News, Personal Accounts,
Report & Analysis on Human Rights Situation in Mon Territory and
Other Areas Southern Part of Burma
The Mon Forum
Issue No. 11/2001
November 30, 2001
The
Publication of Human Rights Foundation of Monland (BURMA)
Contents
News:
(1) SPDC's
IB No. 62 burnt down a Karen village near Thailand border,
(2) Suspected
villagers are still in detention after a train bomb blast,
(3) SPDC's order restriction against farmers,
(4) No crop alongside gas pipeline ordered by
SPDC
Report:
(1) Growth of anti-Muslim sentiment and
oppression against Buddhist monks in Pegu Division by SPDC,
Personal Account:
(1) Plights of young soldiers in SPDC
battalions
Some Acronyms in This Issue
SPDC- State Peace and Development Council,
SLORC- State Law and Order Restoration Council,
IB- Infantry Battalion (of Burmese Army),
LIB-
Light Infantry Battalion (of
Burmese Army),
MOC- Military
Operation Command (of Burmese Army),
USDA- Union Solidarity and Development Association (of the regime)
NMSP New
Mon State Party,
KNLA- Karen
National Liberation Army,
ILO- International
Labour Organization,
______________________________________________________________________
News
SPDC's IB No. 62 burnt down a Karen village near Thailand border
(November 2001)
In
the morning of November 27, 2001, about 120 troops from Burmese Army's IB No.
62 led by Lt. Col. Wai Tun burnt down 32 houses in a Karen village called
Htee-wan-doe, which situates about 5 kilometers from Thailand border of
Sangkhlaburi District and about 800 villagers fled into nearest Mon village,
Halockhani and displaced, according escaped villagers.
The
troops of Burmese Army from IB No. 62 came into this village with accusation it
was rebel base, and has taken base there since November 25, to find out the
KNLA troops and a recent Mon splinter troops led by Col. Pan Nyunt in and
around the village. After they could not find any rebel soldiers, the commander
ordered his men to burn down this village according to villagers.
Some
500 villagers who feared the arrest and torture by the Burmese soldiers already
fled into Halockhani Mon village before the Burmese army arrived into village.
After the Burmese arm)' burnt down their village, all 300 remaining villagers
(fled to Halockhani, a
Mon refugee resettlement site, to seek haven under New Mon State
Party (NMSP) protection. The IB No. 62 commander also said they would come back to
the village again to check the rebel troops' activities. Thus, over 800
villagers who feared for further abuses moved into Halockhani resettlement site
and now they are displacing under make-shift shelters.
During
the troops were in the village, they stole villagers' belongings and took
livestock, such as
pigs, chicken and ducks, according to villagers. Now, while they
are displacing, a Mon relief organization, Mon Relief and Development
Committee, provides them with food supplies, which are donated by many
humanitarian NGOs.
After
fleeing, these over 800 displaced people tried to seek haven in
Halockhani
resettlement site is just right on border of Thailand and Burma, but situates in
Burma and resettled the Mon refugees who were spontaneously repatriated during
NMSP-SPDC ceasefire. Htee-wah-doe village was established with displaced
villagers, who fled from mostly Kya Inn Seikyi Township of Karen State after
1997 dry season offensives launched by Burmese Army.
The
current situation in Three Pagoda Pass area inside Burma become very for both
Mon and Karen displaced persons after a Mon splinter group split and launched
their military activities in area nearby. When the Burmese Army plan to launch
offensives against these rebel armies, many villagers arrested as porters, some
villagers are accused as rebel-supporters and tortured, and at the end, many
displaced villagers for some years are again displaced and no safe shelters for
them at all.
Even
the NMSP, which agrees ceasefire with ceasefire with SPDC also concerns for the
safety of Mon people in resettlement site, because Burmese Army could have more
chance to operate its military offensives close to ceasefire zone, in which
provides safety for Mon returned refugees and displaced persons came from many
parts of Mon areas.
Suspected villagers are still in detention after a train bomb blast
About
5 villagers who worked in rubber plantations near railway northern part of Ye
Township, Mon State, are still in detention after a bomb blast exploded to a
train on 2nd October, according to a village from Taung-bon, a
village that close to incident.
