SHRF MONTHLY REPORT

COMMENTARY

Despite persistent speculation by the international community on various “developments” in Burma’s political scene sine May, the situation in Shan State remains unchanged. The human rights situation in particular remains as bad as ever, with varying degrees of intensity at different times and in different areas.

Although some political parties have been given by the military junta limited freedom to conduct political activities, many parties, especially those representing ethnic interests, are still banned from engaging in any political activities.

Since the one-month-long fierce battle between SPDC troops and Shan resistance troops near the border with Thailand in May-June earlier this year, the killing of innocent villagers by the SPDC troops has increased in many parts of Shan State, including those far away from where the battle had taken place.

After the release of the report “Licence to Rape” in June this year, villagers in several townships in Shan State were intimidated and forced to sign documents testifying that Burmese army soldiers had never raped their womenfolk.

SPDC troops in Shan State continue to rape and kill at random. In this newsletter, there is an incident in which 3 young couples who were cutting sugarcane were arrested, detained and beaten to death, the women raped before being killed, by SPDC troops without any apparent reason. (see the first story)

Unpaid forced labour of the civilian population in Shan State is still being systematically and widely used in building military facilities and standing guard for the military. (see the last two stories)

6 SUGARCANE CUTTERS BEATEN TO DEATH, WOMEN RAPED BEFORE BEING KILLED, IN LARNG-KHUR

On 3 October 2002, 6 displaced villagers, comprising 3 couples of husbands and wives, from Son Oi village in Son Oi village tract, Larng-Khur township, who were working at a sugarcane plantation were arrested and detained for one night, during which the women were raped, and beaten to death by a patrol of SPDC troops from IB248, led by Capt. Myint Oo.

The 6 victims were:

These villagers were originally from Son Oi village in Son Oi tract, Larng-Khur township, which had been forcibly relocated to Nawng Long village in Nawng Long village tract, Larng-Khur township, in 1996 by the then SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) troops.

On the day of the incident, the 3 couples were hired by an original owner of a sugarcane plantation to cut sugarcane near Son Oi village (deserted) and, while they were cutting sugarcane, were seized by a patrol of about 40-50 SPDC troops from Co.4 of IB248, led by Capt. Myint Oo.

The SPDC troops detained the villagers for one night and finally beat all of them dead. The bodies of the women were scattered 10-12 yards from one another with no clothes on, and there were clear signs of them being raped. It was not clear for what reason these villagers were killed.

A CIVILIAN GUIDE SHOT DEAD IN MURNG-SU

On 2 September 2002, a villager from Paang Le Ke village was shot dead while being forced to serve as a guide by a patrol of SPDC troops from IB249, led by Lt. Kyaw Lin, south of Loi Nim village in Murng-Su township.

On the day of the incident, the said SPDC troops who were patrolling the areas along the Nam Pang river in Murng-Su township forcibly conscripted a farmer, who was working at a farm east of Naa Saai village, to serve as a guide.

After they had gone for 4-5 hours, the said civilian guide, Zaai Zan-Da, male, aged 30, a villager of Paang Le Ke village, complained of stomach ache and wanted to relief himself. At one point when he stepped out of the way to relief himself, the SPDC troops fired 2 shots at him from behind, killing him on the spot.

The SPDC troops told the other civilians who were serving as porters that they had shot Zaai Zan-Da because he tried to run away.

2 STRAY VILLAGERS BEATEN TO DEATH IN MURNG-PAN

On 14 August 2002, 2 stray villagers from Mai Niu village in Murng-Pan township were accused of spying and beaten to death at a place called Huay Pung Yam by SPDC troops from LIB332.

The 2 villagers, Zaai Wi (m), aged 28 and Lung Seng (m), aged 45, who had gone to gather young bamboo for making string, had probably lost their way in the forest and gone astray to Huay Pung Yam where SPDC troops were locally known to have one of their drug refineries, and had disappeared since then.

A few days later, one of the low-ranking SPDC troops told some villagers of Mai Niu village that 4-5 days ago they had caught 2 agents of the Shan rebels who were spying in the area and had to beat them to death.

3 DISPLACED FARMERS SHOT DEAD IN MURNG-PAN

On 20 June 2002, 3 displaced farmers were shot dead by a patrol of SPDC troops from LIB502 in the rice fields (abandoned) near Tawng Kwaai Tai village (deserted) in Tawng Kwaai Nur village tract, Murng-Pan township.

