SHRF MONTHLY REPORT

COMMENTARY

Under decades of military rule, forced labour has caused incalculable loss and suffering to the people of Shan State, especially in the rural areas, causing virtually the whole rural population to face extreme poverty and prompting many of them to flee to neighbouring countries.

Under the pressure put on it by the ILO and the international community to stop the cruel and blatant use of forced labour, the Burmese ruling military regime has over the last 2 years been trying to show that it is heeding the pressure by issuing directives banning the use of forced labour.

However, despite the findings of the ILO high level inquiry team that the use of forced labour is still rampant, the regime is not only denying the charge, saying the findings are inaccurate, but at the same time is undertaking infrastructure projects in which mass forced labour of the people is being used.

Construction of new rail lines that will eventually link the existing lines, built some years ago using forced labour of the people, have started in central and southern Shan State.

In 2 railroad projects reported in this newsletter, hundreds of people in Nam-Zarng township have been forced to clear the paths on which the rail lines will be built. 

Unpaid forced labour has already been used even at the very beginning of the construction. Since it will take years to build the projected rail lines, people in the areas will certainly be used regularly and systematically. 

DISPLACED VILLAGER TORTURED AND BEATEN TO DEATH IN MURNG-NAI

On 16.11.01, an innocent head of a family, Zaai Saw, male, aged 40, was tortured and beaten to death while being shackled with a bamboo foot-lock by SPDC troops from IB246 at a military camp in Kaeng Tawng area, Murng-Nai township.

Zaai Saw, his wife and 3 children were originally from Kaeng Kham village, in Kaeng Lom tract in Kun-Hing township, that had been forcibly relocated to Kun Mong village in Kun Mong tract, Murng-Nai township, by Burmese troops in 1996. 

At Kun Mong village relocation site, Zaai Saw and his family managed to eke out a living by growing rice on a small plot of land some distance from the village. 

On 15.11.01, Zaai Saw went to work at his rice farm and accidentally left his registration or identity card at the farm when he returned home. When a patrol of 20 SPDC troops from IB246 led by Lt. Than Oo came at night to check his house for overnight guests, Zaai Saw could not show them his ID card to prove that he was not a guest but the head of the house.

Although Zaai Saw explained about it to the troops, they arrested him for not having an ID card and took him to a military outpost camp, put him in a bamboo foot-lock and tortured him all night.

The next morning, many village elders and leaders went to the military camp and guaranteed Zaai Saw’s innocence and appealed in vain for his release. Zaai Saw’s wife and children later retrieved his ID card from their farm and showed it to the soldiers, but to no avail.

Instead of releasing him, the troops kept torturing and beating Zaai Saw until he finally died with his feet still locked in the bamboo foot-lock. Only then, the troops said to the villagers, “If he really was from your village, take him back and bury him”.

According to the local villagers, since he was relocated to Kun Mong relocation site, Zaai Saw had never gone to any other township or even to places too far from his village area. He had never had any connections with any political and armed insurgent groups. 

He was just a simple farmer who loved his family and knew only his farm work. He left behind a wife and 3 children to fend for themselves:

8 WOOD CUTTERS SHOT DEAD IN MURNG-TON

On 2.11.01, a group of 10 wood cutters were fired at by SPDC troops from LIB360, of whom 8 died and 2 managed to escape, at a wood sawing site near Nam Haang river, 3-1/2 km east of Naa Kawng Mu village in Murng Haang tract, Murng-Ton township.

These wood cutters, 7 ethnic Karen and 3 Lahu, had obtained written permission from the township forest department and had been cutting and sawing some kinds of hardwood, excluding teak, and selling them to the Wa group in the area and some well-to-do locals for some time.

On the day of the incident, while the wood cutters were sawing wood on the bank of Nam Haang river, 3-1/2 km east of Naa Kawng Mu, a patrol of about 20 SPDC troops from LIB360 led by Lt. Thein Win opened fire at them without asking any questions or giving any warning, killing 8 of them.

Among the dead were 6 Karen and 2 Lahu while 1 Karen and 1 Lahu escaped. According to the wood cutters, they had cut only some kinds of hardwood other than teak and there was not even a single piece of teak among the lumber they had sawed.

VILLAGER SHOT DEAD IN TA-KHI-LAEK

On 23.10.01, 3 SPDC troops from Ta Lur-based LIB316 shot dead a villager of Naa Hai Long village in Ta Lur tract, Ta-Khi-Laek township, who refused to let them use his motorcycle, near the Nam Laen river on the way between Ta Lur and Naa Hai Long villages.

