OVER 8,500 PEOPLE DISPLACED AS THE BURMA ARMY EXTENDS ITS ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN KAREN STATE, BUR

FBR REPORT: Over 8,500 People Displaced as the Burma Army Extends its Attacks Against Civilians in Northern and Western Karen State, Burma

Karen State, Burma

18 April, 2006

In This Report: I) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

(Warning: graphic picture of gun shot victim included in this report)

Villagers fleeing Burma Army attacks. March, 2006.

Boy being treated by FBR medic for dog bite.

16 year old boy shot by Burma Army. 8 March, 2006.

Nyaunglebin District, western Karen State

Toungoo District, northern Karen State

The Burma Army has extended its operations in Western and Northern Karen State resulting on over 8,500 people having to flee their homes.* 4,000 people are displaced in Mon Township, 1,500 in Shwey Gyin and Kyauk Kyi Townships*, over 2,000 in Toungoo District, plus 1,000 more who have already fled all the way to the  Salween River (earlier in March and the first week of April).  Over 6,500 now in hiding, 1,000 attempting to return and remain in their homes and 1,000 already gone to the border. * Note: At the time of this report (17 April) 1,000 of the IDPS in Kyauk Kyi township had returned to their homes, after hiding since March, but with the approach of the Burma Army, they may have to flee again.

Quotes from two Burma Army officers, "When the villagers are attacked by us, they run and hide.  Then when we leave they come back.  So we need to build a camp in the middle of them to control them.", and, " Anyone who does not obey us we will have them burn down their own homes and kill them if they stay in areas we tell them to leave".-Two different Burma Army officers (from MOC 10 and MOC 16) overheard talking by villagers. These same officers are from Burma Army units that just completed an operation against villagers and IDPs in Mon Township, Western Karen State. It is reported that they plan to build a new camp in southern Mon Township to attempt to control the population more efficiently. SUMMARY: The situation in Western and Northern Karen State is now worse than at anytime since the offensives of 1997. It remains to be seen if this will develop into attacks of that scale (which were much larger), but already over 8,500 have been displaced. There is an immediate need for rice and medicine for the people who are now displaced and in hiding. The pro-democracy Karen resistance (KNU/KNLA) are attempting to help feed their people and help them hide and stay in area. The people here are trying to stay and not go to refugee camps.

The Burma Army is using a tactic of search and destroy by sending out battalion sized patrols, and are extending roads and building new camps. They are attempting to cut off the people who live in the mountains from those in the plains, as well as cutting of all trade and food supplies. The Burma Army patrols and destroys any homes or rice barns and fields it can find. If civilians are encountered on the way, they shoot at them. So far in one township alone (Mon Township), 11 villagers have been killed and three wounded, including a 9 year old girl and 80 year old grandmother. The attacks are slow and sporadic but viewed over the period of months represent a steady attempt to crush all opposition and gain total domination over the population. The resistance is doing its best to slow these attacks but its primary work now is to help people move to safer places and provide escorts for them to gather food and plant their fields. Due to the strength of these people, their ties to their land and homes and the moral corruption of the Burma Army, the situation is not hopeless. However, the people here need immediate help and lives are in the balance. Thank you for your concern. God bless you, FBR

NOTE: This report is divided into 8 sections and includes two maps and photos describing the situation in Western and Northern Karen State as well as a forecast by the local Karen resistance (KNU), of possible further Burma Army attacks. This report is being sent by FBR relief teams in the field now. 17 April, 2006.

1) Mon Township, Nyaunglebin District, Western Karen State update: There are now more than 4,000 IDPs in Mon Township alone.  The Burma Army attacked villages and villagers in this area in late March and early April, and has continued to increase troop numbers and supplies.   Burma Army patrols continue to operate in most areas of Mon Township, areas now abandoned by almost every resident of Mon Township.  Villagers are unable to return to their homes and fields due to these ongoing patrols.  Many people are running out of food and are relying on emergency supplies.  These villagers, who are almost all farmers, are now unable to clear new fields and prepare old fields for the rice-planting season, which begins in May and June.

