Life in Burma 2010

LifeinBurmasRelocationsSites
1
When ever they come to our village they oppress us,
torture us, order us to do forced labour, and demand
money and food from us. This time when they came they
forced us to leave our village at night and said they will
kill us if we do not leave.
Villager from Yulo Relocation Site
Digital Mapping and Database Programme
2
ReportandDocumentation: DigitalMappingandDatabaseProgram
DepartmentofStrategicStudies,
EthnicNationalitiesCouncil
ProjectSupervisor: SawTahDohMoo
ReportAuthor: PaulKeenan
Published: January2010
FieldresearchandreportpublicationkindlysupportedbyPartnersReliefandDevelopment,
www.partnersworld.org
AllimagesprovidedbyFreeBurmaRangers(FBR)andtheCommitteeforInternallyDisplacedKaren
People(CIDKP)unlessotherwisestated.
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LifeinBurmasRelocationSites
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MarladawRelocationSite
Nooneshallbeheldinslaveryorservitude....Everyonehastherighttofreedomofmovementand
residencewithinthebordersofeachstate....Nooneshallbearbitrarilydeprivedofhisproperty....
Everyonehastherighttowork,tofreechoiceofemployment....Everyone,withoutanydiscrimination,
hastherighttoequalpayforequalwork....Everyonehastherighttoastandardoflivingadequatefor
thehealthandwellbeingofhimselfandofhisfamily,includingfood,clothing,housingandmedical
care....
UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights,Articles4,13,17,23,25
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Contents
Abstract 6
Methodology 7
TermsandAbbreviations 8
Summary 11
Livelihood 18
RestrictionsandAbuses 28
HealthandEducation 34
AungSoeMoe 40
KyweChan(PerNaGer) 42
Saleh 44
Daiktu 46
Innet 48
YanMyoeAung 50
KlawMaw 52
NaungboKwetThitrelocationsite(Koni) 54
PaukThaTawandNewHePoeDer 56
Traditionsatrisk 58
Muthey 60
Bawgaligyirelocationsiteornewtownproject 62
Marlardaw 64
Taikpu(PlayHsarLoe) 66
Bawgata(KawThaSay) 68
Thebyenyuntrelocationsite 70
RelocationsitesinThandaungTownship 72
RelocationsitesinlowlandareasadjacenttoThandaungTantabintownships 74
6
Abstract
WidespreadhumanrightsviolationshavebeenoccurringinethnicareasofBurmasincethelatenineteen
sixties. This report, based on a 2008/9 feld survey, Iocuses on the government`s use oI mass displacement
andrelocationdesignedtodestabilizetheethnicpopulationsofKarenState.
The government frst initiated a policy oI ethnic relocation in Karen State in 1975 as part oI what became
knownasthefourcutscampaign,apolicyintendedtodeprivetheethnicresistancemovementoffood,
money, intelligence and recruits. While noting the existence oI such earlier camps, this report specifcally
examinesthelivesofpeoplelivinginsitesafterafurtherconcertedefforttocontrolthecivilianpopulation
wasinitiatedin2006.
This report identifes three types oI site created by the military regime. The frst, roughly translated Irom
Burmeseasmodelvillages,aresomeofthemostrecentexamplesandhavebeencreatedundertheguiseof
developmentthesecondtype,initiatedin1979,areprimarilysecuritydrivenandhaveresultedinhighland
villagesbeingrelocatedtotheplainsthethird,whicharealsosecurityinitiatedandmainlylocatedin
Taungoo,consistsofvillagesclearedfromareasofmilitaryinfrastructure.Villagersinthislattertype,unlike
theprevioustwo,havebeengivennoprovisionforrelocationrather,thepopulationwastoldtovacatethe
areawithlittleregardastowheretheywouldgo.
Relocatedvillagers,despitethefactthatpurportedcontactwithresistanceforceshasallbutbeeneradicated,
continuetofacesevereabusesbyBurmeseauthorities.Forcedlabouroninfrastructureprojectsand
militarycontrolledbusinessiswidespread.Villagersareorderedtoactassentries,messengers,portersand
minesweepersbytheBurmaArmy.Corruptionandillegaltaxationisprevalentinallthesitesassessed.
Inaddition,theopportunityformakingalivinghasbeendrasticallyreduced.Malnutrition,especiallyin
infants,hasincreasedandisexacerbatedbyarmyrestrictionsthatpreventvillagersfromaccesstofood,
medicineandeducation.
This report identifes serious issues oI concern that continue to aIIect the ethnic populations oI Burma. It
highlightsthegovernmentsdisregardfortherightsofitspeopleanditsblatantuseofthelocalpopulationas
littlemorethanacaptiveworkforcetobeusedasthemilitarydictates.
7
Methodology
This report specifcally addresses sites located in Iour townships under SPDC administration primarily three
townshipsinBagoDivision:Shwegyin,KyaukKyi,andTantabin,andoneinKarenState,Thandaung.Sites
inTavoyandDuplayadistricts,despitealsohavingrelocationsites,arenotincluded.
To gather inIormation on the lives oI the people and the living conditions in the sites, 15 feld workers,
splitinto3groups,weresenttotherelocationsiteswithastandardisedsetofquestionstoaskthoseinside.
ResearcherswereprovidedbyanumberofcommunitybasedorganisationsworkingwithinKarenState.
TheseorganisationsincludedFreeBurmaRangersandtheCommitteeforInternallyDisplacedKaren
People.Thesewerealsosupportedbylocalvolunteers.Intotal,researchersinterviewed200people,ofthese
150wereinterviewedusingthequestionnaire.
LocationsofsitesandareasvisitedweremarkedusingtheGlobalPositioningSystemsforfuture
identifcation and mapping purposes. Health and inIant welIare was measured using the MUACT (Mid-
upperArmCircumference)test.
MapsusedinthisreportweremadebytheDMDPusingtheWorldGeographicCoordinatingSystemand
WGS1984data.Mapreferenceswerebasedondatacollectedduringthesurvey,ESRIdigitalmapping
componentsandGoogleEarth.
Whereaccesstosomesitesprovedimpossible,respondentswereinterviewedoutsidetherelocationvillages
while travelling to their felds. All interviews were conducted between December 2008 and January 2009.
8
TermsandAbbreviations
BSPP BurmaSocialistProgrammeParty,nameofBurmesegovernmentfrom19631988.
DKBA DemocraticKarenBuddhistArmy,KarenarmedgroupalliedwiththeBurmesegovernment.
FBR FreeBurmaRangers
IB InfantryBattalionoftheBurmaArmy
ICRC InternationalCommitteeoftheRedCross
IDP InternallyDisplacedPerson
KNLA KarenNationalLiberationArmy
KNU KarenNationalUnion
LIB LightInfantryBattalionoftheBurmaArmy
MOC MilitaryOperationCommandoftheBurmaArmy
SLORC StateLawandOrderRestorationCommittee,nameofBurmeseGovernmentfrom1988
1997
SPDC StatePeaceandDevelopmentCouncil,nameofBurmeseGovernmentfrom1997present
TOC TacticalOperationsCommand,oftheBurmaArmy
kyat Burmesecurrency.US$1=960Kyat(asat20November2009)
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Summary
10
11
Summary
Withinternationalattentionfocusingonthe2010Burmeseelectionandtheinternationalcommunity
rethinkingitssanctionsandengagementpolicy,itisextremelyimportanttoexaminethelivingconditionsof
peopleundertheregimescontrol.Thisreport,throughtheuseofinterviewswiththelocalpopulationand
recentimagesfromgovernmentcontrolledrelocationsites,seekstohighlightthecontinuingplightofpeople
undertheStatePeaceandDevelopmentCouncilscare.
