SHRF MONTHLY REPORT

4 WOMEN RAPED AND KILLED IN MURNG-KERNG 

On 30.10.99, 4 women who were returning from reaping rice at their farms were raped and shot dead at a deserted village west of Murng-Kerng town by SPDC troops from LIB514. The 4 women were originally from Kung Pek village, Huay Awm tract, that had been forced to move to the town. They were returning to the town from their farms some distance away in the west after reaping rice for a day when they ran into a group of about 30 SPDC troops led by Capt. Myint Aung who were patrolling the area. The troops stopped them, accused them of having gone to provide rice for the Shan rebels and arrested them, and took them to a deserted village west of the town. The soldiers raped the women all night and returned to the town after shooting them dead in the morning. 

When in town, the troops told the authorities and community leaders that they had gone to shoot the rebels that morning, but could only shoot dead 4 of their wives while all the men got away, not knowing how many died and wounded, and told the townspeople to go and see for themselves. When they heard the news, the husbands of the women told the community leaders that they were very worried about their wives who had gone to reap rice at their farms since the previous day and had not yet returned. They then went together to look for them only to find their dead bodies lying in a heap.

The 4 victims were: 

RAPE OF SCHOOLGIRLS IN LAI-KHA 

In early October 1999, 2 schoolgirls from a middle school in Lai-Kha were arrested, detained and raped by the Commander of SPDC's LIB515, Lt-Col. Htun Sein, in the military base in Lai-Kha, and money was extorted for their release. On 8.10.99, a school meeting of all teachers and students of a middle school in Lai-Kha town, where there were 84 students studying up to 6th Standard, was held at the school. After giving a counselling speech and announcing a 15-day holiday, the head teacher, U Kyi Maung, asked the students if they had any questions to ask. Accordingly, a 17-year-old schoolgirl, Naang Mawn Zing, from the 5th Standard asked the following question: "I would like to ask why the Burmese soldiers who claim to be government troops oppress the people so much. A lot of village people have been forced to move to the town where they are faced with difficulties to settle down and make a living. I've seen how pitiful they are". Another schoolgirl, Naang Lam Poi, aged 18, from the 6th Standard also asked, "Why did the government troops close down the main market place of Lai-Kha town?. This market has been where it is since a very long time ago, but now it has been closed down for 2-3 weeks by the government soldiers and has not yet opened again, why? If the government soldiers are angry with the Shan soldiers, they should go after them. We students don't understand and would like to ask why the government troops are oppressing the people like this instead of going after the Shan soldiers". Before the head teacher, who was hesitating, could answer the questions, 2 of the SPDC soldiers who were on security duty at the school called out the 2 girls and said that they should go to the military base and ask the commander if they really wanted to know, and actually took them to LIB515 base. As soon as the 2 soldiers finished reporting about the incident and what the 2 girls had asked, commander Htun Sein ordered them to lock up the girls in the military base. At night, around 21:00 hrs, soldiers took Naang Mawn Zing to Htun Sein for interrogation. After Naang Mawn Zing told him what she had asked the head teacher, Htun Sein said that asking about what one did not know was good, but her question was against the laws of the country, so she would have to stay and wait at the military base for a while. Htun Sein then took Naang Mawn Zing into his bedroom and ordered her to take off all her clothes, but she refused, asking why such a military officer who was in charge of a whole battalion as him could become so low as to order her to take off her clothes. That caused him to point his pistol at her and asked if she would do as told or not, but the girl only fell down on the bed and cried. Htun Sein then put away his pistol, forcibly pulled off her clothes and raped her all night. In the morning, he sent Naang Mawn Zing back to the lockup and brought out Naang Lam Poi and did the same to her, and raped her for one day and one night. After raping the girls, in turns, for 4 days and 4 nights, Htun Sein ordered the girls' parents to pay 15,000 Kyat for the release of each of them. 

After their release, the 2 girls recounted their plight to their parents, village and community leaders and the head teacher, and wanted their cases submitted to higher authority. However, the head teacher said that their questions were against the laws of the country and that he was not at all sure whether they would win or lose the case, so the best thing to do at the moment was to keep quiet. So, they have been keeping quiet up to the present.

KILLING IN MURNG-YAWNG 

On 25.10.99, a group of patrolling SPDC troops from LIB334 shot dead 3 innocent villagers of Murng He village, Murng He tract, Murng-Yawng township. The troops met the villagers on a road near the village and shot at them without asking any questions, instantly killing 2 villagers and seriously wounding 1, who later died in the hospital in Murng Yawng. 