On the day of the incident, the victim, Zaai Yi (m), aged 36, was riding a motorcycle from Ta Lur to his village when on the way he was stopped by 3 SPDC soldiers from Co. No.1 of LIB316. The soldiers told Zaai Yi to lend them his motorcycle for 2 days for free.

Zaai Yi repeatedly refused to comply with their demand and after a while the soldiers became angry and shot him dead on the spot. After killing Zaai Yi, the SPDC troops did not take his motorcycle but hurriedly left the scene.

Some farmers were working close by in their roadside farms when the event took place, and they went and related about it to Zaai Yi’s relatives, who retrieved his body and conducted a funeral in accordance with their local traditions.

Village leaders and Zaai Yi’s relatives later went and filed a complaint with the commander of LIB316. The commander, however, not only refused to believe them but also accused them of lying and scolded them, and even threatened to fine and punish them.

WIFE RAPED, HUSBAND BEATEN, IN MURNG-YAWNG

On 9.10.01, a woman from Wan Thaang village in Wan Dap tract, Murng-Yawng township, who was returning home from the town market with her husband was raped and her husband was beaten by SPDC troops from LIB334, at a remote point on the way between the town and their village.

On that day, Naang Seng Non (not her real name), aged 23 and her husband, Zaai Long Seng (not his real name), aged 29, went to the town market with some fellow villagers. But the couple were alone on their way home because the others had returned before them thinking that they had already returned.

At a remote place on the way the couple ran into a group of 3 SPDC soldiers from LIB334, who stopped them and searched their things and their bodies. 

While searching, the soldiers deliberately and repeatedly touched the wife’s private parts in front of the husband, prompting him to intervene.

One of the soldiers then punched the husband in his temple with his fist, sending him to the ground, and told him not to move or he would shoot him dead, pointing his gun at him. 

Meanwhile, the one who seemed to be the commander of the SPDC troops dragged the wife into a nearby bush and raped her.

When the soldier released Naang Seng Non after raping her, she ran crying to her husband and he held her in his arms, and begged and pleaded with the troops to stop molesting them. The troops then laughed at them loudly and went away.

When they got back home, the couple complained about their plight to the village headman and the head of people’s militia of their village.

Although on the next day, the head of the people’s militia was said to have filed a complaint with the Murng-Yawng township SPDC authorities, so far there has not been any action taken in relation to this case.

2 WOMEN GANG-RAPED WHILE FISHING IN TA-KHI-LAEK

On 19.10.01, 2 women from Mae Hai village in Murng Hai tract in Ta-Khi-Laek township were raped until they lost consciousness by a patrol of SPDC troops from IB221 near Nam Hai stream some distance from their village.

Naang Seng Kham (not her real name), aged 18 and Naang Suk (not her real name), aged 19, were catching fish in the Nam Hai stream that evening when a patrol of 25 SPDC troops from Murng-Phyak-based IB221 came and ordered them to come to the bank. 

When the women got on the bank, the troops gang-raped them without saying anything to them. After being raped repeatedly for some time, both of them lost consciousness.

When they regained consciousness, it was almost dark, and they managed to get back to their village that night by helping each other along, crying all the way until they reached the village and related their horrible experiences to their parents.

Although their parents reported the incident to the village elders and leaders, no one dared to take the case any further.

A VEGETABLE GATHERER RAPED IN KUN-HING

On 1.10.01, a displaced villager from Ka Li village relocation site who was gathering wild vegetables was raped by an SPDC military officer from LIB524 at the edge of a rice field about 1 mile from Ka Li village in Kun-Hing township.

The victim, Naang Man (not her real name), aged 20, was originally from Kung Lom village in Kung Lom tract, Kun-Hing township, and had been forcibly relocated to Ka Li village relocation site in 1997 by the Burmese troops.

Naang Man was gathering wild vegetables along the edge of a rice field about 1 mile from the relocation site when an SPDC soldier called out to her asking her if she had seen Shan soldiers passing through that way. When she said she had not seen any Shan soldiers, the SPDC soldier ordered her to come near him, aiming his pistol at her.

Fearing the gun, she went to him as ordered and recognised him as Capt. Soe Win Hpyu from LIB524. He ordered her to sit down and, when she sat down, raped her to his satisfaction.

On releasing her, Soe Win Hpyu warned Naang Man not to tell anyone about the incident, or he would come and kill not only her but also her parents.

