SHRF MONTHLY REPORT

COMMENTARY

Some 2-3 years have already elapsed since the SPDC said it had issued orders banning civilian forced labour. But so far there has been no real sign of willingness on the part of the military junta even to reduce it, let alone stop it altogether.

Except for a change of terminology for forced labour, from “give labour” to “give help”, requisition of unpaid forced labour of the civilian populations is still going on as before.

Mass forced labour for tasks such as growing crops for the military, maintaining state infrastructure, beautifying roads and public places, etc., is still to be seen more or less on a regular basis. 

In forcing farmers to grow crops for them, the junta troops often choose the same plots of land which the farmers have already cultivated for themselves. In some cases, the farmers have to destroy their own crops to grow different kinds of crop for the military. Some farmers who have no other means to survive after their land have been taken, have to flee. (see the last story)

In addition to various other types of forced labour, forced portering, which is the most feared type, is still frequently being used in military operations. 

Recently, SHRF have received a report on the use of over 130 civilian porters from Murng Sart township in June 2002 by SPDC troops in an operation against Shan resistance troops in Ta-Khi-Laek township in southern Shan State, in which several porters died of exhaustion and illness. (see story # 4 below) 

DISPLACED VILLAGER BEATEN TO DEATH IN MURNG-KERNG

On 1 June 2002, a patrol of SPDC troops from LIB514 beat to death a displaced villager at Loi Leng village in Loi Leng village tract, Murng-Kerng township, without giving any reason for the killing.

A patrol of about 30-35 SPDC troops from Co.3 of LIB514, led by Capt. Thein Htun, came to Loi Leng village relocation site on that day and called out to a man in a house to come out to them. The man was Aw-Zin-Na, aged 27, son of Lung Thun and Pa Oong, who had been forcibly relocated to Loi Leng village relocation site from Long Yawn village since 1997 by the then SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) troops.

Aw-Zin-Na was somewhat hard of hearing and did not understand Burmese. When the SPDC troops called him, he might not have heard or understood them because he did not come to them but stood and gazed at them. 

Some of the troops then came and dragged him by the hand out of the house and took him to a hut where cattle were kept. As Aw-Zin-Na was about to enter the hut, one of the SPDC troops struck him on the back of the neck with a rifle butt. The blow was so severe that it knocked him to the ground and killed him instantly.

AN INNOCENT FARMER SHOT DEAD IN FRONT OF HIS TWO SISTERS IN NAM-ZARNG

On 11.4.02, a patrol of SPDC troops from a military camp at Kho Lam village relocation site, in Nam-Zarng township, shot dead a farmer in front of his 2 sisters at a remote farm 3 miles east of Phaa Sawnt village in Wan Phui tract, Nam-Zarng township.

On the day of the incident, a patrol of about 50 SPDC troops from Kho Lam village camp came to patrol the area where Zaai Zin-Da, aged 32, and his 2 sisters from Phaa Sawnt village were staying in a hut to clear a plot of land for rice farming. When the troops saw the hut, they came and surrounded it and when they knew there were people inside, they ordered them to come out.

Zaai Zin-Da came out of the stilted hut and climbed down the ladder. When he was only halfway down the ladder, the SPDC troops shot at him without giving any warning. A bullet hit him directly in the chest and he fell down the ladder, dead.

When the troops came close to the hut, they saw the dead body of Zaai Zin-Da at the foot of the ladder and his 2 sisters who were clinging together in the hut, trembling with fear. The commander of the troops then told the women that they had shot Zaai Zin-Da because they thought he was a rebel and, giving them 1,000 kyat of money, told them to go back to their village and tell the villagers to come and bury him. Saying that, the troops left the place, heading back towards Kho Lam.

A FOREST GATHERER SHOT AND FATALLY WOUNDED IN NAM-ZARNG

On 15.4.02, a patrol of SPDC troops from a military camp at Kho Lam village relocation site, in Nam-Zarng township, shot at 2 forest gatherers, wounding one of them, who later died after being taken to the hospital in Nam-Zarng town.

On that day, Zaai Lu, male, aged 21 and his 10-year-old brother, Ai Zaai, went to gather resin and wild orchid flowers in the forest some distance from their village, Phaa Sawnt, in Wan Phui tract, Nam-Zarng township. On the same day, a column of about 45 SPDC troops from Kho Lam went to patrol the area in which the 2 brothers were. 

