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Report of Naunglybin District (Karen) FBR team
Report Date: 25 October, 2004
Summary:
Due to continued fighting between the KNU and SPDC military regime(despite the cease fire) it was necessary for an FBR team to supply immediate needs in the Kler Lwe Htu district. Many Karen people here are facing immediate security, food, education and health needs due to the human right’s abuses of the Burma Army.
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| FBR team treats IDP child in Kler Lwe Htoo District, Karen State |
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| IDP in Kler Lwe Htoo District, Karen State |
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| Relief team treats IDPs |
The following human rights abuses by the Burma Army were reported.
– Captured, tortured and killed innocent villagers
– Burnt houses, left victims for dead
– Demanded chicken and pork from villagers
– Four innocent villagers captured and forced to guide Burma Army soldiers
– Miscellaneous items from village stolen (clothes, pots, mosquito nets, mats, food, sewing machine, knives, sheets, etc.)
– Forced villagers to build an office for soldiers
– Damaged, stole and cut down beetlenut trees
The FBR team treated a total of 879 patients. The most common ailments were:
malaria(282), anemia (102), and gastric (62). The range of illness were from abscesses and ring worm to dysentery and miscellaneous wounds.
In the area we conducted the relief mission, the Burma Army exerts almost complete control and it is very difficult to provide needed relief and to avoid detection. The villagers suffer under the oppression of the Burma Army and so we will continue to try to help them as much as we can.
Our team visited 4 village areas, treated 879 people and documented on videonumerous human right’s abuses and interviews.
HUMAN RIGHTS INTERVIEWS
The interview below concerning a woman suffering due to the oppression of the Burma Army and torture and murder by the Burma Army are two examples of
the situation people are faced with here.
Name – Naw Xx Age – 70Family status – 3Occupation – cultivator
Religion – animist, Nationality – Sgaw KarenVillage – Thein Nweh Kee,
Interview date – 8/10/04.
Naw Xx is a widow and lives at Bway Ko Lu village in Saw Ka Der tract. She has 3 children and her middle son was shot and killed by SPDC soldiers in 2001. Her sight is dim and she can only see things or people in the day light where there is no shadow.
She said, “The Burma Army soldiers came into my village (Bway Ko Lu), shot and killed my son, took me away outside my house and then burnt down my house. I was in the jungle for two days, thirsty and starving because my eyes could not see anything.”
After two days, her other son found her and took her back with them. The FBR team found, helped, encouraged, and prayed for this woman. (end of
interview)
TORTURE and MURDER:
– On 29/9/04 the LIB 599 captured Mg Win Myit and Tin Win they tortured and hit and killed Tin win. – On 13/10/04 they again tortured, bit and scratched
Mg Win Myit’s face, hands, and legs by knife and released him, but was forced to report daily to the troop.
The following human right abuses by the Burma Army were also reported.
– Captured, tortured and killed innocent villagers
– Burnt houses, left victims for dead
– Demanded chicken and pork from villagers
– Four innocent villagers captured and forced to guide Burma Army soldiers
– Miscellaneous items from village stolen (clothes, pots, mosquito nets, mats, food, sewing machine, knives, sheets, etc.)
– Forced villagers to build an office for soldiers
– Damaged, stole and cut down beetlenut trees
Full Report of FBR Relief Teams follows:
Subject: FBR Kler Lwe Htu (Naunglybin District), Team Field Mission Report
As per the summary above, we FBR Kler Lwe Htu submit our field trip mission report to you. The mission began on 27 September to 16 October 2004. We ask you to overlook the weaknesses and insufficiencies in this report and give us your advice, guidance and suggestion. Our mission activities are as follows:
Sincerely,
Saw Xx Xxx
Team Leader
FBR Kler Lwe Htu District
NO. CONTENT
I. Team Member and Area
II. Introduction
III. IDP Situation
IV. Human Rights Abuse
V. SPDC Activities
VI. Interview
VII. Distribution of Materials
VIII. Health and Education
IX. Analysis
X. Conclusion
XI. *Daily Report
Appendix
*1. Film Notes
*2. Video Log & Memory Stick Note
3. Medical Treatment
* 4. Expenditure
*5. Map
*Not included for security reasons.
I. FBR Team Member and Area:
Due to the attacks of the Burma Army and ongoing oppression of the Karen IDPs we were asked by Karen leaders to try to help our people in Mone Township at the Saw-ka-der and Ler-klah tracts of Naunglybin district, Western Karen State, Burma.
Team members:
1. Saw Xx Team leader & cameraman
2. Saw XX Video cameraman
3. Saw Xx Team medic
4. Saw Xx Video and cameraman (gathered info in Ler Doh township)
Team Cooperation Workers:
1. Saw Xx Medic in charge of Mone Township
2. Naw Xx Sa-ka-der tract’s KWO secretary
3. Naw Xx Sa-ka-der tract’s information propaganda
chief
4. Naw Xx Sa-ka-der tract’s KWO members
5. Naw Xx Sa-ka-der tract’s social leader
6. Saw Xx Sa-ka-der tract’s chairperson
7. Saw Xx Mone Township’s KYO chairperson
8. Saw Xxx Soldier
9. Saw Xx Soldier
10. Soldiers (6) Security on both sides of Mu-theh car road
II. Introduction
We held a meeting, we gathered our supplies and started our mission in Mone township at Saw-ka-der tract.
