FBR REPORT: Burma
Army troops kill villagers and IDPs as they mass troops with over
90 battalions now in northern Karen State, Burma
Karen State, Burma
10 January, 2008
(Report made and sent directly from the field in Papun District,
Karen State)
SUMMARY
While the killings of demonstrators
in the cities of Burma in September 2007 shocked the world, the attacks
against the ethnic people are equally shocking, have gone on for over
59 years and continue to this day. Here in the Karen State, from where
we are sending this report, the Burma Army continues its campaign
of brutality.
The offensive of 2006- 2007 has slowed, but in the past two months at least
10 villagers have been killed, hundreds more have fled attacks, and thousands
of people remain in hiding as the Burma Army continues to launch smaller scale
attacks. These latest attacks are designed to terrorize the population, forcing
people into hiding and making living conditions extremely difficult.
The Burma Army is consolidating areas gained in the 2006-2007 Offensive with
the continual expansion of its network of camps and roads. They have now completed
a new road which quarters northern Karen State, making travel for villagers,
displaced people and those providing aid very difficult. Over 54 new camps have
been built since the beginning of 2006. There are now 11,000 to 14,000 troops
from 13 division-sized units (including troops from Southern Command), comprising
over 90 battalions, currently operating in the mountains of northern Karen State.
This is a 50% troop increase from the very height of the offensive in 2006.
The main focus of these troops is road building and the supplying of all the
camps in the area. Whether or not a large scale offensive will commence soon
is not clear but the Burma Army is already shelling village and IDP sites and
killing people they meet on their patrols. It is possible that the Burma Army
will rotate some of these troops out this month but this is still not clear.
Reports for each of the three Northern Districts follow with photographs of
Burma Army camps taken by the new teams during their first relief missions to
provide relief to IDPs.
11,000-14,000 Burma Army troops from 13 division-sized units comprised of
over 90 battalions are now in the northern Karen State:
Papun District: MOC 1= 7 battalions, MOC 4= 4 battalions, MOC 16= 7
battalions, Division 33= 3 battalions, Division 44= 7 battalions, Division 88=
7 battalions, Southern Command= 1 battalion.
Toungoo District: MOC 4= 3 Battalions, MOC 5= 7 battalions, MOC 9= 4
battalions, MOC 10= 7 battalions, MOC 21= 4 battalions, Division 66= 7 battalions,
Southern Command= 3 battalions.
Note: A Division and a Military Operations Command (MOC) each
have 10 battalions of which 7 are usually deployed in the field. The average
battalion is under strength with a troop total of 120- 160 men.
Roads:
The Burma Army has finished the initial construction of the road connecting
Ler Mu Plaw camp in the Papun District to Busakee camp in Toungoo District,
(please see map). Numerous new camps have been constructed along its path, and
while this road is not yet being used by Burma Army vehicles, landmines and
frequent patrols make it very difficult to cross. The Burma Army is also currently
constructing a new road in northern Nyaunglebin District and southern Toungoo
District which will connect Tha Bin Yut camp on the edge of the plains with
Busakee camp to the east in the mountains. A third road has been constructed
in southern Nyaunglebin District from Shwegyin Town north towards Rokasoe camp,
possibly continuing to Kyauk Kyi.
Nyaunglebin District:
The Burma Army now has 5 division-sized units deployed in Nyaunglebin District,
with more than 4,500 troops. There are approximately 12,900 IDPs now in hiding.
Many were displaced during attacks in 2006, and have not been able to return
to their villages. Many have been displaced multiple times as they move from
hide site to hide site escaping repeated Burma Army attacks.
Ler Wah Area, Kyauk Kyi (Ler Doh) Township: Over 100 villagers remain in
hiding from Ler Wah village.
The body of Saw Ler Gay, 28, shot and killed by the
Burma Army on 15 November, 2007. He was killed by the same troops who attacked
Ler Wah village. (Nov. 16, 2007)
Saw Ler Gay's wife and children. (Nov. 17 2007)
More than 100 Ler Wah villagers, from 17 families, are now hiding and have
been unable to return home since fleeing a Burma Army attack in November, 2007.
On November 19, Burma Army soldiers from LIB 218 and 219, from Div. 11, were
able to surprise the villagers and attack while everyone was in their homes.
They lined up on a nearby ridge and shot machine guns into the village. Every
home was hit by the machine gun fire. Amazingly no one was injured in the initial
attack, however families immediately ran into the jungle without any time to
collect belongings. Most ran further into the mountains to nearby villages,
but some ran into the jungle and hid for several days.
bullet-holes riddle the homes and belongings of Ler
Wah villagers. Dec 2007. (Dec. 2007)
IDPs from Ler Wah fleeing attacks. (Dec. 2007)
Ler Wah villagers fleeing attacks. (Dec. 2007)
The Burma Army then continued into the village, ransacking homes, stealing belongings,
and destroying food and other property. They then set up camp close the village
for several days, and placed landmines in the village before they returned to
the camp. Karen soldiers have been able to clear paths to fields and homes, but
they have not yet found any landmines. This attack was part of a larger attack
launched by LIBs 218 and 219 in early November which swept much of Kyauk Kyi Township.
Two people were killed during the attacks; Saw Ler Gay, 28, who is survived by
a wife and three children, as well as one Karen soldier.
IDP hide site for Ler Wah villagers. (Dec. 18, 2007)
Villagers have been hiding higher in the mountains since the attack and have been
sneaking back to the village and their nearby farms to collect belongings and
food. The village is located at long/lat. N 18 09 36 and E 097 00 08, which is
less than two miles from the Burma Army camp at Rokasoe. The Burma Army is now
building a new road to Rokasoe from the town of Shwegyin in the south, and this
road is expected to continue on to Kyauk Kyi. There are now two Burma Army divisions
operating in Western Kyauk Kyi and Shwegying townships; Div. 11 is now conducting
operations in northern Shwegyin and Southern Kyauk Kyi Townships. Div. 101 is
stationed in southern Shwegyin Township.