The 3 villagers killed were:

INTENSIFIED FORCED LABOUR IN MURNG-TON 

SPDC troops of IB65 and IB226 have jointly issued orders forcing the people in Murng-Ton township to dig holes along the roads, cut wood and bamboo and build fences, make bricks and sell their rice to the military. 

On 1.11.99, commander Swe Myint of Murng-Ton-based IB65 and commander Pan Hle of Murng-Sart-based IB226 jointly called a meeting in Murng-Ton which 108 town and village headmen and community leaders throughout Murng-Ton township were forced to attend. 

Commander Swe Myint opened the meeting and issued orders requiring the people to provide the following materials and forced labour: 

1. Every village would have to provide 30 pieces of hardwood to be used as fence-posts. Each piece must be 4 elbow-lengths (about 2 yards) long and 2 finger-spans (about 2 feet) in girth and must be finished by 15.11.99. 

2. People in the areas of Naa Kawng Mu and Murng Harng tract would have to make 3,000 raw bricks for IB65 and people in Me Ken tract were required to make 7,000 raw bricks, also for IB65, which must be finished by 5.12.99. 

3. Apart from the 2 village tracts mentioned above, all the rest were required to dig holes along the sides of the main roads starting from BP-1 (Border Point No.1 on the Thai-Burma border) up to the Salween river crossing point of Ta Saang, and up to Murng-Sart in the other direction. The holes, which must be completed by 30.11.99, must be 2 elbow-lengths deep and equally wide and only 4 arm-spans apart from each other. 

After that, commander Pan Hle told the people that in 1999 the military would buy (unhusked) rice from the people at a rate of 30 baskets per acre of rice-cultivating land and at a price of 200 Kyat per basket (while the market price was 450 Kyat per basket). Everyone who grew rice was required to sell it and the lands of those who failed to do so would be confiscated and people from lowland Burma would be brought to cultivate them. The meeting was dismissed as soon as the military commanders finished speaking without any of the civilians having any chance to say a thing.

RAPE IN MURNG-KHAK 

On 18.9.99, a Private named Hla Tin from IB227 of the SPDC in Murng-Phyak raped a villager of Wan Tap village, Murng Nung tract, Murng-Khak township. Naang Noot, aged 18, was catching fish alone in an irrigation ditch outside her village when Private Hla Tin came to her and, threatening her with his gun, raped her. When the soldier left, Naang Noot went immediately back to the village and told her father about her plight. Her father then took the case to the village headman, who in turn led him to stage a complaint with the village tract Chairman. However, the village tract Chairman was too afraid of the SPDC troops to do anything against them and dared not push the case any further. 

ELDERLY PEOPLE THREATENED TO BE CONSCRIPTED AS MILITIA AND EXTORTED IN MURNG-NAI 

In mid September 1999, SPDC troops from LIB518 threatened to conscript villagers of Naa Khaan, Naa Khaan tract, Murng-Nai township, to serve as militia and porters, but later extorted money from them before releasing them. 

On 19.9.99, about 80 SPDC troops from LIB518 led by Capt Yanpha Maung came to Naa Khaan village and rounded up 130 villagers. They threatened to conscript 42 of them, aged 45-60, to serve as militia and the rest, aged 15-35, to serve as porters. The SPDC captain said to the village headman, Loong Taan Awn, "Whenever we asked for about 50 porters, you only provided 11-12. That has always been the case before, but now we are going to conscript these old men to serve as militia and send them far away to fight in the Karen area of 'Bo Mya'. All the younger ones will have to serve as porters and there is no return for them until we have destroyed 'Bo Mya'" However, for several days, the troops did not move but stayed put in the village. So, some of the relatives of the villagers pleaded with Capt. Yanpha Maung not to take them away to distant places. Yanpha Maung called the village headman and asked his opinion, who said that he would like to also plead as the other villagers did. Yanpha Maung then said that if their relatives could pay 5,000 Kyat for each of the villagers, he would plead with his superiors, under whose order he was acting, to release them. the villagers had no choice but to comply, and the SPDC troops left the village on 27.9.99 with the money.

BEATING AND EXTORTION IN KAENG-TUNG 

On 1.11.99, 30 SPDC troops from IB226 led by Capt. Kyaw Own came to Wan Lawn village, Murng Khawn tract, Kaeng-Tung township, and arrested 3 villagers. The troops beat and tortured the villagers while interrogating them about SSA-E (Shan State Army - East). When the village headman and some other villagers went to beg for their release, they were told to pay 10,000 kyat for each of them. The 3 villagers were released only after the money had been paid for them. 