There are over (14,998) IDPs in our Kler Lwe Htu district and (5,450) IDPs in Mone township, including some areas in down mountain. We provided medical treatment for 879 people during our trip. The situation of our IDP area was a bit better, but we found the Burma Army still conducts sporadic hostile actions in our area, especially in Mone Township. From September
2004 until the time of this writing, the Burma Army troops whose actions were in Mone Township were LIB 549, 599, 389, 264, IB 73 and a DKBA force.
All troops were under the umbrella of MOC (3) & MOC (1).
During our trip we met many people who were sick, especially women and children. We heard that people in villages we were not able to visit were sick as well.We tried to explain to the villagers we encountered how much we could improve the situation if we joined hands and worked peacefully together. We also explained how important it is to build a good community between our people. We showed our love and gave them help, hope and treated them with patience.
III. IDP situation
Despite the cease-fire made by the “gentlemen’s agreement”, our people were still living in fear because the Burma Army troops often demand many things from villagers such as forced labor, and money and they continue to conduct operations in our areas. Therefore, we the Karen people continue to face security, food, educational and health problems.
IV. Human Right Abuse
Since the cease-fire was made between the KNU and the SPDC military regime, in our district human rights violations are still being committed and the operations against IDPs continue. These are the human rights abuses we encountered.
– Within September and October 2004 in Moe Township, the SPDC military troops of LIB 264 led by column commander Nyein Char Oo with 23 soldiers
arrived at Mala Daw and demanded 5 viss of pork from the village headman.
– On 9/9/04 LIB 599 column no. (1) with (50) soldiers led by the Battalion commander demanded 2 villagers from Myaw Oo village headman to show their way, these two villagers were Saw Ko Day and Ko Zaw Oo.
– On 10/9/04 at 10:00 am these troops captured 4 villagers named Ma Nag Mi, Ko Kyaw Thu with a friend and Ma Nah Kyit Toe at Yein Oh Sein place. This
troop left Myaw Oo on 11/9/04 and arrived at Htee Ta ber Hta paddy farm. They took away two pots, two kettles, five knives, five plastic sheets, a mosquito net, a hanging pot, a mat, and all salt and chili from Saw Soe Win’s farm hut.
– On 12/9/04 the same troops arrived back at Myaw Oo, demanded (8000 Kyat) from the headman to pay the 2 persons to show their way. On the same day,
this troop took all the captured persons when they arrived back at MaMya Eh & Saw P’leh Yins’ orchard and took some of the clothes. The troop then continued their trip and at Pau Pi Der and demanded chickens from the village headman which cost (15000 kyat). At that village the commander ordered Myaw Oo headman to come and vouch Ma Na Kyit Toe but he took her
husband photo and ID card.
– On 19/9/04 SOC (Strategic Operation Command) No. (2) commander Khin Mg Soe demanded one villager from each of Kho Pu Lu tract, Hsaw Mie Lu tract and two sections in Ler Doh town to construct car road from Ler Doh town to Tha Bo battalion area. If one absence must be paid 3000 kyat.. The same date LIB entered in Hsaw Mie Lu camp and another force of 250 soldiers
(called arrow force) came to Mu Theh bringing 2 tree machine cutter.
– On 22/9/04 LIB 599 captain Thein Soe force Myaw Oo villagers worked for them and under the LIB 599, two columns were taking action in Saw Tin Der
region led by column (1) commander Ya Neing Soe and column (2) Kkin Mg Myit. In the same date LIB 599 company (1) captain Thein soe demanded 700,000 kyat
from each of Myaw Oo and Pau Pi Der and 350,000 kyat from Aung Cha Tha villages for the expenses of building their office. Begin 26/9/04 until 7/10/04 everyday he ordered 20 villagers from Myaw Oo to build the office.
– On 29/9/04 he captured a Myaw Oo villager Ma Tin and demanded a sewing machine but Ma Tin did not have one and was forced to give 100,000 kyat.
– On 29/9/04 the LIB 599 captured Mg Win Myit and Tin Win they tortured and hit and killed Tin win. On 13/10/04 they again tortured, bit and scratched
Mg Win Myit’s face, hands, and legs by knife and released him, but was forced to report daily to the troop.
– On 1/10/04 LIB 599 captain Thein Soe captured villager Myo Neing Oo and demanded 200,000 kyat and 5 viss of bitternut. More over he demanded 200,000 kyat from 16 Beetle Nut trees owners and forced them to not go back to their Beetle Nut farms.
– On 3/10/04 the LIB 389 launched in Ler-klah tract at Nwa-hta and Htee-Kho area then continue to Mu Traw district.
– On 7/10/04 SOC No.2 commander Khin MG Oo demanded 40 villagers from Tha Bo and 30 from Shan Chaw to cut clean an area at Hsaw Mie Lu for the build
the battalion office.