TheUnionofBurmaachievedindependencefromBritaininJanuary1948.
1
Thecountrysborderswere
the result oI a three-stage nineteenth century colonial annexation which combined the majority Burman
heartland,orBurmaProper,withtheoutlyingregionsknownastheFrontierAreas.Thefrontierareas
consistedofvariousethnicgroups
2
whohavelongresistedBurmandominationandwhathasoftenbeen
characterizedaschauvinismtowardsthem.
3
Aftergainingindependence,anumberofthese
ethnicgroups,alongwithcommunistrebels,
tookuparmsagainsttheBurmesegovernment.
Throughouttheearlyperiodofthewar,ethnic
forces,especiallytheKaren,wereableto
seizeconsiderableterritorybothinthelower
IrrawaddyDeltaandtheeasternpartofthe
countrynowdesignatedasKarenState.The
Karenhavelongresidedinboththeseareas
andboththeIrrawaddyDeltaandKarenState
formedpartofwhattheKarenwereoriginally
seekingintheirgoalofcreatinganautonomous
Karencountry.
4
While the Burma Army had been able to gain considerable ground by the late fIties it wasn`t until 1962,
withthebloodlesscoupofGeneralNeWin,thataconcertedeffortwasembarkeduponintryingtodestroy
theethnicresistance.TheBurmaArmymovedquicklytoregainafootholdintheDeltaandforcedtheKaren
armyeastintoTaungooandsouthintoKarenState.Inanattempttoendtheinsurgency,theBurmaArmy
formulatedthefourcutsstrategy(PyatLayPyat).Thefourcutscampaign,intendedtodeprivetheethnic
resistancemovementoffood,money,intelligenceandrecruits,wasdesignedtotargetthecivilianpopulation
oftheareaswhereethnicforcesmightoperate.KarenStatewasseparatedintothreeareasWhite,under
government control; Black, Iree fre zones under insurgent control; and Brown, contested by both.
Over30,000TatmadawtroopswereengagedinFourCutsoperationsintheareasaroundTaungoo,
Nyaunglebin,ThatonandPapun.Between1975and1978,theKarenNationalUnionestimatedthatover800
villagescomprisingofatleast20,000homeswereburntdown.Duringthisperiodmorethan160civilians
werekilled,120wereinjured,40womenwererapedandover200,000villagersweredisplaced.
5
It is this strategy, although oIfcially denied, that is still implemented in areas where ethnic resistance Iorces
operate.Forcedrelocationandcollectivepunishmentarecommonplaceinethnicareasthroughoutthe
country.Asthesevillagersnote:
1TheuseofthewordBurmaoverMyanmarisacontentiousissue.On18thJune1989,theSLORCadoptedLaw15/89,entitledtheAdaptationofExpressions
Law. The frst clause states that: The expression 'Union oI Burma and the expression 'Burma, 'Burman or 'Burmese contained in existing laws enacted in
theEnglishlanguageshallbesubstitutedbytheexpressionUnionofMyanmarandMyanmarrespectively.However,manyseethisasanattempttofurther
denigratetheethnicpeoplesofthecountry.ForadetaileddiscussionontheissueseeAnIntroductiontotheToponymyofBurma.,ThePermanentCommitteeon
GeographicalNames,2003and2007.
2 It is estimated that ethnic groups represent 35 oI Burma`s 58 million people. See Global IDP Database Profle oI Displacement: Myanmar (Burma)`, June
2005
3ThetermBurmanChauvinismwasadoptedtosignifytheKNUsideologicalenemyattheThirdKarenNationalUnionCongressandwaschosenaftertheterm
Burmanwasrejected.
4Karenaspirationsforaseparatehomelandhavebeenreplacedforcallsofagenuinefederalunion.
5KNUBulletin,September1986
12
IhavebeenrelocatedmanytimessincetheFourCutsOperation[began]in1975.Wewereforcedtoleave
fromKawYuThayDerandNoehPerouroriginalvillagetoShalai.Ourfarmsgotdamagedwehavefaced
food problems and manv difhculties. We were also stopped from leaving the village.
VillagerfromSaleh(DMDP_30_SL_48_010_1208)
Since1956werelocatedtoShaziboandspent5yearsthere,in1975wemovedtoInnKyawandspent10
yearsthereandin1986wewererelocatedagainandspent2yearsthere.Wewererelocatedoncemore[to
Inn Kvaw] in 2006 until now. We have to seek our shelter in other people houses in such difhculties.
VillagerfromInnKyaw(DMDP_AK_156_039_0209.doc)
IntheabsenceofbeingabletotargetethnicforcestheBurmaArmytargetscivilians.TheKarenHuman
RightsGroupnotes,whendiscussingthemostrecentoffensiveinKarenState,thatthereason:
appearstobetoestablishcontroloverthevillagersofthishillyregionwhohavealwaysevadedstate
control.ThetargetoftheoffensiveisthereforenottheKarenNationalUnion(KNU),butthevillagers
themselves, and manv of them are alreadv eeing into the forests.
6
6VillagersDisplacedasSPDCoffensiveexpandsintoPapun,2006,KHRG
AbandonedhouseatKaMooLo(ZinDaingKalay)
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Onevillagerstatedthat:
TheoperationcommanderofMOC16cametoourvillageandforcedustoleavetheysaidthattheir
purposewastoclearitofciviliansandrevolutionaries.Theysaidthatwehadtostaythere[therelocation
site]onlyforthreemonths.Ipleadedwiththemmanytimes,buttheydidnotchangetheirmind.Wehadto
leaveandeverythinghadtobedoneon16thApril2006.
PastorfromKaMooLo(DMDP_95_KML_82_035_0109)
TheKarenHumanRightsGrouphadreportedsixyearsearlierthatitappearedthattheregimeassumed
Thebestwaytodestroythese[rebel]groupsistodestroytheabilityofthecivilianstosupportthem.
7
Althoughthewidespreaduseofrelocationsites,asatoolagainstKareninsurgents,wasoriginallyinitiated
underthecontrolofthethenBurmaSocialistProgrammeParty(BSPP),theyhaveconsistentlybeenrelied
uponbysuccessiveregimesincludingtheStateLawandOrderRestorationCouncil(SLORC)in1992,and
againbytheStatePeaceandDevelopmentCouncil,in2006.AtbothtimestheBurmaArmyalsolaunched
majoroffensivesagainsttheKarenNationalUnion.