While the 2 brothers were gathering resin and orchid flowers using long poles and going from tree to tree in the forest, one of the SPDC troops fired 3 shots at them from behind a tree about 40 yards away. One of the bullets hit Zaai Lu right in the waist and he fell down and cried out in pain, causing his 10-year-old brother to also scream and cry in fear.

When they heard the screams of the child, the troops stopped shooting and went to look at the 2 brothers. Zaai Lu then explained to them that he and his child brother were from Phaa Sawnt village and that they had come into the forest only to gather resin and orchid flowers.

The SPDC troops ordered the civilian guides they had with them to carry Zaai Lu to a jungle road used by logging trucks and waited there until a truck came that way. The troops then put Zaai Lu and his brother on the truck and told the driver to take them to the hospital in Nam-Zarng town.
Although Zaai Lu reached the hospital that evening, his wound was so severe that he died the same night at the hospital.

MASS FORCED PORTERING IN MURNG-SART AND TA-KHI-LAEK, CAUSING SEVERAL DEATHS

From 7 to 20 June 2002, over 130 people in Murng-Sart township were forced by SPDC troops from Kaeng-Tung-based LIB314 to serve as unpaid porters for the military in a military operation in Ta-Khi-Laek township, in which several died of illness and exhaustion.

On 7.6.02, a column of SPDC troops from Kaeng-Tung-based LIB314 conscripted over 130 people from Wan Kaad, Wan Lao, Nawng Pun, Pa Waai, Murng Lung, Murng Kok Tai and Murng Kok Nur villages in Murng Kok village tract, Murng-Sart township, on their way from Kaeng-Tung to the Loi Taw Kham area in Ta-Khi-Laek township where SPDC troops and Shan resistance troops were engaging in fierce fighting.

The conscripted porters were gathered at a Buddhist temple in Murng Lung village, and from there were forced to carry military rations and ammunition and set out by way of Phaktu Murng village tract, Thalang village tract, Murng Kaan village tract in Murng-Sart township and into the area of Loi Taw Kham village tract in Ta-Khi-Laek township. 

In Loi Taw Kham area, the SPDC troops, with the 130 civilian porters, stopped in the jungle and camped at a place not very far from Loi Lam hill and also not very far from the site where the fighting between SPDC troops and Shan resistance troops was taking place. 

The porters were forced to stay at that jungle camp and frequently take food and ammunition to the SPDC soldiers fighting at the front line. After a few days many porters became weak and ill, mainly due to the cold caused by getting wet in the rains, insufficient food, inadequate rest and sleep; and there was nothing to protect them from the jungle mosquitos.

About a week later, starting from 14.6.02, the porters started to die one after another. When the porters were released on 20.6.02, at least 7 porters had already died of weakness and fever. Among those who died were:

During the to-and-fro trips between the camp and the front line, several porters were kicked and beaten because they could not go fast enough or unable to carry much. Among those who were beaten were: 

VILLAGERS FORCED TO DESTROY THEIR OWN CROPS AND GROW RICE FOR THE MILITARY IN KAENG-TUNG

In early May 2002, SPDC troops of LIB314 in Kaeng-Tung township forced several villages on the eastern side of Kaeng-Tung town to grow dry-season rice for them in the fields where the villagers had already grown soya bean, causing great losses to the villagers.

The villagers had to pull out all the soya bean plants, which had already grown to their fullest and were about to bear fruit, and cultivate rice for the SPDC troops. Those who dared to disobey would face severe punishment, said the order.

Initially, the villagers and their village and community leaders had tried to plead with the SPDC district and township authorities, as well as the authorities of the LIB 314, to spare the land that had already been planted with soya bean. But the SPDC troops refused to listen to them and even scolded and threatened them.

Eventually, the villagers had no choice but to do as they were told to avoid further abuses.
The villagers of the following villages lost several acres of soya bean: Pok Tai village, Pok Nur village, Lur Law Tai village, Lur Law Nur village, Wan Ton village, Pa Khaam village and Lawng Tawng village.

VILLAGERS FORCED TO CUT AND TRANSPORT WOOD AND BAMBOO FOR THE MILITARY IN KAENG-TUNG

In April 2002, SPDC troops from LIB314, led by Capt. Thein Htay, forced the villagers of Wan Sang village in Murng Lang village tract, Kaeng-Tung township, to cut wood and bamboo and transport them to the military base.