Villagers reported that the Burma Army has made it impossible for most of
them to produce enough food to feed their families. Many villagers have not
been able to return to their farms for three years. Others were able to clear
old fields to begin planting, but were never able to plant. Some were able to
plant, but were not able to harvest, and yet others were able to harvest their
crop, only to see it destroyed by attacking Burma Army troops. Villagers reported
that they needed help to survive, and that what they wanted most was freedom.
In mid-December FBR teams visited IDPs from Ler Wah village who have been
hiding in the mountains above their old village. The teams gave medical treatment,
distributed Good Life Club materials, and encouraged the villagers. The teams
then continued down to Ler Wah village where they photographed the homes that
had been shot and destroyed, as well as the remains of the temporary shelters
used by the Burma Army. FBR teams are now in the area and will continue to provide
treatment to the IDPs and report on the situation.
Additional Kyauk Kyi Township Information: Religious Persecution, Forced
Labor and Extortion
In mid-December villagers from Klaw Maw were going to be celebrating the upcoming
Christmas holiday. When LIB 430 commander Maung Htun was informed about this,
he immediately put the Klaw Maw village headman in prison. He then told the
villagers that every Christian pastor in the Bawgata and P'deh Gon area must
begin wearing monk's clothing because he no longer wanted to see any Christian
leaders in the area. He also gave an order to destroy the churches in the area
(whether or not this has happened has not yet been confirmed).
On 15 December Maung Htun then ordered the destruction of 6 houses belonging
to Muslims in the Bawgata area.
On 28 November 2007, Ko Ko, the LIB 590 commander called in all fish pond
owners in the plains area close to Kyauk Kyi. He demanded 100,000 Kyats from
each pond owner. The very next day, Min Thu Ka, another Burma Army officer in
the area demanded an additional 10,000 Kyats payment from each of the pond owners.
On 9 December LIB 430 commander Maung Htun demanded 200,000 Kyats from Klaw
Maw, Bawgata, Shu Kin Tha Ya, Kaw Tha Say, Po Pin Gon, and Ko Myit Tha Ya villages
in order to rebuild the pagoda and military camps in Klaw Maw village.
On 16 December these same troops destroyed two pre-schools in P'deh Gon and
Klaw Maw villages.
On 21 December LIB 430 demanded 100 villagers, 2 boats and 50 ox-carts for
the movement of supplies to Rokasoe Burma Army camp.
Shwegyin Township
Div. 101 began the construction of a new camp in Shwegyin Township in December.
The name of the camp and the units deployed there have not yet been reported,
however the location of the camp is at long./lat. N 17 59' 25" and E 097 00'
40"
Mon Township
New Burma Army Camps in Mon Township:
Maw Lu
unknown construction date.
Pe Be Soe
started on Dec. 2, 2007
Pay Paw Hta
started on Dec. 1, 2007
In the last month four schools have been forced to stop in Mon Township as
a result of Burma Army activity: Htee Kgo, Nwa Lay Ko, Htee Na Hta, and Nya
Mu Ki schools are now unable to continue with classes because of Burma Army
attacks and patrols.
Papun District
The Burma Army has conducted frequent attacks and patrols in areas where large
scale attacks occurred during 2006 and 2007. There are now 3,000 to 4,000 IDPs
in northern Papun District, most of who fled during the most recent offensive,
and have not been able to return home. There are now parts of six division-sized
units in northern Papun District, with more than 34 battalions deployed. The
Burma Army has now concentrated its efforts on the continual improvement of
the roads in this area as well as the re-supply and expansion of camps. The
road from Ler Mu Plaw camp in Papun District to Busakee camp in Toungoo District
has been completed, but is now being continuously improved.
The Burma Army is now sending supplies along these roads to their forward
camps and new positions.
Burma Army troops at Maw Pu army camp in Papun District
load military trucks with supplies destined for camps further to the east
along the Kyauk Kyi - Hsaw Hta road (Jan. 9, 2007)
Soldiers and forced porters load gasoline onto a
truck at Maw Pu Burma Army camp (Jan. 9, 2007)
A truck moving out from Maw Pu army camp after being
loaded with food supplies. (Jan. 9, 2007)
Toungoo District
Toungoo District remains the most active area of attack in northern Karen
State. The Burma Army is now launching regular attacks against villages and
IDP populations. Approximately 7,000 people are now hiding from these attacks,
almost all of whom have been displaced numerous times since fleeing attacks
during the most recent offensive. There are now over 27 battalions from five
division-sized units deployed in southern Toungoo district alone. The Burma
Army is also constructing two new roads, connecting Busakee army camp to Ler
Mu Plaw camp in Papun District and to Tha Bin Yut in the western plains. In
order to support this expansion, the Burma Army demands people from villages
under its control, especially recently relocated villages, to act as minesweepers,
road-clearers and porters. This forced labor is demanded on a daily basis.
FBR teams are now in Toungoo District assisting villagers and IDPs and documenting
Burma Army abuses. Detailed reports on Toungoo District will be available later
in January.
Thank you and God bless you,
Free Burma Rangers
The Free Burma Ranger’s (FBR) mission is to provide hope, help and
love to internally displaced people inside Burma, regardless of ethnicity
or religion. Using a network of indigenous field teams, FBR reports on human
rights abuses, casualties and the humanitarian needs of people who are under
the oppression of the Burma Army. FBR provides medical, spiritual and educational
resources for IDP communities as they struggle to survive Burmese military
attacks.