The use oI mass relocation oI civilians to fght insurgencies is not a recent occurrence. Originally used
bytheBritishduringtheSecondBoerWar,thestrategyprovedparticularlysuccessfulduringtheMalaya
campaigninthe1950s.ItwastherethatMalayasMilitaryChief,GeneralSirHaroldBriggs,implemented
7SufferinginSilence:TheHumanRightsNightmareoftheKarenPeopleofBurma,2001,KHRG
Arelocatedfamilysitsinfrontoftheirabandonedhome.Withlittlefoodavailableinrelocationsites,villagersareforcedto
returntotheirformerhomestoscavengeforwhattheycan
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whatbecameknownastheBriggsplan.Theplanconsistedofthreeessentialelementswhichwouldlater
be incorporated into the Burmese regime`s Iour cuts campaign. The frst involved clearing areas where
insurgentswereknowntooperate,onedistrictatatimethesecondwasuprootingallguerrillainfrastructure
intheclearedareasandthethirdwastheresettlementofthelocalpopulationintosecurevillages.
8
Thepolicy,avariationofwhichalsoformedthestrategichamletstrategyimplementedinVietnam,was
intendedtopreventinsurgentsaccesstofood.However,theimplementationofthepolicyinBurmahas
resultednotonlyinpreventingaccesstofoodbywhattheregimetermsinsurgents,butprimarily,andsome
mightargueintentionally,thecivilianpopulationitself.
This report has identifed three kinds oI relocation site or villages as currently existing in Karen State:
1. Relocation places that have been Ienced-in and are under the direct control oI the Burma Army.
2. VillagesthathavebeenrelocatednexttoSPDCcarroadsandarecontrolledbytheSPDCviaauthorities
formedfromtherelocatedcommunity.
3. Villages that have been ordered to relocate by the Burma Army without any previously defned
resettlementareas.Thesearethemostunstableasvillagersareforcedintohidingandareatriskfroma
varietyofabusesfromBurmaArmypatrols.
Although villagers have been ordered to relocate to specifc locations by the authorities there has never been
priorprovisionmadeforshelter,food,healthoreducation.TheBurmesegovernmenthasfailedtoaddress
thevillagersneedsinregardstoschools,sustainablelivelihoods,orfoodsecurity.
They[theSPDC]provideduswithnothing.Wehadtostayinothervillagershousesorgardens.In2006
theyforcedustostayinsomeonesgarden.Westayedthereforthreeorfourmonths,thentheyagain
forced us to move to a rice held, we did not have anv buildings, we fust had to stav under the water proof
[tarpaulin].
VillagerfromKaMooLo(DMDP_95_KML_86_034_0109)
Therehasbeenlittleregardforthosevillagesalreadypresentinareaswherenewvillagesaretoberelocated.
OftentheSPDChasforcedlocalvillagerstoselltheirlandandthensoldittothosetheyhaverelocatedatan
infated price.
Some[localvillagers]havehadtoabandontheirlandsfortherelocationsiteWehadtopayabout18,000
kyat, now the cost it is up to 700,000-800,000 kyat. The SPDC bought these lands at a low-price then sold
them to us at a high-price`.
Manyvillagershadtopayformovingtothenewsiteswithsomehavingtoselltheirbelongingstodoso.
Iwasorderedtobuildahouse,buttheydidnothelpme.TheyorderedmetocutbambooandIhadtopay
1,500kyatforeachone,Icuttenbambooandhadtopay[theauthorities]15,000kyat.
VillagerfromYulo(DMDP_95_YL_101_030_0109)
afterwemovedtotherelocationsitewesoldthemall[cattle]tobuytheland.
VillagerfromSaleh(DMDP_30_SL_50_009_1208)
8 Resisting Rebellion - The History and Politics oI Counterinsurgency`, Anthony John, Joes, 2004, The University Press oI Kentucky
15
Anumberofgeographicalfactors,ignoredbytheregime,havealsoaddedagreaterburdentorelocated
villagers.InKyaukKyiandShwegintownship(KlerLweHtuDistrict,underKNUadministration),
villagerswererelocatedfromthemountainside,wheretheywereabletomaintainorchards,tothefoot
oI the mountain. These areas consist oI disqualifed soil and small disintegrate stones which deprives the
villagersoftheabilitytogrowcrops.Asaresult,villagers,whenallowed,areforcedtotraveltotheir
abandonedvillagesandpickwhatremainsintheirorchards.Lowlandareas,wheresiteshavebeenchosen,
containanumberoflakes,manyofwhichareownedbylocalvillages.Whiletheselowlandlocationsallows
villagers the opportunity to fnd daily work, such employment is still not adequate to support Iamilies.
Similarly,mostoftherelocatedvillagesinThandaungandThantabintownships(TawOo,underKNU
administration)werelocatedonthemountainsidebeforebeingforcedtorelocatenexttoSPDCoutpostsand
carroads.TheseroadshavebeenconstructedforcommunicationbetweenfrontierSPDCoutpostsandrear
headquarters.Theareaaroundthemisalsounsuitableforgrowingcropsandvillagersareforcedtoreturn,at
greatrisk,totheirabandonedvillages.
Thesituationinallrelocationsiteshasdeteriorateddramatically.Whilesomerestrictionshaveeasedover
the last two to three years, this had little impact on the ability oI site residents to fnd a sustainable living and
manyarefacingstarvation.Theregimesnegligenceinlookingafteritspopulationandthecorruptionand
abusesperpetratedbytheBurmaArmycontinueandlooksettodosointhefuture.
As the international community looks to re-engage the Burmese government, and possibly provide more
aidtothosepopulationsatrisk,itisimportanttoensurethatsuchaidbetiedtotheBurmesegovernment
activelyseekingtoimprovethelivesofitsruralandethnicpeople.TheBurmesegovernmentmustallow
aidagenciesaccesstorelocationsitesandensurethatabusesperpetratedbytheBurmaArmyend.Villagers
mustbeallowedtoreturntotheirvillagesandbepermittedtocarryouttheirlivesastheywishwithout
hindranceorabuse.
RemnantsofpeoplesbelongingsfromKserDohVillage.ThevillagewasburnedbyIB73
16
17
Livelihood
18
Livelihood
Relocatedvillagersarefacinganextremelybleaktimeahead.RestrictionsbytheSPDChaveresultedin
villagershealthandwelfaredeterioratingrapidly.Whileoriginallybeingabletocarveoutasuitableliving
fromorchardsonthemountainsidetheirstandardoflivinghasdroppeddramatically.
Whenwestayedatourownvillagewedidnothavetobuyfood,wecouldcollectitfromtheforest.Butnow
wehavemovedtotherelocationsiteweevenhavetobuyvegetablessincewearenotallowedtoleavethe
site,wecanonlyleaveifwehavearecommendationletter.
VillagerfromDaiktu(DMDP_30_HTT_35_004_1208)
LiIe in the relocation camps is becoming increasingly more diIfcult and many villagers have seen their
incomegreatlyreduced.
Iusedtoget70%80%,90%incomefromfarmingwhenIwasstayingatmyoriginalvillage,butnowIonly
get50%aswecannotproperlyworkonthefarms.
Whatremainsofaburnedcardamomorchard
19
Whenwestayedinourownvillagewehadenoughtimetocareforourplantationandwecouldproduce
sixtimesmorefromoneacre,butherewecanonlyproducetwoorthreetimestheamountforoneacre.
When we staved in our village [prohts from] our plantation was so good. Our highest prohts came from
betel nut plantations and rice. The highest proht I got from rice was 50, and from betel nut 300, but after
the relocation the prohts became verv low, I cannot work on either farm now. I can onlv work on a small
peanut plantation with a little proht.
