MILITARY CHECKPOINTS

MILITARY CHECKPOINTS

The setting up of regular military checkpoints along roads, allegedly to keep a check on insurgent activity, but also to collect arbitrary taxes, has enabled the regime's troops to take advantage of women travelling between villages. 

Five of the incidents documented in this report took place when women were stopped at military checkpoints. The following incident (in August 2001) took place at the main checkpoint before the Ta Sarng Bridge over the Salween River. 

While the troops from LIB 225 searched the villagers' belongings and questioned them, Captain Myint Lwin picked out 3 women from among the villagers, took them to a separate place and interrogated them. One of the troops said to the truck drivers, "We received an order from our superior to keep the 3 women here until we learn more about them, and they may be released by then," and ordered them and the other villagers to go on their way. A captain brought them into his bedroom one at a time and raped them. After he had raped all 3 women, he let his close subordinates rape the women. Later all the 21 soldiers manning the checkpoint raped the women. (case 157)