They were:

LAND CONFISCATION AND EXTORTION IN KAENG-TUNG 

In early 1999, SPDC troops of IB245 confiscated 60 acres of rice fields from the Shan villagers of Wan Pawm, Tin Thaat and Waeng Sun villages in Kaeng-Tung. after that, the troops forced the villagers in the area to lease the land to grow rice at the rate of 2,000 kyat per acre per year or for one harvest.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH SITUATION IN KAAT PHA TRACT, KAENG-TUNG 

There are 34 Shan villages in Kaat Pha village tract in Kaeng-Tung township. But there are only 1 school and 1 medicine dispensary for the whole village tract. Worse still, there have been no teachers at the school and no health workers at the dispensary for 3-4 years. Even though the village tract headman and community leaders in the area have reported their needs several times to the SPDC military authorities and asked for their assistance, up until now no one has turned up to look at the situation.

CIVILIAN CARS CONSCRIPTED FOR MILITARY USE, TRAVELLERS FORCED TO WORK IN MURNG-KHARK 

On 20.10.99, SPDC troops from IB227, manning the checkpoint in Murng-Khark, stopped 2 civilian cars from Murng-Yarng that were heading for Kaeng-Tung and forced them to work for the military for one day. Although it was not so difficult for one of the cars that was carrying people to unload, it was quite arduous for the other one that was heavily loaded with goods to do so. So, the driver begged the troops to spare him and take another car for this time, but they insisted that he unload his car and serve the military. When the driver offered to pay money, however, the troops were satisfied at 20,000 kyat and he was let go. 

As for the passengers of the other car that had been taken by the military, they were taken into the military compound and forced to work for the military all day until 6:00 p.m. in the evening, and had to spend the night in Murng-Khark because it was not safe to travel at night.

SHAN WOMEN ROBBED IN MURNG-KHARK 

On 29.10.99, 3 Shan women from Murng-Yarng who were returning from working in Thailand were robbed by SPDC troops from LIB327 at Ta Purm bridge checkpoint in Murng-Khark township. 

The 3 women had gone to work in Thailand for sometime and had managed to bring home some of their savings. But the SPDC troops stopped the car they were riding from Kaeng-Tung to Murng-Yarng, searched them and took all their belongings, leaving only 5,000 Kyat for each of them. 

The 3 women were:

STARVING VILLAGERS ROBBED AND BEATEN IN TA-KHI-LAEK 

On 19.10.99, SPDC troops from Murng-Phyak-based LIB330 robbed and beat 4 Akha villagers at Sarm Pi village, Loi Taw Kham tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township. Since food has become so scarce due to the closure of the Thai-Burma border, many people on the Burma side of the border have been trying to get food from the other side. The 4 Akha villagers were returning from buying food across the border in Thailand when they ran into a group of SPDC soldiers who were on security at Sarm Pi village. The soldiers arrested them and seized all the food they had bought from Thailand, including cooking oil, salt, sugar and other food stuff, and beat them 5 times each with a stick as punishment. 

The 4 Akha villagers were:

On 3.11.99, 2 Shan villagers of Wan Pung village, Murng Phong tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township were robbed and extorted by a mixed group of SPDC soldiers, police and militia at the Thai-Burma border. Since food has become so scarce due to the closure of the Thai-Burma border, many people on the Burma side of the border have been trying to get food from the other side. 

The 2 Shan villagers were returning from buying food in Thailand when they were arrested and robbed of all their things. Further more, they were forced to pay a fine of 600 Baht each for 'illegally' crossing the border. 

The 2 victims were:

1. Ai Sung (m), aged 21

2. Ai Taan (m), aged 23

MOTORCYCLE OWNERS HARASSED AND EXTORTED IN TA-KHI-LAEK 

On 18.10.99, an SPDC traffic police officer, roaming the streets of Ta-Khi-Laek, stopped and extorted money from motorbikes which happened to be on or passing his way. He would find fault with one thing or another and forced them to pay a fine of 400 baht each. He had been doing that with ease for some time because people did not want to argue with such an authority. But when he stopped a couple, Maung Soe Naing and his wife, they asked for a relevant document and said they would pay the fine either at the law court or police station. However, the police officer angrily said that he was fully in charge and fully authorized to do as he pleased and the fine would have to be paid to him. He then snatched up the motorbike key and did not let it go until they paid the demanded 400 baht.