VillagerfromTawOo(DMDP_37_TG_143_047_0209)
Addingtotheproblemisthespacegiventovillagersandtheirrelationshipwithothervillagesthatwere
alreadyintheareapriortotherelocationsite.Whilemostrespondentsreportedthattherewasnostrong
animositybetweenthetwo,especiallywhenthevillageswereKaren,somedidfaceproblems.
Itisimpossibleforustofeedanimalsorgrowvegetablesthere,becausewehavegotaverysmallspace.
TheotherproblemistheBurman[villagers]willcomeandstealours[crops]duringthenight.
Villagers have only two opportunities to sustain their livelihoods. The frst oI these applies primarily to
villagerswhohadpreviouslybeenabletofarmcropssuchasbetelnut,cardamomandbanana.Afterbeing
AVillagersortsthroughBetelnutleaves.Theleaveswiillbesoldorexcahngedforfoodorothernecessities
20
relocated,villagershavebeenallowed,afterbuyingarecommendationletter,totendtotheirorchardsin
theirabandonedvillages.Whatproducetheyareabletosavecanthenbesoldorexchangedforriceorother
necessities.
Wehavetopay5,000kyatforeachrecommendationletterwhichallowsustosleeponourfarms.Stillwe
havetopay5,000kyatto7,000kyatforeachpersonduringtheploughingperiod.Differentunitsofarmy
demanddifferentamountsofmoney.
VillagerfromKoni(DMDP_30_KN_81_019_0109)
However,thisoptionhasbecomeincreasinglymoreuncertain.Relocationsitescanbeuptoaweeks
walkawayfromtheirpreviousvillagesandmanyareasarescatteredwithlandmines.BurmaArmypatrols
continuetooperateintheseareasandvillagersaresubjecttoarrestandinsomecasehavebeenkilledor
wounded.
I was infured bv a landmine on the 12th October 2006 when I was returning to Taw Oo area. I spent one
monthand7daysinhospitalanditcostme700,000to800,000kyat.WhenIwasinhospitalthedoctors
askedwhatethnicityIwas,IsaidIamKarenandtheyrepliedthatIhadsteppedonalandminethatmy
peoplehadplantedandnottoworry.
Villagersreturnfromtheirabandonedfarms.Afterpayingforpermissionlettervillagersstillriskstandingonlandminesor
beingshotorarrested
21
On 17th Januarv 2009 when we want to our abandoned betel nut held we heard the sound of gunhre from
theBurmaArmy.LaterwewenttothesiteandwesawaletterthatsaidWetookoneofthevillagers,dont
worryabouthim.LaterthisdeadbodywasfoundandwerealisedthathehadbeenshotbytheBurma
Armv...we guess that it was LIB 30 commanded bv Kin Maung Oo. Recentlv this unit was present and active
inSawMiLi,LerDoh,MuTheyandPawGaiKo.
VillagerfromAungSoeMoe(DMDP_30_ASM_91_011_0209)
WealwayshavetobeafraidoftheBurmaArmywhenwearetravelingfromrelocationtohome.Wealways
havetopassmilitarycamps.Wehavetobecarefulortheywouldcaptureusandpunishus,sometimesthey
couldkillusalso.
ReligiousLeaderfromMawGaiThaPerKho(DMDP_30_MPK_98_025_1208)
Ayoungwomanwithbasketsofdogfruit
22
Villagersarerequiredtoreturntothevillageoftenwithinadayandtheamountoffoodtheyareallowedto
carryisstrictlymonitoredbytheBurmaArmy.
theydonotallowustosleepatourfarm,wehavetogoandcomebackonlyinoneday.Theywarnus
nottotravelaloneorwewillbekilled.In2006ThraWahSheeandafewvillagerswerecaughtandkilled,
becausetheywereaccusedofplantinglandmines.
VillagerfromMawGaiThaPerKho(DMDP_30_MPK_114_024_1208)
Inaddition,villagersarerequiredtocarrysuppliesfromSPDCcampstoandfromarmyoutpostsalong
theirroute.Thisputsfurtherburdenonvillagers,especiallywhenreturning,astheycannotcarryboththeir
produceandsuppliesfortheBurmaArmy.
Duetotheprecariousnatureoftravel,andpressurebythemilitaryauthorities,manyorchardshavebecome
overgrownandunproductive.VillagershavealsoreportedthatBurmaArmytroops,orothervillagers,have
stolentheircropsandotheritemsaftertheywererelocated.
Weleftourorchardandtheanimals,butafterwehadmovedtotherelocationsitetheBurmaArmycame
andtookallofouranimals,thentheydestroyedourhouseandburneddownthreeothers.
Villagerscarryingbamboopolesbacktotheirvillage
23
IownedsomepigsandsomechickensandIalsoownedseveralpieceoflandforbetelnutplantation,but
nowIcannotworkonthem.Ouranimalsweretakenafterwemovedtotherelocationsite.
VillagerfromPlayHsarLoe(DMDP_95_PSL_138_045_0209)
theBurmese[villagers],onseeingusforcedtoleaveourvillage,wentandstoleourbelongingsand
plantations.
Weleftbehindalltheanimalslikechickensandducks,buttheBurmaArmystoleallofthemanddestroyed
ourhouses.Ourbetelleaftreeshavegonedry,becausewecouldnotwaterthem.Wehavelosteverything,
becausewedarenotgobacktoourvillageandtakecareofourproperty.
Thesecondworkoptionavailableisthatofadaylabourer.Villagersfromrelocationsitesmaybeableto
gainemploymentfromlocalresidentswhoowntheirownorchards,farmsandlakes.Thiskindofwork
isoftenseasonal.Inthedryseasonvillagersmaybeemployedincollectingroots,cuttingbamboopoles
andcarryingproducetostorage.Intherainyseason,theyplowfarmsandsowseedtogrowpaddy.Inthe
coldseason,theyharvestthepaddy.However,eventhiscanbeexpensive,anddaylabourersfacethesame
problemsasotherswhentravelling.
Achildweavesamat.Withlittletonoeducationchidrenhavelittleoptionbuttoworkfortheirparents
24
BecausewearecontrolledbytheBurmaArmywehavetoearnmoneyasdaylabourers.Wehaveto
pay10,000kyatforeachrecommendationlettersometimestheydonotcare[aboutgivingus]the
recommendationlettersandwecannotgoanywherewithoutit.Ifthey[theBurmaArmy]seeusontheway
thev hre their guns, arrest us, cover our faces and then take us to their militarv camps and demand monev or
foodstuffssuchaschickenandpork.
Duetothelackofsuitableemploymentoranyotherviablealternatives,villagersareforcedtoselltheirown
possessions.However,manywerealreadyforcedtoleavewithwhatlittletheycouldcarry.Someothers
wereluckierandwereabletotakecattletheyowned.
WhenIwasstillinmyoldvillageIhadsevenoreightcows,now,IhaveonlyfourleftbecauseIhadtosell
sometobuyfoodandotherbasicneeds.
Thesituationisfurtherexacerbatedbythenumberoftimesvillagersareforcedtomove.Manyrespondents
reportedmovingatleastthreetimes,oftenbacktolocationstheyhadpreviouslybeenorderedtovacate.
.1990 or 1991, [was] the hrst time we were forced to leave Bav Lar our original village and move to
Thitchaseik,thenwehadtomovetoKyawPaDaw,fromKyawPaDawbacktoThitchaseikagainandnow
wehavemovedhere.
