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FORCED RELOCATION IN LARNG KHER
FORCED RELOCATION IN LARNG KHER
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Map of VILLAGES FORCIBLY RELOCATED IN LARNG KHER TOWNSHIP (1996 - 1998) |
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| Background of the area Larng Kher is in the fertile lower plain of the Nam Teng river basin, with a relatively warmer climate than the rest of Shan State. Most of the people are farmers, and the area is famous for its high quality tobacco. Sugarcane, betel nut, limes, coconut, and sesame were also grown in abundance. |
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| Relocation In 1996, relocations began in March, and were carried out by SLORC IB # 99 stationed at Larng Kher and IB # 55 from Murng Ban. Villagers were given between 3 and 6 days to move and were ordered to move to the site of Nong Long, north-east of Larng Kher. They were told that they would be killed if they did not comply. In 1997, ten more villages closer to Larng Kher were ordered to move to Nong Long or Larng Kher itself. |
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| Extrajudicial killings in Larng Kher township in
1997 SHRF has documented the extrajudicial killing of 4 villagers in July 1997 in Hart Mai village by troops from SLORC LIB 525. |
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| Conditions in the relocation sites Nothing has been provided for villagers at the relocation site, which was just an empty patch of wasteland, where villagers had to build their own makeshift huts. In 1996, villagers with fields up to two and a half hours' walk away were initially allowed back to farm them for seven days at a time if they had written permission, but towards the end of the year as Shan resistance activity continued in the area, permission was no longer given. During 1997, villagers with fields further than about 3 miles from the relocation site were forbidden to go and tend their fields. Huge number of villagers in the Larng Kher area, including those who were forcibly relocated, have been ordered to work on the Larng Kher-Wan Hart road leading south from the town during 1997 and early 1998. The villagers have to split rocks to pave the road. About 2,500 people are being forced to work each day. |
Authorities raising funds for Cyclone Nargis victims