then dragged her by the hair into the inner room. He forced her to take off all her clothes before he counted 3, or he would shoot her dead. Nang Mo Phawng had no choice, but to yield, and he raped her.

The troops went on patrolling the countryside until 17.10.98 and returned to Kun-Hing, and Nang Mo Phawng was raped every night. During the 4 days patrol, the SPDC troops led by commander Aung Khin shot dead 2 civilian porters who were serving them and 4 villagers they found working on their farms. The 2 porters killed were:

1. Loong Mawng, male, aged 51, originally from Sai Khao village, Kaeng Kham tract, Kun-Hing township
2. Loong Pan La, aged 54, originally from Wan Lao village, Wan Lao tract, Kun-Hing township

The 4 villagers killed were:

1. Loong Kham Leng, male, aged 47
2. Pa Phit, female, aged 53
3. Nang Noe, female, aged 29
4. Wa-Zit-Ta, male, aged 25

ARREST, EXTORTION AND DISAPPEARANCE IN KAE-SEE
In early December 1998, about 25 SPDC troops from LIB424 led by Capt Maung Thein arrested a villager named Loong Zarng Su, male, aged 57, at Wan Zard village, Wan Zard tract, Kae-See township. They brought him to their base in Kae-See and interrogated him; asking him how many of his sons had joined the Shan resistance and beat and tortured him.

Loong Zarng Su had 3 sons of which the eldest, Wi-Sa, aged 25, had gone to work in Taunggyi, the middle son, Saw-Na, aged 22, had gone to find work in Thailand, and only the youngest son, Wi-Tae-Ya, aged 20, was staying with him at the time of the arrest. Loong Zarng Su told Capt Maung Thein and his troops accordingly, and even added that his sons had gone away because they were afraid of having to join the Shan resistance. However, the soldiers continued to beat him until his face was swollen all over, and finally they called Wi-Tae-Ya, Loong Zarng Su’s youngest son, to the military base and told him that they would release his father if he brought 300,000 Kyat in 10 days.

Wi-Tae-Ya then went to his elder brother, Wi-Sa, in Taunggyi and told him what had happened to their father. Wi-Sa managed to find the money in a few days’ time and they both came back to Kae-See and, together with a town community leader, went to give the money to Capt Maung Thein who, after accepting the money, said he would release Loong Zarng Su at 4:00 p.m. that evening and told them to go home. But Loong Zarng Su did not show up.

So, at about 9:00 a.m. the next morning, on 13.12.98, the 2 brothers called the town community leader and his deputy and went to Capt Maung Thein again. Maung Thein then said not to worry about their father because he would really let him go home, but before that he wanted to know how Wi-Sa got the money. Though Wi-Sa explained how he got the money legally, Maung Thein accused him of dealing in drugs and arrested him. He was only released when community leaders testified to his innocence and gave 30,000 Kyat more to Capt Maung Thein.

After Wi-Sa’s release, Maung Thein told him that his father had run away the previous night and his troops were chasing after him. Loong Zarng Su never came back. According to the villagers, there was no way Loong Zarng Su could run away; the only possible thing was that the soldiers had taken him out somewhere and killed him, and that could probably be even before Wi-Sa gave the money.

KILLING OF PORTERS IN KAE-SEE
On 4.12.98, SPDC troops from LIB424 led by commander Tin Lat seized a male villager named Sarng Aw, aged 42, at Wan Wa village, Ha Wan tract, Kae-See township, to use as a porter. After carrying heavy loads for some days, without adequate food and rest, Sarng Aw became too weak to continue walking and stopped to rest near the deserted village of Long Lurng, Nawng Tao tract. The troops accused him of defying military orders and beat and kicked him until he died on the road at the entrance of the village. According to some porters who had witnessed the incidents, there were many porters who died or killed by the troops during the time
from 2 to 22.12.98; the following 4 porters were among them:

1. Loong Su-Ling, male, aged 47, from Nawng Kaw village, Wan Zard tract, Kae-See township
2. Sai Khat Nee, male, aged 22, from Loi Arng village, Nawng Ae tract, Kae-See township
3. Sai Sarng Aw, male, aged 42, from Wan Wa, Ha Wan tract, Kae-See township
4. Loong Sai, male, aged 52, from Wan Parng Loi Tawng, Murng Nawng tract, Kae-See township

KILLING OF PORTERS IN MURNG-NAI
In early December 1998, SPDC troops from IB66 led by commander Thein Win shot dead 2 civilian porters in Loi La tract, Murng-Nai township. On 3.12.98, a column of about 75-80 SPDC troops of IB66 led by commander Thein Win from Nam-Zarng came to Kaeng Tawng in Murng-Nai township and stopped for a rest. They released the 57 civilian porters they had brought with them and conscripted 55 new civilian porters in Kaeng Tawng area, taking whoever they could in a very short time.

