Rapes within military bases

Rapes within military bases

The fact that eleven of the rape incidents were actually committed within the military bases, with the full knowledge not only of other military personnel, but also members of the local communities living near the bases, indicates the extent of the impunity felt to be enjoyed by the regime's troops. 

In one notable incident, two high school girls from Lai Kha who dared to speak out publicly in a school meeting against the SPDC policies, were publicly arrested by SPDC soldiers, taken to the local military base, and raped by the commander for 4 days and nights, apparently as "punishment", before being released in return for money. 

A school meeting was held at a middle school in Lai Kha town, where there were 84 students studying up to 6th standard. After giving a speech, the head teacher asked the students if they had any questions to ask. A 17-year-old schoolgirl from the 5th standard then asked: "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 18-year-old schoolgirl, 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 for a long time, 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 the Shan soldiers". Before the head teacher, who was hesitating, could answer the questions, two SPDC soldiers who were on security duty at the school called out the girls and said that they should go to the military base and ask the commander and took them to LIB 515 base. The commander locked up the girls. At night he took one girl into his bedroom and ordered her to take off her clothes, pointing his pistol at her. He then raped her all night. Next morning he brought another girl and raped her for one day and one night. After raping the girls in turn for 4 days and 4 nights, the commander demanded that the parents pay 15,000 kyat for the release of each of them. (case 91)