I) Reports from Mon Township

7 March '06 Burma Army troops from Battalions; LIB 366,368, and 369 gather in Mu Theh Camp on the Kyauk Kyi Road.

8 March Began their operation in the Saw Ka Der Area.  At 5:00 pm they shot a family from Keh Ka Ko.  Saw Du Kaw 53 years-old was shot and killed along with his 12 year old son, Saw Eh La Hser.  His 16 year old son, Saw Heh Nay Htoo, (photo) was shot three times and wounded but managed to escape.

9 March Soldiers Burned 2 hidden storage houses that belonged to Keh Ka Ko village. These houses included items such as tobacco, chili, and valuable household materials.  They then split up and patrolled around the villages of Thay Nweh Ke, Klaw Ke, Saw Ka Der.  They stole rice paddy, chili peppers, and animals and destroyed whatever they did not steal.  During their patrol they entered Klaw Ke village and destroyed almost every home.

10 March These troops shot and killed Saw Thay Kya, 33 years old, from Klaw Ke village.  They also burned 45 baskets of his family's paddy.  That day they chased villagers around the area, forcing them to flee to 5 different hiding places that day.

11 March Moved to the Ler Klar area in the evening.

13 March They shot and killed Saw April Htoo, 18 years old, from Saw Kee Village. They also shot and killed Saw Eh Moo, 19 years old, from Ta Waw Bu Village. They then burned 100 baskets of paddy and 6 houses in Ta Waw Bu.  That day they also shot and killed Saw Ler Bweh Say from Htee Kho Village.

14-15 March Troops burned 13 houses in Htee Kho village along with 2 hidden rice paddy barns. 1 of these had 70 baskets of paddy and one had 30 baskets of paddy.

On this day, sergeant Nyint Htun from LIB 599 captured Saw Baw Htoo, a villager from Sha Lay Hsu.  He captured him at Mway Twin and took him to his battalion headquarters at Taung Taw.  Commander Khin Maung Myint demanded 500,000 kyat from him.  They then released him.

16 March The troops returned to Kaw La Wah Lu Troops from LIB 522, 567, and IB 240

18 March troops from LIB 522, 567 and IB 240 gather in Kaw La Wah Lu.

19 March Began operations in the The Ler Baw Hta area and Kwe Doh Kaw area.

22 March Shot at villagers in their hiding place.  Villagers managed to escape but lost almost all of their belongings.

23 March

2 villagers captured, church and homes burned and destroyed by Burma Army troops in Mon Township, Nyaunglebin District, Western Karen State, Burma.

Summary; The Burma Army is attacking Karen civilians in Western Karen State, Burma. These attacks have now displaced over 4,000 villagers (IDPs) in Mon Township (for a total of 4,500 displaced in Nyaunglebin District) Villagers have fled into the jungle with very little food and clothing. The Burma Army has burned homes, rice barns and continues its patrols to stop villagers from returning to their homes and fields.

Details: 23 March 2006- The Burma Army (LIB 522 and LIB 567) formed a column under the command of Thet Wey. This column attacked village Nya Moo Kee (15 families) and captured two of its villagers, Maung Than Lwin age 30 years old and Aung Win Thun age 25 years old.  Maung Than Lwin has a wife Naw Win Shwe age 36 years old and three children ages 11, 3 and 1 years old.  As of the date of this report, these two men are still missing.

The Burma Army (LIB 522 and LIB 567) stayed the night at Nya Moo Kee village. The village church and the house next to it were burned while other village homes were systematically ransacked and destroyed. All of the pots and pans left behind by the villagers were damaged by soldiers shooting and knifing holes in them. They slaughtered and ate all of the chickens in the village and four of its pigs.  A dog was also shot and thrown onto the roof of a house. Two rice storage barns hidden in the jungle by the villagers were also found and destroyed. A total of 156 baskets of milled rice was lost.