The troops continued towards Loi La-Loi Ai area and, after 2 days of toiling under heavy loads, one of the porters, Loong U, male, aged 51, from Nawng Pha village, Nawng Hee tract, Murng-Nai township, became too weak to walk on and sat down for a brief rest. He was kicked and beaten by by-passing soldiers before he could resume walking. One soldier finally shot him dead.

When the soldier shot Loong U, it coincided with when another porter was trying to lift him up from the ground and the left arm of that porter was wounded in the shooting. The wound was bleeding profusely and he too could not carry his load any further. The troops then shot him dead as well, saying it would save him the difficulty of having to treat the infected wound of his arm later. He was Loong Su Nya, male, aged 49, from Kun Mong village, Kun Mong tract, Larng-Khur township.

A PORTER SEVERELY BEATEN UNTIL BRAIN-DAMAGED IN MURNG-NAI
In early December 1998, Loong Nyo, male, aged 45, from Kung Lom village, Kun Mong tract, Murng-Nai township, was severely beaten by SPDC troops of IB44 from Kun-Hing led by Capt Pan Sein. Loong Nyo suffered a broken arm and fractured skull, and became brain-damaged.

On 2.12.98, about 60 SPDC troops from IB44 led by Pan Sein came to Kaeng Tawng in Murng-Nai township and stationed themselves there. On 8.10.98, they recruited 35 civilian porters and continued to move on, heading towards the direction of Kun Mong village. At one point on the way, somewhere in the forest about 2 miles north of Kun Mong, because of the heavy weight and having to walk hastily, one of the porters stumbled, lost his balance, and fell down. As he was lying prone, one of the soldiers hit him hard on the head with a rifle butt, knocking him unconscious. Another soldier took the yoke by which the porter was carrying his load and beat him severely several times, breaking his right arm, and they left him for dead.

But Loong Nyo did not die. When he regained consciousness, he managed to walk slowly to the nearest village and the villagers helped him back to his village, Kung Lom, on an ox-cart. Loong Nyo was not able to work because he could not use his right arm properly, and was mentally handicapped as a result of the head injury.

FORCED RELOCATION AND HOUSE BURNING IN MURNG-PAN
On 14.11.98, SPDC troops from LIB502 in Murng Pan led by commander Aung Myint came to Pa Khar village (27 houses), Ho Phai Long tract, Murng-Pan township, and ordered the villagers to move to Ho Phai Long village and Murng-Pan town. On 29.11.98, the same troops burned down houses belonging to the following villagers:

1. Loong Awng Pa lost his house and 4,015 Kyat worth of household things
2. Loong Awng La & Pa Leng (a couple) lost their house, 11,600 Kyat worth of household things, 1 draught-ox and 40 baskets of unhusked rice

The troops also accused Loong Awng La & Pa Leng’s son, Aw-Li-Ya, of having connections with the Shan resistance and beat him until he lost consciousness several times, and finally fined him 5,000 Kyat.

BEATING OF CAR DRIVER IN TA-KHI-LAEK
On 8.10.98, 3 SPDC troops from LIB359 led by Sgt Sein Win ordered a civilian car at Kawng Mon village, Murng Ko tract, Ta-Khi-Leak township, to take them to Ta Lur. But the driver tried to refuse because he was about to take a very sick villager in the village to the hospital in Ta-Khi-Laek, and told them to find another car. The SPDC troops became very angry and beat the driver several times, injuring his head which later had to be sewn up with 2 stitches. The driver was Sai Pan-Nya, aged 32.