At
that time, train run from
According
to villagers, some villagers' legs were rolled with round iron bars, covered
their heads with plastic heads and poured water and other types of torturing
during army was interrogating them.
As
most villagers were innocent, the army did not receive any news and information
from them and requested 5000 Kyat ransom from each person and released 15
villagers. But another 5 villagers are still remaining in detention for interrogation to have
more information. These 5 villagers are (1) Nai Kalay-ngal; (2) Nai Bvar; (3)
Nai Thar Ma Sal; (4) Nai Ngar
Pae; and (5) Nai Than Kyi and they are still cruelly
tortured by soldiers during interrogation, added by that villager.
The
Burmese Army's Military Operation Command (MOC) No. 19 have
deployed many military battalions in eastern and northern parts of Ye Township
since early this year. However, the rebel army still operate
some activities and these battalions still could not provide protection for
railway and motor road.
SPDC's order restriction
against farmers
People
who have fruit and rubber plantations and farms in east part of Moulmein-Tavoy
motor road in Ye Township, Mon State, are ordered to not go their workplaces
for security reason, a plantation owner said.
The
orders are ordered by SPDC battalions, LIB No.586, No. 587, No. 588, IB No.
106, LIB No. 591 and Ye township PDC authorities on
soldiers caught someone who stays in plantations and
farms they must shoot to death, the plantation owner added.
Before
they issued this order, on November 9, SPDC troop from battalion No.588 shot a
Mon boy, Mehm Kyaw Moe, 17 years old, from Tamort-kanin village, in his parent owned plantation near Bay-klao village and he
got a severe wound. Thus he has to receive a treatment at home for several
days, the source said.
Again,
on November 15, a column of troops from SPDC battalion IB No. 104 from Tavoy
district, which operated military patrol in southern pan of Ye Township
interrogated and beat a young Mon high school student, Mehm Soe Lin Aung, 19
years old, when he went back home from his parent plantation. In the same day,
that military column beat and interrogated 11 persons included that young
student, the source from Han-Kan village said.
No crop alongside the gas
pipeline, ordered by SPDC
In
the first week of November, local SPDC authorities in Mudon Township, Mon
State, ordered paddy cultivating farmers in all villages in Township to not
grow any paddy or other crop plants in 50 feet width both sides of
Kanbauk-Myaingkalay Gas Pipeline that pass through for its security, a farmer
family said.
One
of SPDC authorities said in their orders, "if there are growing something,
it eases for hiding to plant bombs and (die rebels) can move by covering the
plants in there. If we see someone grow something there, we will make
arrest" that family added. Therefore, some farmers, whose farms are
crossed by gas pipeline, will lose some lands to grow paddy or other crops in
the coining year's rainy season (June 2002). In the previous rainy season while
the pipeline is under construction, the farmers were not forced by this order.
It
was a SPDC local authority attempt, to protect the gas pipeline from
demolishing by revolutionary armed groups, that family added. They ordered it
every where in Mon State, where the gas pipeline crossed area, according to
another sources. The pipeline is passing Ye, Thanbyuzayat, Mudon and
This
pipeline was built before the end of 2000 and confiscated a lot of civilians'
lands along the route. Some villagers were also ordered to relocate from their
houses within three days when SPDC construction authorities found the route and
laid pipeline. The civilians who lost lands and properties had no rights to
complain for their loss to the regime.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Report
Growth
of anti-Muslim sentiment and oppression against Buddhist monks in Pegu Division
by SPDC
I. Background of clash in
Pegu Division
When September 11 attack in World Trade Center (WTC) and
Pentagon in
As
the regime feared from Buddhist monks led anti-Muslim riots, that could lead to
anti-regime and separated in the whole country, regime authorities and its
military intelligence units in the respective area have attempted to stop the
potential clashes in various ways, by restricting Buddhist monks' religious
activities and movement, by blocking Buddhist monasteries, arrest of some
suspected Buddhist monks and then imprisonment of some monks.