24 March 2006 The Burma Army (LIB 522 and LIB 567) departed Nya Moo Kee and split in half. One half provided security while the other half attacked Maw Lee Loo village (4 families).  All of the homes were burned and the troops ate all of the chickens there. Two rice storage barns were also burned which had an estimated total of over 400 baskets of paddy rice. part of the following is from a previously sent mission report dated 6 Apr 2006 Note: Burma Army soldiers from LIB 522 mentioned above were also involved in the following attacks.

26 March 2006 The Burma Army (LIB 522 with IB 240 and LIB 560) shot and killed Saw Pah Maw Kwa, 24, from They Baw Der village tract.  They also burned 5 houses in Kwi Do Kaw village in Mon Township.  The soldiers then slaughtered and ate all of the animals of that village.

27 March 2006 The Burma Army (LIB 522 with IB 240 and LIB 560) shot and killed two villagers of Kyauk Kyaw and wounded a nine-year-old girl (see report 10 April). At 5:00 pm two more villagers of Maw La Daw village, Saw Htun Yin and Saw Ta Toe Roe, were shot and killed by the same soldiers.

March 29:

The same soldiers took 10 days worth of food with them and set upa security position on the road form Kyauk Kyi to Ma La Daw, blocking all villager transportation and trade.

 March 30:  16 full truckloads of supplies were sent to Da Bin Yo.  Troops demanded 100 bullock carts for the transportation of supplies.  At noon, 40  bullock carts arrived at Ma La Daw, along with more food.

 March 31:  300 soldiers arrived at Ma La Daw.

 April 5:  6 trucks arrived at Ma La Daw with 250 soldiers.  These soldiers  came to supplement an operation to force relocate the villages of Yu Zo, Yu  Lo, Ka Mu Lo, Play Hta Lo, and Ma La Daw, to Tha Din Yut.

7 April 2006 These troops entered K'Mu Loh area at 8:00 in the morning.  They shot and killed Saw Nah Doh, 24 years old.  They also shot and wounded Saw Maung Maung Aye, 21 years old.

8 April 2006 troops entered Yu Lo and K'mu Lo village and called a meeting to tell the villagers to move to Tha Bin Yut.  The deadline for their movement is April 20.

II) April 15: The following information is taken from interviews here on site, as well as information from the Karen resistance; KNU and KNLA.

In Mon Township now Burma Army MOC 16 (7 battalions) is operating against the Karen population living in the mountains. It is expected that Div. 77 will also begin operations in Mon Township and Toungoo District. It is also expected that Div. 44 will begin operations out of Muthey Camp into Nyauglebinas well as Muthraw (Papun District). According to the local Karen leadership (KNU)-These Burma Army troops will combine with those already in the field to attack the people of Nyaunglebin and Toungoo Districts.  Then they will attack the villages near the Kyauk Kyi- Hsaw Hta road in Muthraw District.

The Burma Army plans to cut all communications, food supplies and trade between the people of the mountains and the people of the plains.  They will try to cut the people off from supporting the resistance.  There is now an increase in the sending of food and supplies to camps near the mountains and in the mountains.  While there are still limited arrivals of new troops, it is believed they will come.

Miscellaneous information:

In Western Mon Township, BA LIBs 590, and 599 of the Southern Command are operating between Thit Kha Seit and Kyauk Pia between the plains and the mountains.

There is a special Burma Army Camp at Muthay on the Kyauk Kyi- Hsaw Hta Road. Only soldiers with special passes can enter. They Hta Lu-is the name of this new camp. Villagers are not allowed near to the place called They Hta Lu.  They Hta Lu is a special camp near Mu They.  There is a helipad there and helicopters are seen flying in and out (infrequently).  These then fly on to Paw Gwa Camp to the east on the Kyauk Kyip Hsaw Hta Road.

