Message from a Relief Team Leader and Situation Update

FBR REPORT: Message from a Relief Team Leader and Situation Update

Karen State, Burma

28 April, 2006

Message from a relief team leader in a hiding place for displaced people

.I am sending this from in the mountains, where we are with 300 of the 2,000 displaced people in this immediate area. The others are hiding in groups of 200-400 people. Yesterday it rained hard into the night and today it is still raining. The team here helped to carry children and some of the peoples' possessions to this site from the other side of the mountain as they were exhausted from days on the run.

Family flees. 27 April 2006

Families flee Burma Army. 27 April 2006

Child cries in the rain while fleeing the Burma Army 27 April 06

Children in the rain with no shelter. 27 April 2006

Yesterday was awet miserable day for the families as they were trudging up steep trails andslipping down narrow ravines carrying their possessions and their children. Oneman,burdened with a tremendous load, with his wife who was carrying a large basketon her back and baby on her front in front, and watching his 5 or 6 year olddaughter slip and slide down rocks and mud, exclaimed, "This rain and theBurma Army are both too bad for us, it is ridiculous". A woman replied," Yes, they are both out to crush us".

When they arrived at the place where it was thought to be safer, there was notime to build shelters. People huddled together in the driving rain underpieces of plastic or banana leafs. Some of the babies began to cry.

To see mothers soaked and shivering as they kept a smallpiece of plastic over their babies, made us all feel sorry. We also felt angryat the dictator's Army and the their government.

About the only good thing about this rain from our perspective, was that it is also causing problems for the pursuing Burma Army forces. They had evidently lost the way, became confused and one the soldiers steppedon their own land mine they had laid for the villagers. The rains have disrupted their supply lines and sapped their morale.

Here in the hiding place morale was amazingly good and people laughed and shouted at each across the swollen stream-"...Hey what's wrong with your shelter?..." Can you give me some plastic..No can YOU give me some?..", andboth then laugh as nether has any plastic to give or take.

Today during a break in the rain, the Karen people were up and making sheltersfrom leaves and bamboo. They were smiling and talking and offering us food.They have barley enough rice to eat themselves and little else to go with itbut every family we talked to offered us a meal.

As I made this report a group of children gathered around and laughed as they saw pictures of themselves that we were sending out to you all. As we huddled under the same plastic when the rains came again, a mother came into our shelter carrying a newborn baby- three weeks old. She said she had given birth and then had to run for her life 5 days after giving birth. She looked at me and smiled. She was glad to be alive.

Now it continues to rain but in the middle of the rain a small group of people gathered to pray. They told us, "We have trouble but we can pray, God helps us".

Here as in all the areas of Nyunaglebin, Toungoo and Muthraw districts, all of which are hit by this offensive, the immediate needs are for security, food and shelter.

The people in hiding and on the move need plastic sheeting in for shelters, flashlights (as they now have to often move at night to evade the patrols), more medicine, and money to buy rice, hammocks and clothes.

In terms of sustaining relief there is also a need here for better communications equipment, mules and horses to carry relief supplies and cash for transportation and communications.

Thank you and God bless you,A relief team leader.

Situation Update:

*Mon township, Nyaunglebin District. 28 April 2006.

The attacking Burma Army forces here have now divided into two groups. Onegroup is somewhere on the Kyauk Kyi- Hsaw Hta road and two battalions - IB241 and IB 242 are now heading to Htee La Baw Hta camp to re-supply. IB 241and 242 are the main tow battalions now hunting the 2,000 + displaced peoplein southern Mon township. After they re-supply they will probably continuetheir patrols.More than 2,000 people in this area are in hiding and due to the heavy rains(very unusual for this time of year), the living conditions are difficult.Many are sick with malaria and dysentery.

In Northern Mon township, LIB 568 led by Aung Lyin Tun attacked Yulo villageand looted 15 ancient Karen Drums- these drums are heirlooms and are made ofbronze, copper or silver.

*There are 2,000 more displaced people in the northern part of Mon township,for a total of 4,000 who are still in hiding. Two days ago, a Burma Armybattalion conducteda search and destroy mission but did not find any IDPS and have now returnedto their camp in Maladaw.

*New attack in Muthraw District: (Muthraw or Papun District is to the eastof Nyaunglebin District.)The Burma Army launched a two battalion sized attack against the village ofTha Dah Der on 27 ad 28 April but have so far failed to enter and destroythe village. The Karen resistance (Karen National Union- KNU), operating insmall teams stopped the two battalions and the heavy rains have hindered theBurma Armies ability to re-supply and evacuate wounded.Villagers in Muthraw District are now prepared to flee, as there is news ofBurma Army reinforcements approaching.

*Toungoo district:

People who were forced this month to go to relocation sites report that theyhave no shelters there and live under the trees in the rain. There are stillover 2,000 people in hiding and the Burma Army has burnedthe village of Tha Yae U on 22 April at 0900 hours. The 30 families of thisvillage have all fled.Later, on 24 April, the Burma Army burned down the village of Kaw Me Ko.Both villages were burned down by battalion LIB 10 (from Baw Ga Lyi Gyi),Toungoo District. LIB 10 Commander Soe Mynt sent Major Win Zaw Oo of LIB 10to lead the troops in this action.On the Toungoo-Nyaunglebin District border the village of Yae Lo wasmortared, its church destroyed and people driven out.On 27 April the Burma Army battalions LIB 522 and LIB 568 burned down sevenhouses in Poe Mu Der village at 2pm.On 28 April Burma Army troops of LIB 522 and LIB 568 attacked Kwe Keevillage and at 0900 they burned down 5 houses.LIBs 522 and 568 are both under the command of Tactical Operations Command#2. TOC#2 is under the control of MOC #16, the same MOC that started itsoffensive from Muthey Camp in March, swept through Mon Township, thendivided into to two TOCs, one still operating in Mon Twonship, TOC #1, andone TOC, TOC #2, now in Southern Toungoo District.. TOC# 2 is commanded byKoKo Gyi based out of They Pu/Pisaloe Camp.

Troops of IB 53 commanded by Myo Thoo Ya and located at Sha Ze Bo, orderedthe villagers not to sleep at their fields and restricted all movement. Ifany villager is seen going out to the mountains or sleeping in their fields,they will be killed. Note: This is an attempt by the Burma Army to cut allcontact between the displaced people, the resistance and the people of theplains.

TOC#1, commanded by Thin Aung, orded 2,000 villagers of the Kler La/Baw GaLyi Gyi area to carry their food supplies. This is a major resupply of allforward camps on the Kler La- Busakee road. Naw Soe, Busakee and They Mu Kocamps.The rains have come very early this year and the Burma Army cannot movevehicles on this road now like they usually can in April.

**The FBR team operating in this area has reported that in addition to thisinformation, they themselves are now escorting a small group of 19 familieswho have run out of food and need plastic for shelter and many are sick.

 Southern Nyaunglebin District:

Over 3,000 total people in hiding now. The Burma Army is sending suppliesfrom Shwey Gyin town to its camp at Kushaw. Military Operations Command(MOC) #21 is operating from here.

Thank you to all of you who are helping in many ways. Your care andassistance is a physical and morale boost for the people here and the reliefteams. Thank you also to the media who is helping to shine a light on thissituation. Your hearts of concern and your efforts give us all hope.

God bless you,A relief team leader,FBR

ENDS