Burmesetradersfromanearbytownsortthroughbetelnutleaves.Siteresidentsrelyonthetraderstoexchangegoodsandfood
25
I remember the hrst time was in 1997, the SPDC forced us to relocate to Kvi Ko. The second time was in
2002,theSPDCforcedustomovetoSanPyathenin2007andagainin2008wehadtomovetoKanazabin
relocationsite.
Ihavebeenforcedtorelocatetentimesinoneyear.IhavetwicemovedtoThabyenyunt.
PlayHsarLoeVillager(DMDP_95_PSL_137_043_0209)
[we have moved]Five times, the hrst place we moved to was Tawgon in 1975, the second time also to Taw
Oo,thirdtimeswemovedtoYetagun(GlawMiDer)in1991,Ohbinyaung(LerKlaDer)in1996andagain
toTawOoin20thApril2006.
Itisnotuncommonforrelocatedvillagerstobeforcedtoliveinthegardens,underthehouses,orinthe
cattleshedsofothervillagers.
Thev forced us to leave our village and move to Thebvevnvunt Relocation Site. When I reached
Thebvevnvunt Relocation Site mv familv and I had to stav under the house of a Burman familv. Mv wife had
ababyatthistimeandwehadmanyproblems.TwoorthreedayslaterImovedunderthehouseofThraMu
******.Ialwayshavetostayunderothershouses.WestayedthereforalongtimethenIwasorderedto
movetoSanPya.
26
27
RestrictionsandAbuses
28
RestrictionsandAbuses
Citingsecurityasthemainreason,theSPDCcontinuestorestrictvillagersmovements.Villagerswhoseek
toengagethemselvesasdaylabourersareonlyallowedaonedaypermit.Thosewhowishtotraveltotheir
previousvillagestocollectfruitfromtheirorchardsareissuedapermitallowingthemonlythreedays.Such
restrictionsaredirectlyresponsibleforthelossofincomeespeciallyinthecaseofthosewhoneedtotendto
theirfarmsororchardswhichquicklybecomedilapidated.
Furthermore,allvillagersinrelocationsitesareforcedtoengageinsecuritydetailsaroundtheirvillageand
nearbycarroads.IfKNLAactivityisreportedinthearea,villagersareforcedtoactashumanshieldsand
areembeddedwithBurmaArmytroopsastheylaunchpatrolsintheareaofreportedactivity.Ifanattack
takesplaceitisthevillagerswhomustprovidecompensationtothelocalarmycommander.
Additionally,localarmycommandersforcevillagerstoengageinroutineworkfortheirbattalion,this
includescuttingbamboopolesforfencing,carryingwater,cookingforBurmaArmytroopsandactingas
messengers and porters. This work is usually organised on a rotational basis and between three to fve people
adayareforcedtoworkforthecamp.Forcedportering,especially,canbeextremelydangerous.
Theyforcedustogoaheadofthemtoclearlandminesandatthesametimecarrytheirheavysupplies.
ABurmeseArmytrucktakevillagerstoactasporters,Kawtheyder,January,2008
29
.once thev forced us to go and carrv supplies.I was infured bv a landmine. Mv eves were hurt and both
ofmyhandsandlegswerecut.Theydidnottakecareofmeandevensaidcruelwordsandforcedmeto
continueuntilitreachedthepointthatIcouldonlyseewithoneeye.
They[also]usechildren,womenandolderpeopletocarrytheirsuppliesandfollowthemtoclear
landmines.Oneoftheirsoldiershastotravelwithtwovillagers.
Wehavetorepairtheirbuildingsandotherthingswealwayshavetochangeourvillageheadeverymonth.
Ifwepasstheirmilitarycampwealwayshavetoservefoodlikechickensandotherfoodstuffstheyoften
forceustocarrytheirfoodsuppliestoKweeDoKla.SomepeoplehavesteppedonlandminesandtheSPDC
donotprovidehelpforthevictims.
Mostrecently,BurmaArmytroops,onhearingofenemyactivityinareasaroundtheircamps,havetakento
indiscriminatelyshellingthesurroundingcountrysideinsteadofsendingtroopstoinvestigate.Thefactthat
relocationcampsarealsointheseareasisignoredandanumberofcasualtieshavebeenreported.PlayHsar
LoeResettlementcampwasshelledin2007injuringthreesistersincludinga3yearoldchild.
AbabyhurtintheindiscriminateshellingofPlayHsarLoerelocationsite
30
Thev [the Burma Armv] often hre heavv weapons (mortars) into the village.
VillagershaveverylittlechoicetobuttocomplywithSPDCdemandsforforcedlabour.Thosevillagers
who attempt to reIuse must fnd money to pay Ior someone to go in thir place:
thisyearwhentheywerebuildingacarroadnearYuLoandKaMooLo,theydemandedustodoforced
labourthere,butwedarednottogosothentheyorderedustopaymoneyorhavesomeonetakeourplace.
Wehadtopay10,000kyatforafamilyand7,000kyatforawidowedfamily,andthenwewereforcedto
relocate.
theyconstantlyforceustodoworkwehavetodoeverythingtheycommand.Wehavetotake
recommendationlettersifwegosomewhere,ifnottheyaregoingtokillus.
Inadditiontoforcedlabour,manyofthevillagersfacewidespreadextortionundertheguiseofdevelopment
SPDCforcesfrequentlydemandmoneyfromimpoverishedvillagers.
Theydemandedmoneyinseveralwaysandstatethatitisforschool,clinicorbridgerepairing,butIsee
thattheyputallthemoneyintotheirownpockets.
VillagerfromInnKyaw(DMDP_AK_156_039_0209)
BurmaArmycheckpoint.Villagershavetopassthroughanumberofthesewhiletravellingtotheir
abandonedfarms
31
Theydemandmoneyfromusinseveralways
includingrecommendationletters,roadrepairing,
settingupschoolsandclinicsand[they]statethatthis
monev is for the civilians beneht, but I see that all the
monev goes to their beneht.
Thosewhocannotpayfaceimprisonmentortorture.
Wehavetosellourpropertyandpayextortiontothe
SPDC,otherwisetheywouldtortureus.
OncemyfatherwasarrestedbytheSPDCtroopsand
wehadtopay70,00080,000kyatforhisrelease.
VillagerfromNathangwin(DMDP_30_NTG_5_005C_1208)
In March 2007 I was arrested and sent to fail, but before thev sent me to fail I was detained 9 davs in their
militarycamp.Heretheytorturedmeinseveralways.Iwasarrested,becausesomeonehadblamedmefor
doingsomething.Theydemanded500,000kyatandIalsohadtosplitfrommyfamily.
Oncewhentheycametoourvillage,theytorturedandbeatalmosteverybodyinthevillage.Iwasseriously
hurt and had to go to hospital, thev also beat mv children. I spent hfteen davs in hospital and two weeks
afterIreturnedfromhospitalIhadababy.
AtleastonevillagerreportedthattheybelievedtheBurmaArmypurposelysoughttodestroytheircropsby
buildingaroadclosetotheirvillage.
In2008theybuiltaroadanddestroyedourentireplantation.Morethan100treesofdurianweredamaged.
Wecouldsaythattheirpurposeinthatcarroadsconstructionwastodestroyourplantation.