During
the whole month of October, after the Buddhist community heard news in country about
Muslim communities' dissatisfaction on US strike against Afghanistan and from
foreign news about anti-US demonstrations in many countries around the world,
the Buddhist communities more sentiment for anti-Muslim in Burma. On the other hand, they also heard rumour
that some Muslim leaders planned for anti-US demonstrations. Really, except little number of Muslim
leaders and their supporters planned for demonstration according to source from
Rangoon and Pegu Division, but Muslim population disagreed with that
decision. However the tension between
Buddhist and Muslim communities had escalated and Buddhist communities'
anti-Muslim sentiment increased.
In
second week of October, there was a small clash between civilians in Prome (pyi)
town and Muslim in the same area, which brought Buddhist monks to have
dissatisfaction on Muslim community Pegu Division.
The incident was,
On
October 8, 2001, a married Muslim man brought a 19 yean old girl from Buddhist
community to a mosque in town in his Muslim block for another marriage. After that, the parents of girl and some
elderly people in town went and discussed with Muslim leaders in mosque to get
their daughter back. Community leaders
and the parents of girl complained that she had only 19 years and her age did
not reach to get marriage according to Buddhist traditions and she must be
still under care of parents. Normally,
they complained that Burmese woman gets marriage only after 20 years old.
After
arguments, mosque leaders did not transfer the girl back to her parents and
they have to return to their home without their daughter They also complained that as the man
and girl agreed to marry, they would not give the girl back. But the brothers of girl angered to Muslim
community and rushed into mosque to try to get their sister back. Muslim men came out and also beat them. A fighting happened for a while and a man
from Buddhist community was beaten with a rounded iron bar to death. Then, the brothers of young girl had to
retreat back to their homes, but this news also separated out."
On
the next day, in afternoon time, a group of Buddhist monks and civilians
destroyed Muslim community by creating a clash and some 40 people got
injuries. Army and police force came to
incident places and stopped the fighting.
After
incident, the authorities also accused Buddhist monks as trouble-makers and had
main responsibility for incidents. They
also cut off all phone lines of all monasteries in town to stop the
communication among monks. They also
announced a curfew and prevent anti-Muslim clash. However, the news about this clash separated
to another towns including Pegu, the capital of Pegu Division.
Since
then, the regime authorities have worried for more clashes in other big cities
where many monk students were studying Buddhist scripture or Pali or
Buddhist teaching. Then, the
authorities secretly ordered to closely watch the activities of Buddhist monks
and their supporters.
II. SPDC attempts to close
news and Muslim leaders' plans for demonstrations
Since
September 2001, after attack in US, some business people copied the news about
the attack in videotapes and sold them without permission from regime in many
cities in Burma. Normally, all
videotapes will be censored and can be released only with permission of SPDC'
censorship board. As
the news separated out over the world and the people in
After
watching videotape of September 11 attack, there was a growth of sympathy to
victims in US among majority monks and Buddhist communities and they started
hating Muslim terrorists. In this
situation, the regime concerned about the possible clash among the Buddhist and
Muslim communities, if Muslim people rose up for demonstration opposing US
strikes against terrorists in Afghanistan.
With
this concern, the regime authorities tried to block the separation of news
among the people and declared that these videotapes about September 11 attack
and related information were illegal.
They also added that the people who sold that videotape and showed in
theaters must be punished accordingly to State security laws. The authorities also searched in videotape
selling and rental shops in towns and if they met the tapes, those shops must
be totally shut down and the owners must be imprisoned.
As
an instance,
"On
As
an another instance,
"On
October 13,YeTownship and MI Unit No. 5 ordered to all video
rental shops to not copy about news from US and
In
their operation, the regime authorities first searched all illegal tapes in
Rangoon because they concerned the riot could occur in Rangoon. At the same
time, they also closely watched the monks from well-known monasteries, which
actively in many political movement like 1988 pro-democracy uprising.
Again,
the Buddhist communities have not satisfied about severe actions of SPDC
authorities. Although SPDC authorities tried to block access to real
information inside the country, the people tried to set news from foreign
broadcasting radio services.
When
they heard there were demonstrations against US strike in many countries, the
Buddhist community tried to watch the activities Muslim community in Burma.
At
the same time, in Pegu, some Muslim extremist leaders tried to organize Muslim
community for demonstration against US strike.
On
On
the next day, the Muslim people who knew the planned demonstration brought
their children and women from Kyauk-phu-gone ward and moved to another safe
place. They worried if there was a
demonstration, the authorities and army would oppress them by means of forces
and Buddhist community could create a clash. Many Muslim people in that ward
would not like to join in demonstration and moved to another places.
After
the township authorities and police knew about the plan of Muslim leaders and
they went to ward's mosque and threatened to Muslim leaders to withdraw their
plans. So, the leaders withdrew their
plan. At the same time, Buddhist monks
and community in city also watched the development in Muslim community, and if
the demonstration was really initiated by Muslims, there would be a big clash.
However,
the news of clash on October 8 in Prome also separated to Pegu and other towns
in Pegu Division. This was also a main
reason Buddhist monks and community angered to Muslim people. Thus the clash between Buddhist and Muslim
communities occurred and started from a minor problem.
III. Chronology of clash
and oppression against Buddhist monks in Pegu town
From
October 12 to 20, the authorities have handled difficult situation when the
clashes between Buddhist monks and Muslim people occurred. As Buddhist monks group was majority, the
authorities faced difficult situation to keep them. At the end, the authorities arrested some
monks with less evidence and ordered monks to leave from city. The chronology of the incident is as below:
October 12, 2001
A
group of Buddhist monks and some civilians went to a Muslim market and
destroyed a drug store, which sold amphetamine to young community people. The shop was just in front of ward mosque.
Monks accused that township authorities and police have not cared for the
selling amphetamine that could create more number of drug addicts in
community. Drug store was destroyed and
then the group of monks and civilians left.
October 13, 2001
The
SPDC authorities, army, police force and USDA force went and surrounded
suspected monasteries from which they thought some monks involved. During their operation, the authorities
arrested about 25 monks who came out from the monasteries with accusation, they would make trouble in city again. Then they sent all arrested monks to Pegu
prison.
October 14, 2001
The
authorities ordered all monks to not come out from their monasteries for
attaining donation of alms, mainly foods.
Normally, in Buddhist traditions, the monks have to go and take alms
from civilians in early morning or before noon time. As the authorities worried the monks would
take chance for demonstration or create clash against Muslim community during
they were taking alms and so they stopped the monks. In that day, the higher authorities ordered
to block all monasteries and did not allow any monks to come out from
monasteries.
In
Pegu city, there are many main monasteries, which operate for study of Buddhist
teaching and scriptures in there. As many young Buddhist monks from different parts of the country
gathered in this city and the regime worried the demonstration against Muslims
could separate to all parts of
For
some monasteries, the civilians in town had to send alms especially rice and
curries to there. The authorities also stopped civilians to not send any foods
for monks. Therefore about 550 monks
over 10 monasteries surrounding well-known "Shwe-maw-daw" pagoda in
the center of city faced starvation.
Although town civilians in town sympathized monks who were blocked and
starved but they could not help.
On
that day, Township PDC authorities and intelligence force tried to organize a
group of their authorities, government servants, USDA members and some
civilians to launch a demonstration against the monks. They formed their
demonstration group with name as "people force'1 and shout
against monks in night time about
After
one hour of shouting by authorities, the monks could not tolerate longer and
made a clash with pro-regime demonstrators.
The monks also shout to demonstrators and SPDC authorities to release 25
monks who were arrested. Among the
demonstrators, as many of civilians were supporters to the monks, two policemen
and one SPDC ward leader were arrested civilians and brought to monks after
clash. One policeman also got serious
injury during the clash.
October 15, 2001
About
The
injured policeman died about 2 p.m. in afternoon time. He was a Sergeant policeman and his native
is Kyauk-ta-dar township, Irrawaddy Division,
according to civilians who knew the policeman.
At
the same day, the authorities called a meeting with all abbots from all main
monasteries. Many abbots did not
attend the meeting and boycotted to the decision made by authorities. The authorities asked the abbots who attend
the meeting to sign their decisions to imprison the monks who attempted to create
unstable situation for the country and to declare Marshall law. The authorities instructed
On
this day, one killing of democracy supporter also happened. After declaration of Marshall law, the authorities also recruited the civilians in town to
take security in their own ward and instructed if the monks came out from
monastery, they must need to inform to authorities or police immediately. If any members of a household would not like
to provide labour, that family must have to pay 300 Kyat to authorities. Many poor could not pay only 300 Kyat as
fine, many women also involved in taking security because their husbands were
away or needed to work hard works in day time.
In
taking security, the authorities put civilians in front and police and army
were at behind of those civilians. If
demonstration was conducted by monks, the authorities planned for face to face
fighting between monks and civilians.
It
is one type of forced labour declared by a community teacher, U Aung Myat Thu
(36 years), who stayed in Sein-tun town ward.
He explained in coffee shop in the evening time that the conscription of
civilians at night time to stop riot or demonstration was a practice of forced
labour and was against Order 1/99 issued by Ministry of Home Affairs. He
complained that now it was a lie. He
also added that without democracy ruling system and rule of laws, there would be
no justice. As he was a respected
community teacher, the police and soldiers did not make any comment to him
about his complaint.
And,
two men with plain clothes whom the civilians believed military intelligence
came and said to him that to come with them for a while. They brought him away. About 10 o'clock at night time, one villager
informed to civilians who take security that one man died in a dark place. When the civilians went and looked he was U
Aung Myat Thu and there were a lot of injuries in his face and he was stabbed
to death with knives by killers. The
civilians clearly knew who were killers. Authorities and police did not inquire the
case and the civilians kept quiet and nobody dared to say about regime.
October 16, 2001
About
8:00 a.m. in the morning, some SPDC higher authorities went to
Thatana-mun-daing monastery and ordered to senior monks that all monks must
leave to their native homes as quick as possible. There are about 550 monks in that
monasteries in surrounding area and the authorities said only 50 novices must
be remained in monasteries and other young monks must leave within one day.
So,
the monks picked their belongings and left from the monasteries group by
group. The soldiers also surrounded the
monasteries and let the monks leave the monasteries as quickly as
possible. On that day, all monks in
monasteries left totally. As the monks
came from various parts of Burma, they went to motor car and train stations for
travel to their native places. After they left from monasteries, some town
resident witnesses saw the military intelligence people with plain clothes also
arrested some of them, who were in their blacklist.
There
was a funeral ceremony for U Aung Myat Thu in city's cemetery. Many city residents attended to his funeral
quietly and no one dared to give any comment about his death. However, as many respected him in community
and many residents paid respect in his last trip to cemetery.
October 17, 2001
Township
Judge U Aye Lwin and group went to Pegu prison and put them in trails
secretly. Judge did not have any strong
evidence and prosecutors for the monks and accused them they broke laws
according to Article No. 295, with accusation that they have an attempt
decreasing the significant role of Buddhism.
Each monk who was accused with this accusation were
sentenced with 3 years and hard labour imprisonment.
As
the authorities worried that if they put trials in courts or let the people
heard for the case, the regime worried for the possible uprising and therefore,
they secretly put trials to monks and imprisoned them.
October 18, 2001
Judge
and his staff wrote reports to Col. Tin Hlaing, Minister of Ministry of Home
Affairs, about the development of clashes, punishment against the monks who
involved and other related facts secretly.
On
that day's night, the authorities changed its Marshall laws as nobody would be
on movement between 8:00 p.m. to 5 a.m.
October 19, 2001
According
prison officials, there were about 60 monks including some novices were
imprisoned. Some monks who were in the lists of SPDC involving in clash with
Muslim people were arrested after they left from monasteries, accordingly to
some civilians. Not only from one
monastery, but the monks were arrested from many monasteries.
October 20, 2001
That
day was Saturday and the authorities recruited all civilians in town, each
family had to provide one labourer to clear all bushes in surrounding area of
monastery. The authorities instructed
that civilians who needed to clear bushes must take their tools and their
food. They were also instructed to clear in surrounding
area of Military Division No. 77. The civilians are used not only clearing the
bushes outside of military bases, they were also
forced to create land space for growing vegetables.