On that day, 5 SPDC troops from LIB314, led by Capt. Thein Htay, came to Wan Sang village and forced the villagers to cut wood and bamboo for them in the nearby forest, while they waited at a house closest to the forest, drinking liquor and eating boiled chicken.

Even after the villagers had cut enough wood and bamboo for them, the troops did not leave but kept on drinking until 10 o’clock at night, when they forced the villagers to find a car and take them back to LIB314 base.

The wood and the bamboo, however, were left at the village until the next day and the villagers were required to transport them to the military base which was 7 miles away, without getting anything in return.

CIVILIAN VEHICLES FORCED TO WORK FOR MILITARY IN KAENG-TUNG

On 1.4.02, 20 civilian vehicles were conscripted by SPDC troops from No. 11 Military Vehicle Depot Unit and forced to work for 3 days and 2 nights in Kaeng-Tung township, without the civilian drivers getting anything in return except for 2 meals per day.

The 20 vehicles, 10 mini-trucks and 10 medium-trucks, were seized on the roads in Kaeng-Tung town and taken to the military base. During day-time, the vehicles were forced to transport machine parts, food stuff and rations from the town to the military base, which was 4-5 miles away, and also do several other things at the base.

At night, the mini trucks were forced to take military officers into the town to have fun at restaurants and Karaoke bars.

Although the drivers were told on conscription that they would be taken for only one day, they were not released until around 18:30 hrs. in the evening of 3.4.02. They were detained and kept at the military base when their vehicles were not working.

Except for 2 meals per day, the drivers received nothing for their service. Even the fuel for their vehicles, the drivers had to pay for with their own money, which cost each of them around 4,000 to 6,000 Kyat.

MASS FORCED LABOUR IN MU-SE

Since late June 2002, SPDC authorities in Mu-Se township have issued orders requiring the civilian populations in the township to grow trees along the main roads between main villages.

On 30 June 2002, SPDC authorities in Paang Saai sub-township in Mu-Se township issued an order requiring several villages in the area to make large bamboo baskets for covering newly planted tree seedlings; each household was to make 6 bamboo baskets. They were also told to plant tree seedlings along the main road between Paang Saai and Nawng Tao village; anyone who failed to do as ordered would be fined 1,5000 Kyat.

On the same occasion, villagers in Nawng Tao village tract were ordered to dig holes in which trees would be planted along the same road. Each household was required to dig 6 holes which were to be 1 foot away from the road.

Similar incidents have reportedly also taken place at about the same time in other areas along the main road between Mu-Se township and Nam-Kham township.

EXTORTION IN KAENG-TUNG

In mid-April 2002, SPDC troops of LIB314 extorted 2,000,000 Kyat of money from the villagers of Murng Lang village tract in Kaeng-Tung township for fixing the road leading to “That Zawm Loi” pagoda hill.

The road to be fixed was in Murng Lang village tract and was being used constantly by the villagers, and had been occasionally fixed from time to time. It was about 12 miles long and situated between “That Zawm Loi” pagoda hill and the air field near Kaeng-Tung town.

After the money was collected, about 100 SPDC troops in fatigues came to fix the road for 3-4 days. As the road was still in relatively good condition, there was not much to fix, so the soldiers worked leisurely, digging a little bit and filling some pit holes here and there.

During the 3-4 days while the SPDC troops were fixing the road, villagers of the villages along and near the road complained about them stealing their chickens, fish, vegetables and firewood, causing a lot of trouble for the people in the area.

Apart from Murng Lang village tract, from which 2,000,000 Kyat was extorted, costing 2,000 Kyat per household, people in all the other areas in Kaeng-Tung township were reportedly also required to provide money for the same road-fixing project. 

CIVILIAN VEHICLES CONFISCATED IN KAENG-TUNG

In April 2002, hundreds of trucks and cars, supposed to be owned by several ceasefire groups, were confiscated in Kaeng-Tung township by SPDC authorities, but at least 52 trucks and cars among the confiscated were reportedly said to belong to ordinary civilians. 

After the SPDC regional commander of the Golden Triangle Special Regional Military Command had issued an order to confiscate motor vehicles of the ceasefire groups that had no licences or permits in Kaeng-Tung township, hundreds of new trucks and cars were confiscated.

According to some car owners in Kaeng-Tung town, among the confiscated vehicles, there were at least 52 trucks and cars that belonged to ordinary civilians who had nothing to do with any of the ceasefire groups. 