BEATING OF VILLAGERS IN TA-KHI-LAEK
On 13.10.98, 4 villagers of Murng Kaed village, Murng Ko tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township, went to cut thatch for making roof in the forest and, on their return, met some SPDC troops from LIB529 who were patrolling the area outside the village. The troops arrested them and beat and tortured them, accusing them of having given information to the Shan resistance about troop movements. They were detained and tortured until the headman of Murng Kaed village managed to convince the troops of their innocence, and they were released. The 4 villagers were:

1. Na-Ling, male, aged 25
2. Sai Taw, male, aged 19
3. Loong Na, male, aged 49
4. Sang Ti, male, aged 21

RESTRICTION, ARREST AND EXTORTION IN TA-KHI-LAEK
On 1.11.98, the Vice Chairman of the SPDC, Gen Maung Aye and his entourage came to Ta-Khi-Laek town to preside over the politically motivated religious ceremony, in which a pagoda --- the replica of the famous Shwedagon pagoda or ‘Shwedagon No.2’ as dubbed by the local people --- would be completed by putting the topmost part, or ‘umbrella’ as known in Burmese, on top of it. The pagoda was started a few years ago by the Slorc (State Law and Order Restoration Council) before it changed its name to SPDC and was deliberately modelled after the famous ‘Shwedagon’ in Rangoon as evidence of Burmese military domination in the region. An order was issued by the District SPDC that during the ceremony, especially during Gen Maung Aye’s stay, all the houses along the
main roads and in the vicinity of the pagoda were to keep all their windows closed as a measure of security, and security troops from LIB331 were posted at almost all the streets and corners in the area.

However, as Maung Aye and his team came, on 1.11.98, some of the townspeople absentmindedly and accidentally opened their windows. They were immediately arrested by the troops that were guarding the streets and taken to be locked up. They were locked up until the next day, 2.11.98, and were released only after each of them paid 3,000 Baht in Thai currency and the community leader of their quarter signed a paper taking responsibility for them. The people arrested were:

1. Sai Sarm Lee, male, aged 16
2. Loong Yi Mao, male, aged 47
3. Ai Phu, male, aged 18

Prior to the said ceremony, the SPDC authorities in Ta-Khi-Laek had ordered the collection of money from the people to show the coming top brass from Rangoon that the civilian population were cooperating with them and had contributed money for the cost of the ceremony. In addition, at least 1 person from each and every family was ordered to attend the ceremony and bring their own food, and the headmen and community leaders were to make sure this happened, or else they would be held responsible.

The following is the list of the quarters and villages and the money (all in Thai currency) they had to provide:

1. Pung Thun quarter had to provide 50,000 Baht
2. Ta Law quarter had to provide 30,000 Baht
3. Wan Kawng quarter had to provide 10,000 Baht
4. Mark Ka Ho Kham quarter had to provide 50,000 Baht
5. San Sai quarter had to provide 10,000 Baht
6. Sai Murng quarter had to provide 3 Baht
7. Mae Khao quarter had to provide 10,000 Baht

As well as this, each of the surrounding 11 villages had to provide 10,000 Baht. People who could not afford to pay for their quota had to sell their belongings, including livestock, or borrow from others so as not to be punished.

SHOOTING OF LIVESTOCK IN TA-KHI-LAEK
In October 1998, a platoon of SPDC troops, on patrol from Ta Lur-based LIB316 in Murng-Phyak, came to Nam Kherm and Nam Kai village areas in Murng Laen tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township and shot for meat 2 cows belonging to the villagers of Nam Kai in a forest near the village and returned to their base in Ta Lur.

On 18.10.98, the cow owners, Sai Peng and Nan Kham La, went to complain about it to the military authorities at Ta Lur. But they were only scolded and taunted, saying that if they did not keep their cattle tied it was good even if they all died. The irony was that it had long been the tradition for the villagers to let their cattle graze in the forests near their villages and this incident had happened where SPDC was claiming that peace prevailed.

RAPE IN MURNG-YAWNG
On 22.10.98, 5 SPDC troops led by Cpl Kyagyi brutally raped 2 women at Murng Yu village, Murng-Yawng township. The troops were from the 30 troops of Company No.3 under the command of Capt San Myint that were stationed at the bridge spanning Nam Luay river by LIB334.

On that day, Nang Lao Seng, aged 18 and Nang Kham, aged 16, (not their real names) both from Murng Yu village, were gathering wild vegetables along the bank of Nam Luay river outside their village. They were gang-raped by 5 soldiers led by Kyagyi until both of them were bleeding. Later, although their parents and village leaders made a complaint at the LIB334 headquarters, no action was taken.

FORCED LABOUR IN MURNG-YAWNG
On 19.10.98, at Murng Tin (Lang Sard) village, Murng-Yawng township, SPDC troops form LIB311 ordered the villagers to provide bamboo for making the fence of their military camp. Each family was forced to provide 300 split-bamboo pieces within 3 days.
On 23.10.98, the villagers were forced to build the fence and provide their own food for the whole day.