The 3 displaced farmers were originally from Tawng Kwaai Tai village which had been forcibly relocated to Ho Phaai Long village relocation site some years ago by Burmese army troops. After being forced to abandon their village and their rice fields for some years, these farmers decided to try to re-cultivate their abandoned fields because it was difficult to find land near the relocation site.

It was while they were clearing their rice fields of bushes and brush that a patrol of about 60 SPDC troops from LIB502, led by commander Htun Myint, came and shot the 3 farmers dead in the fields without giving any warning or asking any question.
The 3 farmers shot dead were:

After they shot dead the 3 farmers, the SPDC troops came through Ho Phaai Long village and told the villagers that Shan rebels had shot dead 3 villagers at the abandoned rice fields at Tawng Kwaai Tai village, and returned to the base of LIB502. The original villagers of Tawng Kwaai Tai village then went to look for the bodies of their fellow villagers and buried them at the place they were found.

A DISPLACED FARMER SHOT DEAD, HIS CATTLE STOLEN, IN MURNG-NAI

On 16 June 2002, a displaced farmer who was grazing his cattle was shot dead by SPDC troops at a place 3-4 kilometres south of Murng-Nai town, and his cattle were taken to the base of IB248. 

On that day, Lung Kam, male, aged 49, originally from Wan Pong village in Naa Khaan village tract, which had been forcibly relocated to the outskirts of Murng-Nai town in 1996 by the then SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) troops, went to graze his 2 draught-oxen in the field some kilometres south of the town.

When Lung Kam did not return until the next day, some villagers went in search of him. They did not find him but saw his 2 oxen grazing inside the compound of IB248. The 2 oxen were seen at the military base for 2-3 days and then disappeared.

When Lung Kam’s relatives and some village leaders went to inquire about him at the base of IB248 saying that Lung Kam and his 2 oxen had disappeared, they were met by a sergeant who said that the battalion commander and other officers had gone away on a trip for 9-10 days and had not yet returned and denied any knowledge of Lung Kam and his oxen, and suggested that they searched for him in the area where he had gone to graze his oxen.

Lung Kam’s body was found 4 days after he had disappeared by the villagers at a place where SPDC troops used to patrol and there were their foot prints all over the place.

HUSBAND SHOT DEAD, WIFE GANG-RAPED, IN MURNG-KHARK

On 28 September 2002, 2 villagers, husband and wife, from Nam Wok village who were going to Murng-Khark town market were stopped on the way by SPDC troops from IB227 after which the husband was shot dead and the wife gang-raped by the troops.

Naang Noi (not her real name), aged 21, and her husband, from Nam Wok village in Nam Wok village tract, Murng-Khark township, were going together to the town market when they ran into a group of the said SPDC troops at a remote spot between their village and the town.

The SPDC troops shot dead the husband and gang-raped the wife, and left the site when they finished, leaving Naang Noi and her dead husband at the site.

A LAUNDRY WOMAN RAPED AND THROWN INTO WATER, IN KAENG-TUNG

On 18 October 2002, a laundry woman who was washing clothes on the bank of the Nam Laab river was beaten and raped by 2 SPDC soldiers from LIB314 and, after being raped, thrown into the river, at Te Saai village in the quarter-3 of Kaeng-Tung town.

The victim, Naang Phat (not her real name), aged 26, married and with 3 children, was originally from Kaeng Laek village, located 2-1/2 miles east of Kaeng-Tung town, which had been forcibly moved to Te Saai village in the suburban area of the town by SPDC troops some time in 2000.

Naang Phat earned a living washing clothes for other people to help support her family at the new place. On the day of the incident, at about 14:30 hrs., as she was preparing to take home after finished washing the clothes at the Nam Laab river, 2 SPDC soldiers approached her. But she did not think they would do anything to her because it was day time and did not pay attention to them.

However, when the SPDC soldiers got close enough to Naang Phat, they suddenly seized her. She shouted for help and they beat her with their rifle butts, in her face and on her body, until she gave in and raped her to their satisfaction. 

When the soldiers finished raping her, Naang Phat was virtually unconscious, and they carried her to the Nam Laab river and threw her into the water. Fortunately, Naang Phat regained full consciousness after she was carried a short distance downstream by the current and managed to climb up the bank. She had to sit and rest there for some time before she could walk slowly back to her house.

