ROVING PATROLS

ROVING PATROLS: LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY

As the number of Burmese army battalions based in Shan State has increased (see introductory section), so too have the numbers of military patrols sent out to scour the rural areas for pockets of resistance. 

Although the majority of the rapes were committed by troops from battalions stationed at bases in the same township as the location of the incidents, often the troops were on patrol in remote areas far from their bases. Furthermore, a large proportion (at least 30 incidents) were committed by troops from battalions stationed in other townships, and some even from battalions based in other parts of Burma. The troops in question were usually mandated to patrol the rural areas in search of insurgents. 

Regardless of the culture of impunity, it is clear that this practice of sending troops out to patrol areas far from their base units greatly reduces the likelihood of being able to trace perpetrators of crimes committed during the patrols.