This week two of the villages we have been in close relation to for 14 years were burned to the ground by the Burma Army. The school and church in the larger village were among the biggest in the Karen State and were beautiful wooden structures set on a bamboo fringed hill.

The Burma Army is now attacking villages in Papun (Muthraw) District, Northern Karen State, burning two villages and chasing 916 people into he jungle. Two Burma Army battalions, LIB 370 and LIB 361 continue the attacks.

 

These are some photos taken of the distribution of tarps and blankets to villagers in Mone Township, Nyaunglebin District, Karen State.

This photo essay follows the one we sent out last week as we have been with the Karen families whose homes were burned in Ler Doh township, Nyaunglebin District, Western Karen State, Burma.

On 23/4/2010, at 9:00am, soldiers from Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 401, led by Battalion Commander Aung Khine Cho, shot Saw Par Leat, a villager from Pa Ya village. Saw Par Leat was able to flee after the gun attack, but as he fled the troops fired mortars at him. The explosions of the mortars then set fire to three rubber fields and a total of about 1880 rubber trees were burned down, constituting a major loss of livelihood for the owners of the trees. Pa Ya Village is in Win Ye Township.

We are on a relief mission following Burma Army attacks that killed villagers, burned homes and displaced over 3,000 people. The Burma Army has built two new camps in this area and regularly shell villagers they see attempting to approach their old rice fields.

An 18-year-old Arakan woman has said she was raped on April 8 by Second Captain Site Bo Aung, 27, of 232 Battalion based in Sittwe Partalie village.

Story Update: On March 21, 2010, Saw Ta Doh Wah, 59, was shot dead by Burma Army soldiers, while his daughter, Su San Na, 27, was wounded.

This is a story about a good friend and teammate in the Free Burma Rangers. His name is Soe Naing and he is the leader and coordinator of the three Arakan FBR teams providing relief to IDPs in Arakan State, Western Burma.