A combined force of police and soldiers just seized and took them away when they were searching and seizing vehicles belonging to or being used under the names of ceasefire groups, without paying much attention to who the owners were. 

According to the same car owners, however, the said 52 vehicles did not belong to any of the ceasefire groups and were not even being used under any of the names of the ceasefire groups when they were seized.

PEDDLER ROBBED OF HER CONSUMER GOODS IN TA-KHI-LAEK

In May 2002, a peddler from Ta-Khi-Laek town, who was returning from Mae Sai town in Thailand with some consumer goods, was robbed of some of her goods by the SPDC troops taking security on the Burmese side of the “Friendship Bridge”, in Ta-Khi-Laek.

On 18.5.02, Naang Long (not her real name), aged 36, from San Saai quarter of Ta-Khi-Laek town, went over to Mae Sai town on the Thai side of the border and bought some consumer goods, as it was one of her more or less regular activities, being a consumer goods peddler in Ta-Khi-Laek.

When Naang Long crossed back to Ta-Khi-Laek over the “Friendship Bridge” with some consumer goods she had bought from Thailand, she was stopped by the SPDC security force on the Burmese side of the bridge and her goods were examined.

Among Naang Long’s goods, the SPDC troops seized 2,600 Baht worth of seasoning powder and cooking oil, saying that they were goods not allowed to be brought into and sold in the country.

ORANGE ORCHARD CONFISCATED, CATTLE OWNERS ROBBED, IN MU-SE

On 11.6.02, Lt. Si Thu Myat, from Co.1 of IB123 of the SPDC, confiscated a 50-acre orange orchard belonging to a villager of Kho Mung village in Nam Oom village tract, Mu-Se township, and later extorted money from cattle owners whose cattle happened to come into the orchard.

Just one day after the orange orchard was confiscated, 3 buffaloes belonging to Lai Yi Zong (not his real name) of Kho Mung village came into it. Lai Yi Zong was forced to pay a fine of 30,000 Kyat to the SPDC troops for letting his buffaloes into the orchard.

On 13.6.02, a buffalo belonging to Lai Law (not his real name) entered the same orange orchard and he was fined 10,000 Kyat by the SPDC troops.

On 15.6.02, 5 cows belonging to Yi Sae (not his real name) from Mu-Se town went into the said orange orchard. The SPDC troops shot dead one of the cows, seized and killed for meat another one, trucked one away to Nam Phak Kaa military base, returned one back to the owner and said they did not know where the rest had gone.

CULTIVATED FARMLANDS FORCIBLY CONFISCATED FROM DISPLACED FARMERS IN MURNG-TON, CAUSING THEM TO FLEE

In late April 2002, 3 plots of farmland cultivated by displaced farmers in Wan Naa village tract, in Murng-Ton township, were forcibly confiscated by SPDC troops of LIB519 to be used for growing peanut and sesame for the military, causing the dispossessed farmers to flee to Thailand.

The lands were cultivated by 3 displaced farming families who had been forced to move away from their originally villages in Kun-Hing and Lai-Kha townships in 1997 by the then SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) troops. They had been growing rice, peanut and sesame on the lands for 4 consecutive years when they were forced to give them away to the SPDC soldiers.

On 26.4.02, Commander Win Sein, deputy commander of LIB519, summoned the headman of Wan Naa village tract to the military base and told him that it was necessary for his battalion to grow 5 acres of peanut, 5 acres of Japanese sesame and 5 acres of potato, as ordered by his superiors. But for this year it was a bit too late for his battalion to start clearing new plots of land, so he would just buy some ready-made farms from the villagers.

The above-mentioned 3 plots of land, which had already been fenced and the ground cleared and prepared for growing crops by the displaced farmers, were chosen by the SPDC troops. Although the farmers tried to plead with the soldiers to let them use the lands for this year, 2002, because there was no time to find other places to grow crops to feed their families, the soldiers did not listen to them.

The SPDC commander gave 1,500 Kyat to each of the 3 families and told them that although he could take the land without giving the villagers anything because it was an order from his superiors, he was giving them the money out of his own pity for them. The money, however, was not the commander’s money, but was collected from the villagers in Wan Naa village tract.

After they received the money, the displaced farmers knew very well they could hardly survive a month on that little money, let alone until the next crop-growing season, and they could not think of anything else except to flee to Thailand.

The displaced farmers were: