June 19 , 2006

Only a Few Escape Forced Labor in Taungoo District

On April 11th, in Daw Pa Koh township, Taungoo district SPDC tactical 661 Captain, Soe Twin, demanded 121 villagers (20 villagers from Htee Ta Blue 20 from Thoo Geh 25 from Ka Thaw Bweh, 30 from K' Weh 15 from Ler Kee , Koh Der Kah, 18 from Sa Ba Loe Kee, 18 from Ler Koe Kah, and 20 from Koo Thay Der) to work and build the place for the SPDC in Kler La and to build the Moe Kee car road. They were forced to carry heavy luggage so two of two of porters ran away.

On June 19th, 5 of the porters fled from the forced labor and sought refuge amongst the Karen leaders.

May 19, 2006

Deaths in Kler Lwee Htoo District

Two security officials taking responsibility for IDPs in Ler Kler village tract, Kler Lwee Htoo district were killed by SPDC soldiers. SPDC is increasinglyactive in the area. SPDC soldiers also murdered six villagers: one from Saw Ka Der, one from Ler Klee, two from Kyaw Pya village and two from Ma La Daw. A then year old girl was also injured in the attacks.

Mar. 2, 2006

Forced Labor in Taungoo District

In the Daw Pa Ko Township, Captain Kyaw Sein Yah of SPDC No. 66 Division LIB 80 forced 80 villagers to carry rice and other materials from Thaw Yay Kar Camp to Htee Tha Thaw camp. The villagers came from Tha Kweh Plo, Tha She Plo, Ta Thaw Po Lee, Dee Dah Ko, Htee Tha Saw Hta and Htee Tha Saw La.

Mar. 1, 2006

Destruction of Agriculture in Taungoo District

Battalion Leader Aung Soe Win of SPDC No. 66 Division LIB 6 burned areas in Ka Thwee Dee, Moh Pa Ker and Day Lo . They destroyed many Ma Ei, bitter nut and paddy fields in the Taw T'Htu Township.

Forced Labor in Taungoo District

The SPDC No. 66 Division based in Kler La forced villagers to rebuild the road and search for landmines along Kler La to Moe Kee. On March 6, 2006 they also forced labor along two other roads from Kler La to Bu Hsar. The villagers were from Peh Kaw Der, Maw Ko Der, Ku Plaw Der, Ker Doh, Hga Mu Der, Kaw Thay Der, Klay Soe Kee, Warh Soe Koh, Hkaw Soe Koh, Ler Ko, Maw Pa Ker and Kler La.

SPDC Restricts Villager Activities within Taungoo District

SPDC 3/3 IB has turned Taungoo city Section 19, Myo Kyi area into a military zone. They have restricted all houses, churches, schools and buildings. They have also restricted a Karen Baptist Graveyard in Taungoo Section 20. They have set up camp, dug holes and are carrying in many sand bags.

Feb. 27, 2006

Villagers Leave Homes for the Jungle, Taungoo District

More than 100 villagers from Taw T'HTu township gathered to flee the area.

Feb. 25, 2006

Forced Labor in Taw T'Htu Township, Taungoo District

SPDC LIB 53 Captain Aye Kyaw forced 14 villagers from Peh Taw Day to work in Htee Loe Camp.

Brothers Murdered by SPDC in Taw T'Htu Township

At 15:30, the No. 66 Division Brigade commander, Khin Zae Ou, and the Tactical Command 663 IB 35 commander, Soe Htun, activated troops in Klaw Mee Der and Ler Kla Der. They arrested brothers from Ler Klah Der Village, 38-year-old Saw Roe Len and 40-year-old Saw Tar Nu Nu (father Saw Htoo Nay), while carrying rice in Klee Hta. The SPDC soldiers destroyed the rice and then beat and tortured the men. The brothers were later killed with a knife and tossed in the river.

Fear Spreads Through Taungoo District

SPDC 3/3 were very active during this time, causing severe fear amongst villagers. They could not work. At Taw T'Htu Township roads, mountains and fields. The SPDC No. 66 Division and Southern Command were active and stopped all traveling.

Feb. 24, 2006

Forced Labor in Taungoo District

In Taw T'Htu Township, Strategy Captain Tin Aung of SPDC Tactical Command 663 forced five Play Hsar Lo Villagers and one Yur Loe Villager to carry food from Htee Lo to Play Hsar Lo.

SPDC Violence in Taungoo District

Captain Aung Kyaw Ou of SPDC LIB 108 fired into Tar Pa Kee Village from Th’ Pya Kyaw Road. None of the villagers were injured. They all fled to the Taw T'Htu Township jungle.

Feb. 23, 2006

Forced Labor in Taungoo District

The captain of Tactical Command 663, Tin Aung, forced six villagers to be porters in Taw T'Htu Township. They had to carry food among other materials to Htee Lo Camp.

SPDC Abduction in Taungoo District

Tactical 663 LIB 108 and IB 14 of SPDC 3/3 No. 66 Division abducted a villager from Maw Koh Bweh Village. The villager has not been returned.

Feb. 21, 2006

SPDC Exploits Villagers in Taungoo District

In Taw T'Htu township, Tactical Command 3 demanded 1,000 bamboo from Sar Way Village, 3,000 from Per Nweh Kla and 300 from Noh Nya Ooh. They declared that all bamboo must reach Per Nweh Klah Camp within three days.

Feb. 19, 2006

Abduction in Taungoo District

In Htee T’ Pu Village of Daw Pa Ko Township, Captain Than Nai Htun shot Naw Shee mother’s pig, valued at 70,000 Kyat.

Feb. 16, 2006

DKBA Threaten Villagers in Taw T'Htu Township, Taungoo District

The DKBA Hka Na demanded village head, Pa Noh and Pa Na, to give him a pig valued at 40,000 Kyat. He said that they hold hands with Kaw Thoo Lie. In one month, he will force them to be porters. If they refuse, he will send them to the local prison for one month.

Feb. 15, 2006

Forced labor in Ler Doh Township

In Ler Doh Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District, Zaw Htu ordered villagers, P’ Deh Kor, Baw K’ Hta and Ma Pi Poe, to work in Klaw Maw.

Oppression of Villagers in Taw T'Htu Township

The battalion leaders from 3/3 LIB 351, Chit Than Ou and Tin Myint, arrested three villagers, 42-year-old Saw K’ Wor Htoo, 25-year-old Saw Ler Moo and 40-year-old Saw Nyin Heh. SPDC 3/3 shot and killed K’ Wor Htoo. The SPDC 3/3 soldiers active in Play Sar Loe forced villagers in Yu Lo and K’ Moo Lo to be porters, they carried the soldiers food from Chaw Mer Kyi and Yu Lo to Play Sar Lo.

Feb. 14, 2006

Abduction, Murder and Exploitation of Villagers in Taungoo District

In Taw T'Htu Township, Captain Tun Nay Lin’s soldiers from SPDC IB 48 shot one villager from Sha Shee Boh when he was on his way back to Kya T’ Kah from his paddy field. The SPDC also arrested two girls and demanded they pay 30,000 Kyat. They didn’t have the money, which caused a problem. Meanwhile, in Sha Shee boy Dai Nae, the captain fined each cart-wielding villager 1,000 Kyat.

Feb. 9, 2006

Young Villager Murdered in Taungoo District

Captain Nay Myo Aung of SPDC IB 14 lead his troops to Play Hsar Loe Village, Taw T'Htu Township. They abducted 14-year-old Saw Doo (Saw Po Neh’s son). SPDC 3/3 forced him to carry their materials. They then tortured him and then slit his throat.