KILLING OF CIVILIAN LIVESTOCK IN MURNG-PHYARK 

On 5.9.99, a patrol of about 60 SPDC troops from LIB329 met a group of 6 cattle traders with about 30 head of cattle in Murng Hai tract, Murng-Phark township. The troops, led by Maj. Soe Win, stopped the traders and interrogated them. When they could not find fault with any of the traders, the troops asked them for one head of their cattle for meat. When the traders refused to give them, Soe Win ordered one of his men to shoot at the cattle. The shooting instantly killed one of the cattle and scared the rest away into the nearby forest. The troops then cut up the carcass and took the meat away. The traders not only lost one of their cattle, but also had to try to round up the rest all day. According to the head of the traders, Loong Mi, one head of cattle was worth 95,000 Kyat. 

Also on 15.10.99, SPDC troops from LIB329 shot 2 cattle at Murng Kok village, Nam Naang tract, Murng-Phark township, then forced the villagers to cut up the meat and carry it. On that day, about 60 troops led by Maj. Kyaw Hla came to Murng Kok village and ordered the village headman to find 2 head of cattle for them immediately. The village headman said that he needed to call a meeting to discuss the matter with the villagers in order to decide how to get the demanded cattle, and asked them to wait until the next day. But the troops forced the headman to find them immediately and even before the villagers could decide what to do, the soldiers shot and killed 2 cattle that happened to be nearby. They then ordered the villagers to cut up the meat and take 5 porters to carry it and go with them. 

The following 2 women lost their cattle:

1. Pa Lu (f), aged 51, lost 1 cow worth 13,000 Kyat

2. Pa Naang (f), aged 48, lost 1 cow worth 10,000 Kyat

BEATING IN MURNG-SART 

On 5.9.99, SPDC troops from LIB333 severely beat up 3 villagers at Murng Ing village, Murng Sen tract, Murng-Sart township. About 25 SPDC troops came to Murng Ing village on that day and arrested the following 3 villagers:

1. Zaai Sing Kham (m), aged 21

2. Zaai Kam (m), aged 26

3. Zaai Kan-Tha (m), aged 36 

The troops accused the villagers of secretly collecting information on their activities for the Shan soldiers of SSA-E and ordered them to confess. But the villagers denied the charge and the troops beat them again and again until they virtually lost consciousness.

THIEF CATCHERS SCOLDED IN MURNG-YARNG 

On 16.9.99, Private Hlaing Win from SPDC's IB279 was caught by the villagers while stealing a 25,000 Kyat worth tape recorder from a villager's house in Mawn Ke village, Murng-Yarng township. The villagers took Hlaing Win, together with the stolen tape recorder as evidence, to the office of the Township Peace and Development Council. However, the township authorities not only let the Private soldier go without doing anything to him, but also scolded the villagers. They said, "Don't you know what death is? This is the nephew of the battalion commander's wife". "You must keep and hide your things carefully. Don't ever bring any soldiers to this office again", added one of them.

A WIDOW'S PIG SHOT FOR PORK IN MURNG-YARNG 

On 8.9.99, a patrol of 12 SPDC troops from IB279 led by Lt. Khin Nyo shot a pig at Wan Hu Tai village, Wan Waeng tract, Murng-Yarng township, and took it away. The pig belonged to a poor widow named Pa Naang Peng, aged 46, and was worth 5,600 Kyat.

BULLYING IN MURNG-PAENG 

On the night of 17.10.99, 2 truckloads of SPDC troops from LIB360 roamed around Murng-Paeng town, beat up people and threw stones at houses with lights on. In the evening of that day, 2 SPDC troops were captured and beaten by the villagers while stealing things at the house of Loong Zaai Pi at Paeng Saang village and were sent back to the military camp. The camp commander was angry and sent out 2 truckloads of troops, numbering about 40, to Loong Zaai Pi's house to punish him. When they got near the house, Loong Zaai Pi's daughter, Naang Phiu Phawng, came out to meet them and explain the situation. But the troops did not listen, and beat and kicked Naang Phiu Phawng until she was bruised and swollen all over her face and body. After that, they drove their trucks around the town, stopping to beat up people and throw stones at houses where lights could be seen. Even the house of the former local Party Unit (now defunct) Chairman was not spared. Although the people of Murng-Paeng have lodged a complaint with the SPDC regional authorities in Kaeng-Tung, no step has so far been taken in connection with this case.

LAND CONFISCATION IN MU-SE 

In early 1999, a wide area of rice fields on the border with China, belonging to the people in Mu-Se township, was confiscated by the SPDC military authorities in the name of Ngwe Sin (Silver Elephant) Company for a high tech building project. At least 51 families in Mu-Se township lost hundreds of acres of their ancestral land to this project alone.