WOMAN WASHING CLOTHES ALONE GANG-RAPED IN KAENG-TUNG

On 16.9.01, a villager from Wan Lawn village in Murng Khawn tract, Kaeng-Tung township, was gang-raped by 3 SPDC troops from IB244 while washing clothes in a stream west of her village, and all her clothes were swept away by the stream water.

On the day of the incident, Naang Long (not her real name), aged 19, was washing clothes alone in a stream some distance west of her village. As she was standing knee-deep in the water washing clothes, 3 SPDC troops from Loi Muay-based IB244 came along and, when they saw she was alone, dragged her out of the water, letting all her clothes be swept away in the stream.

The 3 soldiers raped her until they were all satisfied and left the scene, leaving Naang Long alone.

She cried and told her parents about her plight as she got back to her village, but they had no one to complain to. There was no one who would dare file a complaint with the military authorities.

2 BAMBOO SHOOTS GATHERERS RAPED IN MURNG-YAWNG

On 22.9.01, 2 Akha women from Pa Pek village in Pa Hok village tract, Murng-Yawng township, who were collecting bamboo shoots were raped by SPDC troops from LIB334 in the forest near their village.

The 2 Akha women, Aa Pyae and Aa Nu (not their real names), aged about 24-25, were collecting bamboo shoots in the forest near their village when a patrol of 7 SPDC troops forced them into a bush and raped them. The troops brutally pulled and tore off their clothes while raping them.

When all the 7 soldiers had raped the 2 women to their satisfaction, they went away leaving the women lying with their torn clothes. 

Although the women and their village leader complained about it to the head of the people’s militia of their village tract, no one dared take the case to the SPDC soldiers.

BEATING AND DISAPPEARANCE OF PETTY GOODS PEDDLERS IN MURNG-TON

On 21.10.01, 2 petty goods peddlers of Naa Kawng Mu village in Murng-Ton township were arrested, beaten and tortured by SPDC troops of LIB360, and later disappeared.

The 2 peddlers, Taeng Wun (m), aged 27 and Awng Wun (m), aged 25, were originally from Murng-Ton town and since 2 years ago had come to Naa Kawng Mu village and earned a living peddling small consumer goods at gambling fairs in the area.

Taeng Wun and Awng Wun were peddling their goods at a gambling den on that day when a patrol of 27 SPDC troops from Co.4 of LIB360, led by Lt. Kyaw Thein, came and arrested them. 

They were detained at a military camp and tortured for some time and later disappeared.

Their relatives tried to find out their whereabouts but they were not to be found in any military camps in the area. 

So far the cause of their arrest has not been disclosed by the SPDC troops and their relatives do not know whether they are still alive or dead. 

2 PETTY GOODS PEDDLERS BEATEN UNCONSCIOUS IN MURNG-TON

On 4.11.01, 2 petty goods peddlers, father and son, were arrested, tortured and beaten until they lost consciousness several times by SPDC troops from LIB360 in Murng-Ton township.

Zaai Mawng and his son, aged 18, were from Murng-Ton town and had been peddling petty goods at gambling dens in Naa Kawng Mu village area for about 3 months when they were arrested by a patrol of 15-16 SPDC troops led by commander Aung Myint from Co.4 of LIB360.

The SPDC troops said that Shan soldiers had killed innocent wood cutters and accused Zaai Mawng and his son of secretly providing rice for the Shan soldiers and guiding them in surveying the surrounding areas of the military base at Naa Kawng Mu village and tortured them until they lost consciousness several times.

According to the local villagers, these 2 peddlers had never left the gambling dens since their arrival at Naa Kawng Mu 3 months ago, and they had not even paid a visit to anyone in the village, let alone to other places as they had been accused of by the SPDC troops.

MASS FORCED LABOUR ON NEW RAILROAD PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SHAN STATE

Since after 22.10.01, when Gen. Maung Aye, Deputy Chairman of SPDC, and his 20-member entourage came to Nam-Zarng by helicopters from Rangoon and presided over the opening ceremony of a new railroad project in the area, SPDC troops have started using unpaid mass forced labour of the people in Nam-Zarng township. 

In late October, not less than 240 local people, including men and women from 18 to 55 years of age, were forced by SPDC troops of IB66 to clear the path for the railroad in Nam-Zarng township. 

The railroad will run from Nam-Zarng town to Saai Khaao village in Saai Khaao tract in Kun-Hing township. The estimated time frame for the completion of the railroad is 2-1/2 years, during which time unpaid mass forced labour will certainly be used in several stages of the construction project.