Feb. 8, 2006

Taungo District Ravaged by SPDC attacks

SPDC Regiment 48 moved into Htee Loe and forced 26 villagers from K'Ser Doh to work for them. Reinforced SPDC troops moved in the area and attacked villagers in the Saw Htay Dur area. Villagers were forced to flee including middle school students. Now villagers and students are in hiding - dealing with a lack of food, and medicine. SPDC has moved into this area and destroyed homes, livestock and paddies. The situation is critical and we wait for more information.

Fear of SPDC leads Villagers to Vacate Homes in Kler Lwee Htoo District

In 1/12, 3/3 LIB 599 Captain Byi Zo demanded many villagers who were working to return to their homes. At the moment, the villagers from Maw Ker Tha Pur Koh don’t keep anything in their homes for fear that the SPDC will come and burn the houses down.

SPDC Attacks in Kler Lwee Htoo District

On February 8, 2006, Captain Hla Way of Battalion 7 SPDC 3/3 lead his troops into the Hsaw Hti Township. They burned 82 huts just outside the Aye Mya Pyint Soe Company and set fire to the villagers’ paddy fields. The SPDC soldiers at Mee Tay Ko Camp forced villagers who were working in their paddy fields to return to their lynched village. Some were beaten and sent to the hospital. The victims’ identities are yet to be established

Feb. 7, 2006

SPDC increases forces in Kler Lwee Htoo district

On February 4, 2006, SPDC Division no. 66, including 350 soldiers, came to Th'Pay Nyu village before moving on to Htee Mu Hta which is home to one of the few middle schools in the area.

In Ler Doh township, Kler Lwee Htoo district, fighting broke out between KNU and SPDC forces at Theh Lo Kloh on February 7th. SPDC leader Chi Tha Oo ordered a payment of 300,000 Kyat from Pa T'lar, Wher Lar Dur and Noh Gaw village tracts.

Jan. 20, 2006

SPDC Plants Landmines in Taungoo District

Captain Zaw Aung of IB 48 layed 13 landmines in the area during January 2006. Captain Than Lai from LIB 20 lead his troops into Day Lo Mu Taw. They laid landmines and destroyed all the bridges over Day Lo Mu Taw River. On 29 Jan. 2006, a villager from Hta Yeh Plo was injured by an SPDC landmine placed in Day Lo Ni.

June 17, 2005

KAREN CBOsMEET TO DISCUSS REFUGEE ISSUES

Karen CBOs and some INGOs joined together on June 15-17 in Mae La refugee camp to discuss a variety of issues facing the Karen refugee community. This was the second of such meetings. Three major issues emerged: refugee resettlement, sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and the question of legal jurisdiction in the refugee camps.

Over the past months, an increasing number of Karen refugees have left for third countries. All Karen CBOs agreed that this was an urgent issue. Refugees need to be fully informed and prepared about their options and the realities of life in a third country prior to their making the decision to leave. Those Karen who do leave will be encouraged to maintain links with our community and to act as advocates for all Karen people in their third country.

The Karen Women's Organization (KWO) and the Karen Youth Organization (KYO) called for improved sensitivity and efficiency in dealing with SGBV issues in the refugee camps. A highly charged discussion followed with no decision made. The issue will be discussed further at a future meeting.

The question of legal jurisdiction in refugee camps is complex. Karen refugees are living in Thailand, but are not recognized as official refugees by the Thai government. Whose laws protect us? Thai laws? International laws? Or can our Karen traditional, national or local laws be applied in the refugee camp? Opinions varied drastically between the Karen organizations - some calling for greater refugee jurisdiction where others claimed that being in Thailand meant adopting Thai law.

The meeting demonstrated that Karen CBOs hold a variety of views - often differing from each other - on issues facing the Karen community. Yet, it is this diversity of opinions and the willingness to work together that is the strength of such meetings. All CBOs agreed that they needed to make a collective effort to support the urgent needs of internally displaced Karen people who continue to live in our homeland, Karen State.