Strategic bridge being constructed by forced labor

Strategic bridge being constructed by forced labor

Since April, a new bridge across the river Teng in the southern Shan State is being rebuilt with conscripted labor, said villagers who fled from the area. 

A 30-year old woman with 3 children from Pahsa in Kengtawg, a sub-township of Mongnai, 92 miles southeast of Taunggyi, told S.H.A.N. that the teak-bridge on the Teng that shall connect the five towns: Namzarng, Kunhing, Mongnai, Langkher and Mongpan is being constructed at Wan Talong under the craftmanship of U Hla Maung, 55, from lower Burma with conscripted labor from villages in the area. Each village has to send 40 laborers each day. Security is provided by a 40-men unit commanded by Capt. Thein Zaw from IB 246 (Kunhing). 

The river is about 45 meters wide at the site. 

Another important bridge further north, 5-miles east of Namzarng, collapsed at the beginning of the Thai-Burmese tensions in eastern Shan State in February.

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Forced labor for road building 

Just as villagers in the neighboring township of Mongnai were being conscripted to work at the new bridge on the river Teng, those in further south in Mongpan were also being pressed to toil for a 25-mile long road between the latter and Kengtawng. 

Townspeople and villagers in the outskirts were since 15 April required to send one "volunteer" per household for the task, one batch of "volunteers" for every 5-day shift, and 75-80 "volunteers" per batch. 

Waling, male, 17, from Pahsa in Kengtawng, who was one of the "volunteers" before he fled to Thailand recently, said even 15 year old children and old people over 60-were among the laborers who were unpaid. "For men, their job is to dig and level the ground and fell trees and saw them. For women, it is to clear the bushes on the both sides of the road from 5-10 fathoms in each direction," he said. 

A 60-strong Company 4, commanded by Capt. Win Maung of LIB 332 (Mongpan) and another 60-strong Company 3, commanded by Capt. Sein Maung Oo (Mongpan) were there to oversee the task. 

Rargoon forces will be able to police the areas immediately west of the Salween, from Takaw, between Mongpiang and Kunhing in the north and Tasang, between Mongton and Mongpan in the south, after the road complex is commented, commanded a Thai Burma-watcher.