PastorfromKaMooLo(DMDP_95_KML_82_035_0109)
AlmostallrespondentsreportedreceivinginsultsandthreatsfromlocalBurmaArmytroopsofteninrelation
totheirethnicbackground.
TheysaidthatwehavetokillalltheKarenpeople,ifnottheirstrengthwillincrease.
theyoftensaidthattheKarenhavenocountry,Karenarerebelsandthey[theBurmaArmy]willkillall
ofus.
AungSoeMoeresidentshotdeadbyBurmesetroopsin
January2009athisbetelnutfarm
32
33
HealthandEducation
34
HealthandEducation
Mostrelocationsiteshavenoclinicsorschools.Whilesomehavebeenabletosetupsmallworkableclinics,
theseareoftenmannedbyonlyonegovernmenthealthworkerwhomusttravelbetweeneachvillage.Some
villagesarelocatedwithinwalkingdistanceofgovernmenthealthfacilitiesbutevenheremedicalsupplies
are extremely diIfcult to obtain and resources inadequate.
wecanonlygo[tohospital]ifwehavethemoney,becausewehavetopayforeverythingthere.PaDai
KawhasahospitalThereisadoctorandsomehealthworkersthere.Wehavetopaythemmoneyandstill
have to beg them. There are no beds, it fust looks like a house.
VillagerfromGlawMaw(DMDP_30_GM_22_001_0109)
Healthissuesarefurthercomplicatedbythelocationofthesites.
Allofuswerehealthywhenwestayedatourvillage.Nowourhealthisgettingpoorer,becausewehaveto
suffertheheatfromthesunandcoldduringthewinterasthereisnotreetocoverhereNooneinmyfamily
hasdiedseveralhavediedfromotherfamilies.
NawTheDerVillagersattendtoasickwoman
35
Villagershavenooptionbuttopurchasetheirownsupplies,butonlyveryfewareabletodothisandmust
dososecretly.
Forthemedicationwehavetosecretlybuyitfromtheshop,iftheycaptureustheywillpunishusor
demandmoney.
In order to get suIfcient medical treatment, which can be extremely expensive, villagers have been Iorced to
selltheirownlivestockorfarms,althoughitmustbenotedveryfewaresofortunateandmustrelyonlocal
healthcures.
Wehavetobuymedicinebyourselfanditisveryexpensive.Wecannotdoanythingifwecannotafford
themedicineWecangotohospitalprovidedthatwehavegotover100,000kyat,wewouldbeallowedto
stav for 3-4 davs in the hospital for treatment. If our illness is not so serious we fust take herbal medicine
instead.
VillagerfromAungSoeMoe(DMDP_30_ASM_91_011_0209)
Women and inIants are at particular risk especially with no access to Iood and very little ante-natal care
available. The survey was able to apply the MUACT in fve areas and Iound that 85 children were suIIering
frommalnutritionofvaryingdegrees(seeillustration).
othervillagers,likewomenwithnewbornbabies,haveencounteredthemosthealthproblemandsome
babiesdied.
36
Althoughsomerelocationsiteshavebeenabletosetupprimaryschools,teachers,whohavetotravelfrom
nearbycities,areunabletoprovideenoughtimetostudents.Asaresulteducationisprimarilyservedby
localcommunityvolunteers.Anumberofvillagersareabletosendmiddleschoolstudentstothenearest
smalltownbuteducationcanbeextremelyexpensiveandthestateprovidesnosupport.
Nothingisfreeforus,parentshavetobuyeverything[itcosts]morethan100,000kyatforamiddleschool
student.
wedonotsendourchildrentoschool,becausewecannotaffordthefees.
Atleastonevillager,fromPaDaiKaw(DMDP_30_PDK_007),notedtheexpensesofsendingstudentsto
school.Thefees,allofwhicharebornebythecommunity,includetheteacherssalaryof35,000kyatand
studentcostsofbetween50,000to60,000kyat.Forchildrenneedingtostayinadormitorythefeesincrease
to100,000kyatincludinguniform.
Withsuchexorbitantfeesandthelossoflivelihoodforparents,onlythemostfortunatecansendtheir
childrentoschool.
37
SalehCommunitySchool,supportedbyalocalchurchgroup
38
39
RelocationSites
40
AungSoeMoe
AspartofitsFourCutsoperations,theBurmaArmy
orderedvillagersfromthehighlandsofKyaukKyi(Ler
Doh)tomovetoAungSoeMoein1974.Itwasoriginally
createdbymovingthepopulationof8villagesfrom2
villagetracts,HkoPuandSawMiLu.Allofthevillagers
hadbeenabletomakealivingbyproducingandselling
betelnuts,betalleaves,anddurian.Theywereinitially
toldthattheywouldhavetostayintheareaforfour
months.Now,35yearslater,thereare160housesand
morethan900peoplelivingthere.
AungSoeMoeisnowlocatedbetweentwomainarmy
campsatKyaukKyiandMuthey.Inaddition,thereare
alsotwootherarmyoutpostsnearby,atThanboand
Sitsaygone.
Duringthedryseason,whenmilitaryoperationsareconductedagainsttheKNLAandtheBurmaArmy
transportssuppliesandammunition,villagersarepreventedfromleavingthevillage.Thiscanlastaslong
as three months at a time. Villagers are oIten punished iI fghting takes place in areas around them. In Oct,
2006, SPDC IB-60 and LIB-351, Iought with units oI the KNLA and the Burma Army immediately ordered
all Aung Soe Moe villagers to leave the village. Again, in the frst week oI January, 2007, a clash took place
nearKyaukKyi(LerDoh)town.Theauthoritiesblamedtherelocatedpeopleforhavingcontactwiththe
KNLAandorderedthemtodestroytheirhousesandmovetoMittarWardinKyaukKyitown.Thelocation
wasextremelyovercrowdedandinsomecasestwotothreefamilieswereforcedtoliveinthegardensof
otherpeople.
AlthoughtheywereabletogobacktotherelocationsiteatAungSoeMoetherewasnoguaranteethatthe
BurmaArmywouldnotpunishthem.AsaresultmanystayedinMittarWard.Forthosewhohavereturned
thesituationisparticularlyunstable.Althoughmostofthevillagersownedorchardsandgardensinthe
mountains,almostalloftheircropshaveeitherbeenstolenbyBurmaArmytroopsortheyhavebecome
damagedbecausetheSPDCrestrictstheirabilitytotendtotheirorchards.Theauthoritiesallowvillagersto
purchaseatravelpasswhichcostsanywherebetween5001500kyatsbutisonlyvalidforthreedays.In
additiontofacingrestrictionsontheirmovementtheyarealsoforcedtoactasmessengersandportersfor
theBurmaArmy.
On 7th oI February 2007, troops Irom LIB 60, stationed at Than Bo, fred mortars into Aung Soe Moe
Iorcing villagers to fee. Some people fed to Kyauk Kyi and took reIuge in local people`s houses or their
gardens, others fed to Sham Chaung and Kywe Chan relocation site. Some have returned to Aung Soe Moe,
but liIe Ior them is extremely diIfcult. Forced to scavenge Ior Iruit in the Iorest and surrounding areas they
areconstantlyunderthreatofarrestorexecutionbyBurmaArmytroops.