Curfew:  LIB 599, 590 of Tha Tay Gone Camp made a new curfew. From 6 am to 6 pm villagers can move about.  From 6 pm to 6 am they will be arrested or shot on sight if seen moving around.  This new curfew is part of the attempt to seal the plains off from the mountains.  Order came from the regional Southern Command. On April 8, 2006, Burma Army soldiers shot at two villagers from So Thaung Su who were returning home at 8:30 pm from a movie. One, Saw Shwey Lu, was hit and wounded.  LIB 599 and 590 are part of the Southern Command.

April 16: Villager killed by the Burma Patrol: At 0610 on 16 April a villager near Plako was shot dead in his field by a Burma Army patrol of LIB 366. Villager-Saw Way Htoo, age 30, male, farmer.

2) Quotes: The following are Quotes from local Karen resistance (KNU) leaders about the situation:  "Some villagers have no food, so we need to share, but we need to do this for those who have none.  Those who already have food should not receive the emergency food.  Democracy is not everyone gets everything, it is also about everyone getting a fair amount.  We need to share and have balance."- Battalion Transport Officer, KNU.  "2/3 of the people in Mon Township do not have enough food." Township Chairman, KNU. "As usual, the enemy is trying to destroy us.  Back in 1972-1974 they went all out and conducted the "four cuts" operation.  Thousands were displaced, and we lost control of the Pegu-Yoma Mountains.  Our people suffered.  Now we face what seems to be a similar situation, but we were not crushed by other attacks and we will not be crushed now.  We must not give up.  We have to learn from the past and learn from our people.  We must gather the people and protect them. We need rice, salt and medicine.  We need to find it."-Battalion Transport Officer, KNU. "We must take the initiative.  We know they will continue to attack us, so we must protect our people.  But more than that, we have to try to stop their attacks." - Mon Township Chairman, KNU. "People should go from hide sites back to their farms, pound rice, then return to hide sites.  We will provide escorts for security" Township Chairman, KNU.

3) Forecast of Burma Army activity: "They have sent more food and troops so this month or in May they will attack us.  The level of activity this year is greater than in most past years." KNLA 8th Battalion commander. " The coming rains may not stop these attacks", Mon Township Chairman, KNU. "The move of the SPDC to Pyinmana has no relationship to these attacks as the SPDC has always attacked us. However, security has increased on roads, rivers, and trails. 8th Battalion Commander, KNLA.  Priority of enemy attack: "The enemy will try to wipe us out, and the first target is the KNU/KNLA and civilians at the same time.  Both are considered their enemies as they kill civilians and soldiers the same"-8th Battalion commander, KNLA.

Burma Army Div 77 will go to 2nd Brigade and attack.  Div 44 will go to Muthay camp on the Kyauk Kyi Hsaw Hta road in Muthraw (Papun) District, and clear to the Salween River.  **Note: Div 77 and 44 are not yet in the  area, this is information that the local resistance (KNU/KNLA) has received that they believe is true.

" MOC 10 will work out of Muthay Camp.  MOC 16 will clear Mon and Southern Toungoo District.  These troops of these three MOCs are operating now. MOC 21 will work out of Ler Doh (Kyauk Kyi) and Hsaw Hta (Shweygin).  They  have a new camp near Bawgata." Mon Township Chairman, KNU.

In Mon Township: The troops of MOC 10, patrols into the north into Mon Twonship and Ler Mu Plaw-Muthraw District. MOC 16.  Ma La Daw and They Pu and Yetagun Camps: 40 more trucks arrived in Ma La Daw on the 14th of April. The villagers from Yu Loe and K'mu Loh are being forced to move to Tha Bin Yut by 20 April. We just met some of these villages today as they fled the Burma Army.  According to SPDC, "if any villager is seen after that, they will be killed."  --Order came from Play Htsa Lo/They Pu Burma Army Camp

Troops from Muthay will make a new camp at Saw Ka Der/Zinga There are more than 4,000 IDPs in Mon Township now.  As of April 17, 2006.