In
roads inside city, the authorities requested policemen and firemen to clear
bushes along the roads and near a well-known Shwe-maw-daw pagoda. As Shwe-maw-daw landmark pagoda, to which
many tourists came and visited, the authorities pretended and showed to them
only government servants involved in providing voluntary labour for the regime.
Actually,
the civilians were forced to work in many hidden places and at night time. The authorities also instructed the
civilians that they must take security in their own town ward. The houses which could not provide labour
for security must have to pay 300 Kyat per night. Most civilians said the declaration of Order
1/99 that stopping the practices of forced labour was meaningless.
IV. Conditions in other
parts of Burma
Before
Prome and Pegu clashes, on September 30, 2001, the Buddhist monks from various
parts of Burma also held a meeting in Mandalay, the second capital of Burma, where
the majority of monk students are learning Buddhism. Just the meeting began,
the authorities and army surrounded the meeting place and dispersed them. The authorities regrouped them with
different areas and sent them back to their monasteries. The monks from Rangoon who joined the
meeting were deported back with trucks secured by army on October 2.
Later,
in every well-known monastery in Rangoon, the regime deployed about 6 soldiers
at least at the entrance of monastery to closely monitor the activities of
monks and restricted their movement.
The monks in Rangoon were not allowed to travel to upper Burma. According a monk for Thin-gun-kyun township
of Rangoon, the regime ordered bus and train stations in capital to not sell
tickets for monks.
Again,
on October 16, while the clashes between the monks and SPDC authorities
escalated in Pegu and many monks were arrested, the monks in Rangoon tried to
hold a meeting in Shwe-da-gon pagoda, the landmark of the capital, but the army
and authorities could disperse them. About 60-70 senior monks tried to hold this meeting. But no monk was arrested at the scene.
Normally,
the regime also put their monk intelligence among the monk community and could
know the plan in advance and could also prepare to stop the activities of the
monks.
Tensions
between Buddhist monks and Muslim community also happened in other areas of
Normally,
Buddhist monks community did not satisfy to Muslim
community when they thought the Muslims would start demonstration supporting
Osmar bin Ladin and collected fund to support the people in
On
the other hand, as the authorities worried the demonstration could be separate
out to other parts of Burma, the regime authorities restricted activities of
Buddhist monks. Especially, the authorities worried Pali language or Buddhist
scripture study monasteries because those places had many monks and could
coordinate for a big demonstration against Muslims.
In
Mon State, the regime deployed their armed force in all towns and closely
monitored the activities of the monks.
Sometimes, they also cut off phone cables of all monasteries in towns
and tried to block communications among the monks.
As
an instance,
"On
September 26, the monks and Muslim leaders had arguments relating to Osama bin
Ladin involvement in September 11 attack, in Asin village ,Ye
township and some small dashes also happened.
Then, the authorities and army went to incident places and stopped
clashes. Then, township authorities
ordered to close down all monasteries in township, winch operate for the
teaching of Buddhist scripture, and ordered the monks to leave from
monasteries.
Again,
on October 14, when the civilians in Ye town heard about rumour that Muslim
leaders tried to collect fund from their
people, Township authorities brought army from IB No. 61 into the center of the
town and guarded all main monasteries in town."
Similarly
to these situation, the regime also beefed up security
force in
V. Conclusion
In
this case, the SPDC authorities rather protected the minority Muslim communities, they have oppressed the Buddhist to not rose up
for any type of demonstration.
Actually, the authorities and army have committed various types of
religious discrimination in frontier area against Muslim communities.
The
regime had much concern that if the demonstration against Muslim people and
terrorists was led by
monks, many civilians would follow after monks, the demonstration could be
separated. The regime also thought that
after demonstrators made ruin to Muslim communities, that big
groups of people or demonstrators could move their targets to regime and
their corrupted authorities.
Like
in the case of Pegu, the corrupted authorities in Township, especially law
enforcement authorities, police have allowed for selling of illegal drugs such
as amphetamine not only in Muslim shops but also other shops which paid for
illegal money to authorities. However
the target became Muslim shops. If the
demonstration continued for another days, the demonstrators would accuse the
authorities for their involvement in corruption and then moved their target to
the regime, who governed in Rangoon.