On16thJanuary2009,aAungSoeMoevillager,SawChoPyoe,wasshotdeadwhilerestinginhishut
afterpickingbetelleavesathisorchard.ThetroopsfromIB542whoshothimthentriedtodestroyand
hide the body. AIter its discovery, and recovering the bullets, his mother reported the incident to the TOC-2
commander.Noactionhaseverbeentakenagainstthesoldiersinvolvedintheincident.
Location:KyaukKyiTownship
Coordinates: N 18 19 32.13' and E 096
46 10.02'
Date:1974,1979
Numberofvillagesrelocated:8
Namesofrelocatedvillages:AungSoeMoe,
HkoPu,PlayLoKlo,MawGaiKo,BerGe
Soe,TaRayKo,LerKaTaw,HteeYarKee,
SawMiLu.
Currentpopulation:900(160Families)
Armyunits:IB542(TOC5)
Ordersissuedby:Gen.KoKo,Commander,
SouthernMilitaryCommand
41
42
KyweChan(PerNaGer)
KyweChanwascreatedoutoftwovillagesbothcalled
MawBweKhi(alsoknownasMawbiki)onekilometer
apartonamountainousareaeastofKyaukKyitown,
KyaukKyitownship,PeguDivision.Thevillagers
mainlyearnedtheirlivingbyrotationalcultivationand
harvestinghoney,betelleaves,durian,nutsandother
orchardgrownproducts.
In1975,duringtheFourCutsOperation,troopsunderthe
commandoftheBurmeseSocialistProgramPartyforced
themtorelocateclosetoKyaukKyitown.UndertheFourCutsOperations,KyweChanrelocationsitewas
designatedasbeinglocatedinagreyzoneandallvillagerslivedunderBurmaArmyrestrictions.However,
duetotheinadequatesupplyoffood,villagerswereforcedtoleaveKyweChanandreturntotheir
abandonedvillagestotryandharvestwhattheycould.Theseareas,aftertherelocation,weredemarcatedas
ablackzone,andvillagerscouldbeshotorarrestedanytime.
On the 15th oI July 2007, SPDC troops Irom LIB-351, under the controlled oI Tactical Operation
Commander,Col.SoeThein,orderedKyweChanvillagetoberelocatedforroadsecurity.Thisnewsite
was on both sides oI the Taungoo-Kyauk Kyi car road connecting both the Kyauk Kyi and Muthey Burma
Armycamps.
Currently,thereare86familieswithatotalof621peoplelivinginthesites.Thereisoneprimaryschool
aswellasanurserywhichissupportedbyChristianbasedorganisationsandthelocalcommunity.Health
matters,primarilyintheformofpreventativemedicines,areattendedtobythe50bedKyaukKyihospital,
whichis15minutesaway.Despitethepresenceofanursery,thereisnomaternalorchildcareavailable.
A survey oI the relocation site, using the MUAC (Mid-upper arm circumIerence) test,Iound that out oI all
childrenaged1to5years,30percentsufferedfromeitheracuteorseveremalnutrition.
ApproximatelysixtypercentofthepeopleareanimistwiththeremaindercomprisedofChristiansand
Buddhists.Thelivingstandardofvillagersissteadilydeteriorating.RestrictionsimposedbytheSPDC
ensurethatmostofthepopulationislivingbelowthepovertyline.Thecurrentsituationwasfurther
exacerbatedbythefactthatthevillagershadtoselltheirproperty,suchascowsandbuffaloes,before
leavingtheiroldvillage.
Althoughanumberofvillagersareabletosecureemploymentasdaylabourersonnearbyfarms,income
continuestodecrease.Inthesummermonthsvillagerscutbamboopolesforweavingbamboobasketsand
handicraIts. During the rainy season they have to go to their old village to collect Iood such as dog-Iruit
and bamboo-shoots which they sell in Kyauk Kyi to earn some money Ior Iood and basic necessities. While
thevillagersareabletomakesomeincomefromreturningtotheiroldvillagesisdoesnotcomeeasily.
Landmines,laidbytheBurmaArmy,areprevalentandvillagersriskseriousinjuryordeathinreturningto
theiroldhomes.GovernmentauthoritieshavestatedthatifvillagerssteponSPDClandminestheyhaveto
reimbursethepriceofthelandminewhichis10,000kyat.
In addition to landmine risk, villagers are Iorced to work at the local SPDC IB-60 camp at Thanbo, under the
command oI Capt. Aung Kyaw Oo. They were Iorced to construct a car road connecting Thanbo-Hsaw Mi
LuSPDCcampswithoutpayment.Furthermore,villagersarealsoforcedtoserveasportersforthemilitary
carrying Iood supplies and ammunition. Villagers wishing to travel have to obtain a travel pass Irom IB-60 at
acostof1,500kyatforoneperson.Suchrestrictionsontravel,andtheabusesassociated,includingpossible
arrestandtorture,haveresultedintheorchardsandgardensatthepreviousvillagebecomingovergrownand
unusable.Itisestimatedthatthedamagesofarisapproximately25%.Consequently,themoredamagetothe
Coordinates:
Date:1975,2007
Namesofrelocatedvillages:Mawbiki
Currentpopulation:621(86families)
Armyunits:LIB351,IB60(TOC2)
43
orchards,thelessopportunityvillagerswillhavetosustaintheirlivelihoodscausingfurtherburdenforthem
inthefuture.
Thissurveyhasfoundthisburdenhasbecomemostnoticeableinvillagersdiet.DuetoSPDCrestrictions,
damagetoorchards,andtheresultinglossofincome,alargepercentageofthepeopleareforcedtorelyon
onemealadayduringtherainyseason.Thesurveyalsoshowedthatthefamiliesmostatriskwerethose
wherethebreadwinnerearnedalivingasadaylabourer.Outof14people,indifferentoccupations,11stated
thattheirfamiliesateonlyonemealaday,allelevenwereforcedtosurviveondailywages.
44
Saleh
SalehVillagewasoriginallylocatedinthemountains
andconsistedoftwovillagescalledThayWawDer&
NawPer.In1975,theBurmaArmyforcedthevillagers
torelocatetothelowlandsandrenamedThayWawDer
villageasSalehandNawPerasPayHtu.
PayHtuvillagewasforcedtorelocatenexttoacarroad
anditsinhabitants,whoweremainlyhillfarmers,have
continuedtoliveinthatsamelocationuntilnow.Saleh
wasorderedbytheSPDCNo.2,TacticalOperation
Commander,SoeThein,tomovenexttoPayHtuin
January2007.Ayearlater,inJanuary2008,theSPDC
forcedthevillagerstomoveagain,thistimetoShwePaukarrelocationsite.
Anumberofproblemshaveaffectedthevillagers.Oneofthemostseriousisthelackofanydecentwater
supply.Villagershavebeenunabletogetenoughwaterfordrinkingorbathing,andhavetocarryitfromthe
previoussiteofPayHtu.Additionally,theyhavefacedopenhostilityfromthepreviouslandownerswhostill
residearoundthesite.
InJune2008,therelocatedvillagerswereorderedtomovebacktotheprevioussiteatPayHtu.However,
thesiteisnotabletoprovideasustainablelivelihood.Duringtherainyseasonthecarroadhasbeenknown
to food, killing what little the livestock villager`s own. In addition, villagers do not have any Iarms or
orchardstoreturntoandthereforehavetoscavengeforfoodinthejungleoronthemountainside.Inthe
rainy season they can collect bamboo-shoots and dog-Iruit but this is insuIfcient to provide an adequate diet
orlivelihood.