Another railroad project has also been underway since early November. This railroad will run from Murng-Nai to Mawk-Mai township. The SPDC commander of IB66 had on 5.11.01 issued an order requiring village and tract headmen in Nam-Zarng township to provide 400 unpaid forced labourers.

In regard to the use of forced labourers, it is said that the 3-4 SPDC military battalions in the area have already divided duties in handling them. 

In a meeting jointly held by military battalions in the area, at the base of Nam-Zarng-based IB66, it was estimated that about 24,000 forced labourers would be needed to complete the railroad projects, and duties were divided among 3 battalions:

1. Nam-Zarng-based IB66 would be responsible for conscription of forced labourers
2. IB66 from the 55th Division would be responsible for controlling the forced labourers
3. IB247 would be responsible for overseeing the forced labourers while working at the work sites

PEOPLE FORCED TO GROW CROPS FOR THE MILITARY IN SOUTHERN SHAN STATE 

On 15.10.01, SPDC military authorities in the Kaeng Tawng area of Murng-Nai township issued an order requiring all the 4 village tracts in Kaeng Tawng area to grow cold season crops for the military.

The crops were Japanese sesame, peanut and potato. The seeds were provided by the military and the people were to cultivate them and produce not less than the amount demanded by the military or they would have to buy from somewhere else to fill up the quota.

The following is the list showing the village tracts and the amount of seeds they were required to cultivate:

1. Ton Hoong tract was required to cultivate 30 tins of Japanese sesame, 20 tins of peanut and 500 viss of potato
2. Kun Mong tract was required to cultivate 30 tins of Japanese sesame, 25 tins of peanut and 500 viss of potato
3. Kun Long and Nawng Hee tracts were required to cultivate 50 tins of Japanese sesame, 35 tins of peanut and 700 viss of potato
(Note: 1 tin = 20 litres, 1 viss = 1.6 kg)

The seeds were given to each village and tract headman to start cultivating from the end of October 2001 onwards. Each kind of crop was to yield 10 to 20 fold as shown in the following list.

(1). 1 tin of Japanese sesame was to yield 10 tins
(2). 1 tin of peanut was to yield 20 tins
(3). 1 viss of potato was to yield 10 viss

Similar incidents are said to have been taking place in several other townships such as Murng-Ton, Murng-Sart, Larng-Khur, Murng-Nai and Murng Pan. 

People in these townships are being required to cultivate the above mentioned crops for every military battalion based in their townships.

Each battalion must have each kind of crop cultivated on at least about 20 acres of land, and must have all 3 kinds of the said crops. Most of the work needed to cultivate the crops would undoubtedly be done with the unpaid forced labour of the people. 

PEOPLE FORCED TO GROW RICE FOR THE MILITARY IN MURNG-NAI

From July to November 2001, people in the Kaeng Tawng area of Murng-Nai township had been forced to cultivate rice for the 4-5 SPDC military battalions in the area.

During ploughing time, those who had mini-tractors were forced to provide free tractor service for 1 in every 5 days until the ploughing was finished. 

Those who did not have tractors were required to use hand tools to build embankments and to maintain the rice fields irrigation system etc. Women were required to plant rice seedlings until it was completed. 

During the harvest time, both men and women had to reap and thresh the rice plants, and transport the harvested rice to the granaries in the respective military bases, using their own ox-carts as transportation means.

In the whole process of the rice cultivation, the people received nothing for their labour and, most precious of all, their time, of which the better part had been used for the military.

FORCED CONSCRIPTION FOR PEOPLE’S MILITIA, RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT, IN MURNG-NAI

On 15.10.01, SPDC military authorities in Kaeng Tawng area in Murng-Nai township issued an order requiring people in the area to serve as people’s militia and put more restrictions on their movement by registering family members and issuing registration cards to everyone from 8-year-old up.

At least 200 men, aged between 25 and 50, would be conscripted from the 4 village tracts in the area and the conscription was to be completed in December 2001. Anyone who refused to be conscripted or said something against the conscription would be severely punished, said the order.

A similar conscription order was issued previously sometime in July this year, but many people had run away to other places, including Thailand, in fear of being forcibly conscripted, temporarily thwarting the plan.

In an attempt to stop people from fleeing and prevent strangers from staying in the area, SPDC military authorities had since then made registration of all the household families and their members in Kaeng Tawng area, and issued registration cards to everyone starting from 8-year-olds upwards.

The numbers of family members had to be as registered when checked and every member had to be able to present their registration cards. Missing family members and strangers would be punished.