As
military idea, they oppressed hardly and severely against the monks first
before this demonstration separated into various parts of the country. The regime did oppression rather
negotiation. It showed how the
authorities had fear for unrest and demonstration that could topple down the
regime. When they took actions and
punished some monks, they also did not have enough evidence that these monks
involved or led in making problems to Muslim communities and business places.
Although
the people did not satisfy against the authorities1 actions, nobody
dared to speak out because they could face extra-judicial killing and at least
imprisonment with punished existing laws, like a teacher who spoke out about
the authorities' violations of Order 1/99.
As
the regime main concern was the possible nationwide clash and transfer to
nationwide demonstration against the regime, they have imprisoned some monks to
stop the further strike. On the other
hand, the regime also greatly concern for the freedom of access to information
and additional freedom of expression against its rule and mismanagement, and
possible a pro-democracy- uprising.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Personal Account
Plights
of young soldiers in SPDC battalions
Background of defectors
during October and November 2001
In September 2001, a Mon splinter group split from NMSP (New Mon
State Party) and cooperated with KNLA (Karen National Liberation Army) to
fight against the Burmese Army and SPDC. This splinter group moved to Three
Pagoda Pass area in early November and tried to collect fund from the civilians
in that area. After the Burmese Army knew there were activities of NMSP
splinter group, it sent many military battalions including IB No. 62, IB No.
106, LIB No. 538, LIB No. 583 and LIB No. 591, to launch military offensives
against Mon splinter group and KNLA troops.
In most situation, when the
Burmese Army's military columns of various battalions arrived close to border
area, normally, the young soldiers or child soldiers who faced
hardship and terrible conditions in their own military
battalions always tried to escape. They surrender to rebel armies or fled into
neighbouring countries.
Whenever, the Burmese Army
launched military offensives against KNU bases and its military faction, KNLA,
along Thailand-Burma border, the soldiers of Burmese Army always tried to
escape.
Similarly, in October and
November, 2001, when the Burmese Army launched military offensives against Mon
splinter group and KNLA in Three Pagoda Pass area, some of army members have
fled into Thailand or defected to KNLA.
As an instance,
On October 21,2001, about
5 soldiers from military battalion, LIB No. 538, which based temporarily
in Three Pagoda Pass town, escaped from their base and surrendered to KNLA
troops The group of defectors was led
by Sergeant Than Soe and the reason they fled from the battalion was that they
could not tolerate longer in hard conditions of operating military offensives,
unfair duties in battalion and corruption of battalion commanders, accordingly
the source from Three Pagoda Pass township authorities. They took their guns,
grenades and ammunitions along with them.
After defectors' flee, a Burmese Army military column of LIB No. 538 followed to those
escapees and try to get their weapons and ammunitions. A fighting
happened and LIB No. 538 got back two guns.
The headquarters of LIB No.
538 is in Arakan State, western part of Burma and they had to come from a far
place and thus, the soldiers fled when they have opportunity.
Later, before the end of
November, to reinforce troops in Three Pagoda Pass area to operate military
offensives, another military battalion, IB No. 106, which base is in Ye
township, Mon State, came to border area.
From that battalion, another
two soldiers escaped from the battalion after they could not tolerate
hardships, starvation and mistreatment in their battalion. On November 30,
2001, The Mon Forum's Human Rights reporter enabled to conduct interview
with one of them and the excerpt are as below:
Name: Maung
Pho Aung
Age/Sex: 19 years/Male
Nationalities/ Religion: Burman/ Buddhist
Education: 8
Standard
Native place:
Kyauk-chat village, Mate-hti-lar Township, Mandalay Division
When did you arrive here (to a Mon village in the
border area) and how did you escape from your battalion?
I just arrived
yesterday. I fled from my military
battalion, IB No. 106, about two days ago. When we arrived to a Mon village,
Tadein (about 15 kilometers from Three Pagoda Pass town in border with
Thailand), I decided to flee from battalion. Our
battalion in Tadein area for nearly one week before I left for launching
military fighting against Mon and Karen soldiers. My friend and I fled
from battalion and hid two days in a high land paddy farm. Then, we met with a
Karen farmer and he brought us to this village. He said this village was safe.