THE SICK NOT SPARED IN MURNG-KHARK
On 25.10.98, at Ta Purm village in Murng-Khark township, SPDC troops of LIB328 that were taking security at a bridge did not allow 2 very sick villagers to ride on a car across the bridge. Finally, the other passengers who could not just look on any longer helped carry them across the bridge.

At many bridges in Shan State, security troops of the successive military regimes often set up a rule banning civilian passengers from riding on cars, trucks and buses etc. (except military personnel), while crossing over the bridges. All the passengers, except the drivers, have to get down on one side of the bridge and walk over to the other side where they are allowed to board the vehicles again. On that day, the said car was carrying several passengers including the 2 very sick patients. The driver explained to the troops that the 2 were so ill they could not walk and tried to get permission to let them remain on the car. However, that was not enough reason to make the troops a bit humane, so the other fellow passengers had to carry the patients on their backs.

FORCED USE OF VEHICLES IN KAENG-TUNG
From 29.10.98 to 2.11.98, SPDC’s IB245 in Kaeng-Tung forced 21 civilian vehicles with drivers to serve the military without any compensation. The military had needed cars for the Deputy Commander of the Regional Command, Col Aye Myint Kyu, and his entourage to go to Murng Yarng on an inspection trip. They therefore recruited 21 of the best cars available, including several Benzes and Pajeros, for 5 days, and gave nothing in return. Even the drivers had to provide their own food.

EXTORTION FOR FOOTBALL MATCH IN KAENG-TUNG
On 13.10. 98, the commander of SPDC’s IB244 in Kaeng-Tung, Col Myo Nyunt, acting under the orders of the Regional Commander Maj Gen Thein Sein, issued an order to the headmen and community leaders in Kaeng-Tung town to collect money from the people to hold a football match for women aged under 20. Every family was forced to provide 2,000 Kyat to cover the expenses of the occasion and the costs of the trophies for the players. It was reported that many poor families who could not provide the money instantly had to borrow from others in order to pay.

EXTORTION IN MURNG-PYARK
On 29.10.98, SPDC’s LIB329 issued an order forcing the people in Murng-Pyark township to provide rice to all the 4 military battalions based in the area, namely IB221, LIB329, LIB330 and LIB335. Every family had to provide 1 tin of rice; even civilian civil servants were not spared.

The people who complained the most were the civil servants. However, the troops told the community leaders that if there was no army, the civilian population would not be able to live peacefully.

BEATING IN KAENG-TUNG
On 29.10.98, some villagers from Wan Tap village, Murng Luay tract, Murng-Yarng township, were severely beaten by SPDC troops from Company No.2 of LIB328 led by Capt Ta San. The said villagers were going to catch fish and on the way met 7-8 troops led by Ta San who were patrolling outside the village. The villagers were stopped and searched by the troops, who found on them a little amount of TNT explosive which was to be used for catching fish.

The troops then accused the villagers of intending to set up explosive booby traps on the way to harm them and beat the villagers so hard that some of them almost died. Three of the severely beaten villagers were:

1. Sai Zan, male, aged 19
2. Zit-Ta, male, aged 21
3. Pan-Nya, male, aged 18

RAPE IN MURNG-YARNG
On 19.10.98, 2 SPDC troops, Maung Kyi and Than Htaik, from Company No.1 of Capt Sein Win of IB227, raped a woman named Nang Seng Mawn (not her real name), aged 17, at Wan Nam village, Murng-Yarng township. Nang Seng Mawn was washing clothes at Nam Yarng river outside Wan Nam village when Maung Kyi and Than Htaik, seeing her alone and no one in sight within hearing distance, seized her and raped her.

Although Nang Seng Mawn tried to get away she was overpowered by the 2 men’s strength and her screams could not be heard because the place was a bit far from the village. She was lying and still bleeding when she was found by other villagers and brought home. For almost a week she could not walk.

BULLYING AND BEATING IN KAENG-TUNG
On 21.10.98, SPDC troops from Company No.3 of LIB331 went into the territory of Special Zone No.4, under the control of the NDAA (National Democratic Alliance Army - one of the groups which has a ceasefire deal with SPDC) led by Sai Lern, and forced the headman of Wan Phai Ho Murng village, Murng Ma tract, Kaeng-Tung township, to provide 10 chickens. But the headman could only find 1 chicken, so they beat him and left the territory. Though the headman had complained to the NDAA leaders, they seemed to be unable to say anything to the SPDC troops.