Although Naang Phat and her husband complained about her plight to their village headman and the community leader of quarter-3 of Kaeng Tung town, no one seemed to dare to take the case further to the police or SPDC township authorities. No actions are known to have been taken in relation to this case up to the time of this report, and although Naang Phat has received treatment at the town hospital for some time, scars and marks left by the rifle butts can still be seen on her face and body.

2 FOREST GATHERERS RAPED IN MURNG-KHARK

In early October 2002, 2 women were raped by a group of 6-7 SPDC troops from IB227 in the forest near Wan Ngen Tai village in Murng Ngen village tract, Murng-Khark township.
On the day of the incident, Naang Li (not her real name) and Naang Sing (not her real name), both about 18-19 years of age, of Wan Ngen Tai village went into the forest near their village to gather wild vegetables. 

As they were gathering vegetables in the forest, a group of 6-7 SPDC troops from IB227 suddenly appeared and forced them into the brush at gun point and raped them. Both of them were raped by all the troops one after another until they were satisfied and left the place.

4 DISPLACED VILLAGERS RAPED WHILE GATHERING MUSHROOMS, IN MURNG-NAI

On 9 August 2002, 4 women who were gathering mushrooms were raped by SPDC troops from LIB514 in the forest about 2 kilometres east of Wan Mai Paang Saa village in Kun Mong village tract, Kaeng Tawng area, Murng-Nai township.

The 4 women were originally from Kun Naa and Long Waeng villages in Kun Mong village tract, which had been forcibly relocated to Wan Mai Paang Saa village in 1996 by the then SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) troops.

The women had gone out to gather mushrooms in the forest east of their village when they ran into 4 SPDC troops from LIB574, led by a Sergeant, that had its base in the area. The troops called the women to them and asked why they had come into the forest. 

The SPDC troops did not believe them when the women said they had come to gather mushrooms but accused them of either bringing food for Shan soldiers or cattle traders, and forced the women at gun point to go with them into the brush. 

The 4 SPDC troops took the 4 women one-by-one to different places and raped them to their satisfaction before releasing them. The 4 victims were (not their real names):

DISPLACED VILLAGE HEADMAN DISAPPEARS AFTER ARREST, IN NAM-ZARNG AND MURNG-NAI

On 2 October 2002, the displaced village headman of Long Kawng village (relocated) was taken away on a truck from Nam-Zarng town relocation site by SPDC troops from LIB518 based in Murng-Nai and has disappeared since then.

On 28 September 2002, the said village headman, Lung Kun-Na, aged 58, was said to have told his relatives and (former) fellow villagers, who had been forcibly relocated with him to Nam-Zarng town relocation site in 1997 by the then SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) troops, that he did not want them to grow opium as encouraged by the SPDC troops.

He said, “The Burmese troops have on the one hand been making propaganda to the world that they are eradicating opium, and on the other hand are now persuading us displaced Shan villagers to grow it. I am afraid one day they will use us as scapegoats and show the world that we Shan are drug dealers, and we will get into more troubles”.
A few days later, on 2.10.02, around noon, SPDC troops from Murng-Nai-based LIB518 stopped their truck in front of Lung Kun-Na’s house at a relocation site in Nam-Zarng town and took him away on their truck.

Since then Lung Kun-Na has disappeared. When some of his relatives went to enquire about him at the base of LIB518 in Murng-Nai township, they were told by the troops there that no troops had left Murng-Nai for more than 7 months, and surely not on the day of the incident. The SPDC troops added that they had never seen Lung Kun-Na and he was not at their base, and it could have been members of some other armed groups disguising as them (SPDC troops) who took him away.

DISAPPEARANCE OF A DISPLACED VILLAGER IN MURNG-TON

On 22 August 2002, a villager who was returning from gathering wild vegetables was taken by 3 SPDC troops into the military camp of LIB333 at Naa Kawng Mu village in Murng-Ton township and he has since then disappeared.

Zaai Thun, male, aged 38, married and with 2 children, was originally from Kaeng Kham Awn village in Kaeng Lom village tract, Kun-Hing township, which had been forcibly relocated 5-6 years ago by SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) troops. Zaai Thun and his family came to live in Naa Kawng Mu village in 1999.