Who were your commanders?
Our commander of military
operation was Lt. Col. Thant Zin and the column commanders were Maj. Aung Thu
and Maj. Myint Naing.
How many days taken to arrive to Tadein area from your
battalion? And, what difficulties did
you face?
We had to walk in jungle
roads for more than 20 days. We did not directly come to this area. We went
into Ye township for some days and entered into many Karen and Mon villages to
search rebel soldiers. As we had no enough foods, the commanders told us to
catch chicken, pigs, ducks and gathered foods, especially rice, from villages.
As we have about 150 soldiers we needed a lot of foods. But we could not carry
much food.
So we also faced
food-shortage problems. The commanders said to eat only small amount of rice in
each meal, or we could be starved. For more than one week, we ate boil rice.
Because of shortage of foods, many soldiers and porters failed sick and no
strength to carry supplies and ammunitions.
How many porters did the battalion had taken during
military offensives and what they had to do for soldiers?
The battalions took about 20
villagers from Mon villages in northern part of Ye Township and they had to
carry food supplies and ammunitions along with soldiers. It was quite heavy
load. Every porter had to carry 30 kilograms weight of rice or motor shells in
the back. When we climbed to mountains some porters could not walk up. They
were beaten. Nearly all of them were inhumanely beaten and shout by commanders.
Although we sympathized, but we could not help each other.
Some porters got sick and the commanders said to leave them behind. Two porters
had high fever when we matched to here and they were left behind, f don't know what would happen to them.
Why did you escape from
the battalion?
We were similarly treated by
commanders like porters. When we could not walk fast, we were also beaten or
kicked by commanders at behind. Normally, the commanders always crucially shout
to us. We did not have enough foods and felt very very tired along the
operation. We starved for many days and we had very little foods to eat. I had
thought for a long time how to flee. When we arrived to Tadein village, some
porters and two of us discussed quietly from battalion. Then when we had chance
two of us (soldiers) and three porters fled while we were gathering forest
vegetables. As we concerned we could be re-arrested if we fled by group, we
separated each other.
When did you enter for
army service and why did you decide to be a soldier?
I did not decide to be a
soldier. I was taken by force. About one
year ago (when he was about 18 years old), after I left from school and
no work in my native place, I decided to go to Rangoon to meet with my brother
who worked there But unluckily, I was arrested by some "soldier
customers" when I arrived to Da-nyin-gone Township (Rangoon Division) and
they brought be to No. 1 soldier recruitment battalion.
I don't understand what
you said, soldier customers? Can you
explain me?
Yes, actually, the commanders
of No. 1 soldier recruitment battalion instructed the civilians near their base
that if they met some strangers in township, they could arrest and bring to
them, especially young boys like me who came from rural area. Such these people
are called as "soldier customers" for recruitment battalion by
civilians in Rangoon. One soldier customer said he was a police and confiscated
my ID card. Then he brought me to battalion base, When
I arrived there, I knew he was not police. The commanders paid that man 10,000
Kyat and one sack of rice (about 65 kilograms} as prize. Then I knew I was
recruited as a new soldier. There were many young boys like me recruited
through soldier customers.
Did they send you to
military school? Can you tell me other experience?
Yes, I stayed in Rangoon only
about one week. I was brought to Moulmein, the capital of Mon State, to No. 9
basic military training school. There were about 250 new soldiers in school and
trainers trained us for four months. They trained us both days and nights.
There were many hardships. We were not allowed to eat sufficient food and
allowed to take shower once a week. After four months training, they brought us
to IB No. 106.
You said young
soldiers. How old they are and how many
of them in the battalion?
There were many soldiers
younger than me. Some of them were only
12 and 13 years old. I thought over 50
soldiers in our battalion were quite young. Most soldiers are disappointed like
me. They would like to resign, but the contract is 10 years at least. So if
they have chance they will flee like me,
Do you want to go back to
your home?
I wish to go back, but I
worry l would be arrested again.