– On 8/9/04 he demanded 60 villagers from Plaw Lah Hay, 26 villagers from Pa Ka Goe, and 210 from 7 sections in Ler Doh town.
– On 10/10/04 the LIB 599 company commander forced villagers to build the camp at Myaw Oo Buda temple’s area. This company cut down bitternut trees,
which belonged to 15 people. Among the 15 owners, we now know two owners Saw Nay K”sein 60 bitternut trees damage and Saw Bu Ghu 35 bitternut trees
damage but the other owners are unknown.
– On 11/10/04 the same troop and commander forced 5 villagers from Aung Cha Tha 30 from Pau Pi Der and on 12/10/04 this commander forced 15 more villagers from Aung Cha Tha. All 50 people were forced to build the camp until it finished but is not finished yet.
– Beginning on 13/10/04 the division 77 and 44 have planned to destroy a paddy in our district due to the upcoming harvest time.
– On 20/10/04 at 10:20 am the SPDC troop LIB 390 came down at Ta Kaw Der villagers’ farm and opened fire in Ler Doh Township.
V. SPDC Activities
In early October, the SPDC troop in Kaw La Wah Lu launched a clash at Ler Klah tract in Mone Township against the KNLA. The troop was LIB 389 and in the whole areas of Mone Township in Kler Lwe Htu district the SPDC military regime have planned to do the operation, destroy and hinder our people in the coming harvest time.
The following troops in Mone township in action were-
1. IB 73 mobile troop
2. LIB 264 mobile troop led by column commander Nyei Cha Oo
3. LIB 599 mobile troop (Base on Myaw Oo) two columns in this and column (1) led by Ya Neing Oo and column (2) led by Ikin Mg Myit
4. LIB 389 mobile troop (base in Kaw La Wah Lu camp)
5. Divisions 77 and 44 have planned to hinder and destroy the paddy in our Kler Lwe Htu district.
6. LIB 940/30 mobile troops base on Hsaw Mie Lu camp
7. LIB 351 + IB 60 + DKBA force action in plain areas and cut off communication between plain and mountain areas in Mone Township.
VI. Interviews
Interviews in Saw Ka Der tract:
Name – Naw Xx Age – 70Family status – 3Occupation – cultivator,
Religion – animistNationality – Sgaw KarenVillage – Thein Nweh Kee,
Interview date – 8/10/04.
Naw Xx was a widow and lived at Bway Ko Lu
village in Saw Ka Der tract. She has 3 children and her middle son was shot and killed by SPDC soldiers in 2001. Her sight was dim and she can only see
things or people in the day light where there is no shadow. She said, “The SPDC soldiers came into my village (Bway Ko Lu) shot and killed my son, took
me away outside my house and then burnt down my house. I was in the jungle for two days, thirsty and starving because my eyes could not see anything.”
After two days, her other son found her and took her back with them. The FBR team found, helped, encouraged, and prayed for this woman.
VII. Distribution of Materials
We did not get any additional materials therefore we only delivered medicine, t-shirts and some hymnal and bibles to the cooperation workers, security persons and churches in plain, school, church and mountain areas.
We found a great need to distribute Good Life Club children’s packages as well as school sports materials.
VIII. Education and Health
We visited areas with schools, most of which did not have any sports materials. Teachers and villagers were uneducated and asked for assistance with teaching materials. Due to the lack of medicine, many villagers facedhealth problems. A total of (879) patients were treated, with the breakdownas follows:
malaria: 282 abscess: 28
arthritis: 38 beriberi 31
anemia: 102 wound: 30
gastric: 62 hypertension: 13
ring worm: 24 other diseases: 57
ARI: 68 diarrhea: 14
UTI: 40 Vit. A: 17
worm: 30 asth.: 17
dysentery: 17 eye pain: 9
total persons: 879
IX. Analysis
Our hearts went out to the villagers we encountered, from their livingconditions to their health. They are living in very hostile conditions and unstable settlements, even in the midst of the cease fire. Regardless, the villagers we encountered were filled with hope.
Half of the villagers we visited were animist and were very excited about our work. One of our major weak points was the size of our team, we were not able to do as much as we would have liked due to the outside
circumstances mentioned above.
Despite our weaknesses, we also have many strengths such as organizing villagers and explaining our mission. Many villagers were excited about our work and grateful for the assistance we provided.
X. Conclusion
We visited (4) village area and treated (879) persons. Insufficient medicine,educational problems and unstable situations was the foundation of many of our problems. We cannot help them without further support and wish
to extend and upgrade our children and youth program (Good Life Clubsupplies). We found that not only is this generation living in tragedy, but next generation’s future is certainly gloomy. We encourage everyone to pray for hope and our ability to bring education, medicine and peace.
We plan to go again and are now preparing for a follow on mission. We hope that medicine, bibles, hymnals and other materials can be arranged to assist us in our next mission and help us to attain our goal of providing for as
many needs as possible. “FRATERNAL LOVE WILL BRING PEACE INTO FREEDOM”
ENDS