 Goals of the SPDC and reasons for attacking the Karen  1.                  Control the population  2.                  No resistance to the regime allowed  3.                  Control trade  4.                  Control resources (timber, gold, etc.)  5.                  Build dams on the Salween River

4) Burma Army Camps in Mon Township. Nyaunglebin District. Camps on Muthey-Kyauk Kyi-Mon Road 1.. Muthey--Ko La Lay Ko--Saw Mee Lo/Ka Pae-P'la Taung-Sa Sa Gone-Awe So Mo-Kyauk Kyi-Wey Ye Naung-Seit Gyi-Ler Pa-Tha Ti Gone-Sum Bin Seit-Alone Zein-Thon Daw-Mon 2.. Other camps in place to control and attack the population: Maw La Daw - N.W. Mon (mountains) Tha Bin Yut - N.W. Mon (mountains) Mee Thin Thaw - (Mon Town) Yea Oh Zay - plains (LIB 590), Mein Oo - plains, Kaw La Wa Lu - east of Peinziek in the mountains on Mon Township. 5) Update on Hsaw Ti and Ler Doh (Shwey Gyina nd Kyauk Kyi) Townships, Naunglebin District, western Karen State:

There are over 1,500 IDPs in these two townships and now (although 1,000 have just returned home after a month in hiding and their situation is tenuous). The Burma Army is believed to be sending troops to attack the KNU District HQ area in this district. The Burma Army is also building a new camp north east of Shwey Gyin and this has displaced over 400 people who are now hiding in the mountains north of this site. MOC 21 is sending troops on a search and destroy mission from their camp at Kushaw, on the Muthraw District border.

6) Toungoo District Report.  April 14, 2006.  This is a report of the current situation in Toungoo District of Northwestern Karen State, Burma as of April 14, 2006.  This is an update of the report that was sent out on April 6, 2006.

In Tantabin Township there are currently 32 villages abandoned by villagers who have fled Burma Army attacks and patrols.  Another 22 villages have been abandoned in Thandaung Township.  The exact number of villagers displaced from these 54 villages in unknown, however the number is in the thousands (at least 2,000) with hundreds more leaving villages that have not been completely abandoned.  In the area surrounding Hoki, approximately 100 villagers have been forced to or have decided to leave their homes. 1,005 villagers have already made their way to the Salween river on the Thai/Burma border where they seek refuge.  The rest of the villagers displaced from Burma Army operations in Toungoo District have either decided to stay or have been unable to leave for one reason or another.  These people are currently hiding in the jungle in areas close to their villages. Burma Army activities and operations have increased in most of Toungoo District.  The goal of the Burma Army is to occupy the entire area and gain firm control over the Karen Population.  In order to do this they have been attacking villages, burning houses and rice barns, laying land-mines, blocking all food supplies, building new camps, and blocking all major trails and roads.  All schools and other educational institutions have had to close.  The people in Toungoo District are now hiding in the jungle and live in constant fear of new Burma Army attacks.  They are always ready to move if they receive the word that the Burma Army is on the way.

In some areas, the Burma Army has not yet attacked villages, but has warned villagers that it would attack should they not pay them or move to forced relocation sites. -On April 2, 2006 the commander of LIB 11, Aung Tan Shwe, which is based in Thay Pu ordered all villagers from the villages of Tee Pu Kee, Der Ko, Der Ka, Kler Kyaw Toe, and K'Shee Kee to move to Thandaung.  If the villagers didn't want to move each family had to pay either 250,000 kyat or 150 vises of Buffalo meat. -On April 5, 2006 the commander of LIB 35, Zaw Mya Nai, which is camped in Yetagun, ordered all villagers from Hu Mee Der, Ler Kla Der, and Kwey Der to move to Klaw Mee Der or Tandaung.  Both of these battalions are under Div. 66, which is based in Kler La/Bauggalygi. -Also in early April, the commander of Tactical Operations Command (TOC) 663, Tin Aung, which is under Div. 66 and based in They Pu ordered all villagers from Plaw Baw Der, Ye Lo, K'mu Lo and Yu Lo to move to Play Hta Lo.  All villagers had to move by April 15, 2006 or face punishment.