In the evening of that day, Zaai Thun went outside Naa Kawng Mu village to gather wild vegetables to feed his pigs. As he was returning to the village, carrying a basket-full of vegetables on his shoulder, he was seen being led away by 3 SPDC troops from LIB333 to their camp at the end of the village.

Since then, Zaai Thun has disappeared. Although on the next day his family had reported the incident to the community leader in the area, who in turn reported it to the SPDC military authorities in the area, they all denied having any knowledge of Zaai Thun. 

VILLAGERS BEATEN, THEIR GOODS STOLEN, IN TA-KHI-LAEK

On 16 August 2002, villagers from Ta-Khi-Laek township who paid the SPDC security troops for permission to buy goods in Mae Sai town in Thailand were beaten on their return and their goods confiscated by the same troops.

This incident took place during the closure of the border crossing points between Burma and Thailand when consumer goods on the Burma side of the border had become so scarce that many locals tried in many different ways to buy goods from Thailand.

On that day, 7 villagers from Ta-Khi-Laek were forced to pay 400 baht each to the SPDC security guards at Ta Pur Waang border crossing point to go and buy goods in Thailand and pay another 400 baht each on their return.

Although the villagers had paid 800 baht each to the SPDC security guards for their passage, they were not allowed to take their goods which were all confiscated by the guards. In addition, the villagers were forced to stand in line and beaten with sticks six times each by the guards.

The following 4 persons were among the 7 victims:

ARREST, DETENTION AND EXTORTION, IN MURNG-PAN

On 4 August 2002, 7 villagers who were returning from weeding a rice farm were arrested, detained for 4 days and 3 nights and extorted money for their release, by SPDC troops of LIB520 in Murng-Pan township.

The said 7 villagers (names withheld) were from Naa Ing quarter of Murng-Pan town and on that day had gone to help weed the rice farm of a fellow villager. As they were returning from the farm and had not yet reached the town, the villagers ran into a patrol of about 40-45 SPDC troops from LIB520, led by Capt. San Win.

The SPDC troops accused the villagers of having gone to provide food for the Shan soldiers and arrested them. Although the villagers explained that they had just returning from weeding a farm, the troops took them to the base of LIB520 and detained them for 4 days and 3 nights. 

Meanwhile, community leaders were sent for to come and guarantee the villagers for their release. Even after the community leaders had guaranteed their innocence, the villagers still had to pay 10,000 kyat each as a fine to the SPDC troops before they were released.

VILLAGERS FORCED TO STAND GUARD IN FRONT OF A MILITARY CAMP IN MURNG-SU

Since 20 September 2002, SPDC troops from Lai-Kha-based IB64 who were assigned to take security at quarter-2 of Murng-Su town, Murng-Su township, have been forcing villagers in the area to stand guard from dusk to dawn in front of their camp.

Each night, from 6 pm to 5 am, 3 villagers with muskets were required to keep guard at about 100 yards in front of the military security camp at the entrance of Murng-Su town. Villagers in quarter-2 had to take turns to do the guard duty, replacing one another every 7 days, up to the present. 

These villagers are also often forced to serve as guides and porters whenever the troops go out to patrol the area.

VILLAGERS FORCED TO BUILD A MILITARY CAMP IN MURNG-NAI

On 25 August 2002, SPDC troops from Co.4 of IB248, led by commander Min Htun, forced the villagers of Naa Khaan village in Naa Khaan village tract, Murng-Nai township, to build a new military outpost camp on a hill west of Naa Khaan village, about 7 miles north of the town.

The villagers had to cut wood and bamboo, weave thatched roofing sheets, and build 4 barracks for the soldiers at that newly chosen place. Each person from each house had to provide free labour until the camp was finished.

When it was finished and the SPDC troops had been stationed at the new camp for only 3 days, the IB248 battalion commander, who came by a car on an inspection trip, said the camp site had been wrongly chosen. 

The commander of the new camp, Min Htun, then again ordered the villagers of Naa Khaan to dismantle the buildings at the camp and keep the building materials at their village for rebuilding the camp in the future when the right place had been chosen.
It took the villagers 10 days of hard work to build and then dismantle the new military camp, in addition to having to take turns to go and wait to serve the soldiers at the old camp, 2 persons per day, which has been routinely going on up to the present.