7) Village Reports: The following are reports from only a few of the dozens of villages that have been attacked or forced to move by the Burma Army in recent weeks. Reports from other villages can be found in the earlier report we sent out on April 6.

Maw Tu Der: the Burma Army burned down this village, which is quite close to the Toungoo to Mawchi car road, in February.  Land mines were laid in the village and the Burma Army is patrolling the village and surrounding area.

Hsaw Wa Der:  This village, which lies between the Toungoo-Mawchi car road and the Kler La-Bu Sa Kee car road was mortared, burned and looted by the Burma Army in February 2006.  The Burma Army continues to patrol the village and surrounding area.

Bu Kee: This village, which has seen a continual drop in the number of households since the Burma Army attacked it in 2002, from more than 20 households two years ago, to 11 in January 2006.  Now all of the villagers have fled. The Burma Army has blocked all access to food supplies for the people of Bu Kee.  The villagers have now run out of food and have had to leave.

Saw Mu Der:  This village, which normally gets it food supplies from nearby They Pu, has been unable to feed itself due to the construction of a new Burma Army camp in Thay Pu.  Villagers are also afraid of attack from frequent Burma Army patrols that sweep the area.

Day Lo Kloe:  Villagers from this village have been ordered to stay in the village.  The Burma Army burned all of the villagers' rice paddy fields, and rice barns.  They have also placed landmines on the trails surrounding the village.  The Burma Army frequently patrols the area.

Yer Loe Klo:  Because this village is located very close to the Kler La- Bu Sa Kee car road and the Burma Army camps at They Pu and Klaw Mi Der, villagers live in fear of Burma Army attacks.  It is very difficult to travel and receive food supplies.  Villagers have been forced to leave. 8) The following is a list of 54 villages in Toungoo District, Northern Western Karen State that have been entirely or partially abandoned:  Tantabin Township: 1.Saw Mu Der 2.Bway Baw Der 3.Si Daw Ko 4.Saw Tay Der 5.Wa Mi Ber Ko 6.Poe Mu Der 7.Plo Mu Der 8.Si Kah Der 9.Htee Lo 10.Ka Ser Ko 11.Ber Lo 12.Kaw Tee Toe 13.May Daw Ko 14.Bu Kee 15.Koe Kee 16.Tha Aye Kee 17.Hee Daw Kaw 18.Ka Lay Hta 19.Hsaw Wa Der 20.Ha Toe Ber 21.Sho Ser 22.Wa So 23.Bu Hsar Kee 24.Klay Kee 25.Plaw Baw Der 26.Peh Htaw Day 27.Cha Si Bo 28.Ta Bar Kee 29.Yer Lo 30.Hu Mi Der 31.Klaw Mi Der 32.Ler Klar Der

Thandaung Township: 33.Koe Haw Der 34.Pa Der Kar 35.Tha Yeh Yu 36.Kaw Mi Ko 37.Maw Tu Der 38.Pwei Kee 39.Hu Ber 40.Htee Hsar Ber 41.Ber Ka Lay Ko 42.Thay Ku Der 43.Thay Mu Der 44.Maw Ku Der 45.Thay Gi Der 46.Ga Mu Der 47.Saw Law Ko 48.Ler Ker Der Ko 49.Ler Ker Der Tha 50.Kaw Law Kar 51.Ker Der Kar 52.Ler Ker Der Kar 53.Htee Bu Kee 54.Ku Thay Der

ENDS