Asisoftenthecase,thearmyhasplantedlandminesintheabandonedvillagesandonthepathsinthe
jungle.Asaresultmanyvillagersriskseriousinjuryordeathinsearchingforfood.
46 40.61'
Date:1975,2007,2008
Namesofrelocatedvillages:Kawlithido,
(laternamedSaleh),Napoko(laternamed
Petu)andNawPer
Currentarmyunits:IB351(TOC2)
Ordersissuedby:
45
46
Daiktu
Daikturelocationsiteislocated45minuteswalkaway
tothewestofLerDohTownandissurroundedby
threelayeroffencing.Itwascreated,underthename
ofdevelopmentbytheSPDCsSouthernDivision
Command,byappropriatingthefarmsoflocalvillagers.
Betweenthe17thofMarchandthe20thofAugust2006,
tenvillagesfromthewestofDaiktu,comprising633
familiesand2,253people,wereorderedtorelocatetoa
newsite.TheSPDCorderedthoserelocatedtodismantle
theiroldhousesandtobuyandclearthelandatacostof
15,000kyatperplot.Inadditiontorebuildingtheirown
homes,villagerswereforcedtoconstructaroadbetween
KyaukKyiandNathangwin.
Theplotsallotted(180ftx120ft)areextremelyovercrowdedandconditionsbecomeunbearableespecially
duringthesummerheatwhenthereisnocleanwater.VillagershavetotraveltotheoldDaiktuvillageand
bringwaterbacktotherelocationsite,atripwhichtakesuptothirtyminutesforsomevillagers.Inwinter
the weather is very cold and during the rainy season the land foods. Health is a major problem. There are
numeroussnakesandinsectsinsurroundingareasandduringthehotseasonthereisnoshadetoprotect
them. The survey also Iound that a number oI villagers suIIer Irom high-blood pressure as a result oI
drinkingsaltywater.
Therelocationofthevillagescausedtheclosureof9schoolsandeducationinthenewsiteisextremely
poor.Althoughthereisaprimaryschool,thosewhowanttogotomiddleschoolhavetowalkfor15minutes
toThooKBeeVillage.ChildrenwhoseekhighereducationhavetolivewithrelativesorfriendsinKyauk
Kyi.StudentswithoutrelativesinKyaukKyihavenooptionbuttoleaveschoolasthedistanceistoofarfor
themtowalk.
Whilepeopleareallowedtofreelypracticetheirbeliefsthereisnospacetobuildachurchandvillagers
mustattendservicesatthepastorshouse.Duringtheconstructionoftheroad,servicesonSundaywhere
suspendedbecausethepastorwasalsoforcedtoworkontheroad.
Most oI the villagers make their living Irom Iarming, seasonal cultivation, fshing and as day labourers. Most
peoplerelocatedfromDakala,TaikPaukandWaiLardaw(Burman)areBurmananddonothavefarmsor
land Ior seasonal cultivation. They mostly rely on fshing in nearby streams and lakes. Villagers who are
Iavoured by the authorities are allowed to purchase fshing licenses which they sell on to poorer fshermen.
SPDCrestrictionshavechangedovertheyears.In2006,Karenvillagerswhohadpreviouslyownedfarms
wereallowedtoreturnandtendtothembetween6:00amand5:00pm.Duetothetravellingtimeinvolved,
andalsothefactthatmanyvillagersalsohadtocarryitemsbetweenlocalarmyoutposts,villagersfound
little beneft Irom the new arrangement. With so little time they were still unable to properly cut grass,
irrigate their Iarmland or Ieed their animals. Those who didn`t return on time were fned or punished.
In2007theauthoritiesallowedvillagerstobuyarecommendationletteratacostof1,500kyatfortendays.
Theselettersallowedthemtosleepintheiroldvillageorfarms.Despitethis,theSPDCorderedvillagersto
destroythehutsontheirfarmsbecausetheyprovidedshelterforinsurgents.Thosehutsstillremainingwere
thenburntdownbytheBurmaArmy.In2008,theSPDCagainorderedthemtodestroytheirhuts.However,
thosewhocouldaffordtowereabletopay1,000kyatamonthtokeeptheirhuts.Villagerswhoworkas
44 47.02'
Date:2006
Namesofrelocatedvillages:PattalaKyein-
tawmyaing,Omyedu,PaukTahDaw,
Wetlataw(Karen),Wetlataw(Burman),Da-
kala,KyweCho,Sabyagyi,PlawLawBler
andDaiktu
Currentpopulation:4,424(633Families)
Currentarmyunits:LIB439(TOC2)
47
day labourers or fshermen were also subjected to arbitrary Iees. They were Iorced to pay 5,000 kyat Ior
ahut.On8thAugust,2008,theSPDCagaindemanded2,000kyatfromtheownersofhuts,regardlessof
whethertheyweredestroyedornot.Whethersuchextortionisgovernmentpolicyorlocallymadedecisions
inunclear.
48
Innet
MostoftheoriginalinhabitantsofInnetvillageare
Burman.Onthe1stofJune2007,8villageswereforced
torelocatetoeitherInnetortoYanMyoeAungrelocation
sites.TheSPDCorderedthemtocompletelydismantle
theirhouse.IfanyInnetvillagerswantedtoreturntotheir
previousvillagetotendtotheirfarmstheyhadtobuya
recommendationletterfromtheauthoritiesatacostof
1,500kyatfortendays.Villagerswerealsoorderedto
removethewallsandroofsoftheirfarmshuts.Those
whorefusedwereorderedtopay5,000kyat.
Onthe8thofAugust2008,theSPDCauthorities
demandedresidentspay2,000kyatforafarmhutand
50,000 kyat Ior a fshing hut. They said that it was to provide aid Ior the Cyclone Nargis victims. Also in
August, they demanded that all fshing boats be pulled out oI the water and ordered the owners to pay 5,000
kyat every month Ior each fshing hut.
45 50.10'
Date:2007
Namesofrelocatedvillages:Tawlukho,
Matawgoo,Kwekyo(Panarner),Nehyew,
Lhelangu,Oatheygu,GamonAingandInnet
Currentpopulation:1,409(294families)
Currentarmyunits:(TOC2)
49
50
YanMyoeAung
YanMyoeAungrelocationsitewasoriginallycreated
in1992inordertoestablishsecurityaroundthe
KayumyaungBridgewhichconnectsKyaukKyito
NatThanGwincarroad.Eightvillageswereoriginally
orderedtomovetothenewsitebutin1997anumberof
villagerswereallowedtoreturntheirabandonedvillages
afterpayingasubstantialbribetothelocalmilitary
authorities.Thosewhowereunabletopaywereforcedto
remainandwerejoinedbyanumberofnewlyrelocated
villagersin2007and2008.Villagersfacedthesame
problemsasinotherareas,travelrestrictions,extortion
andforcedlabour.
43 14.78'
Date:2006
Namesofrelocatedvillages:Thaungpauk,
Thinbangon,Kywe`thalinYwaMaa,
Kywe`thalinYwaThit,Mattawgon.
Currentarmyunits:IB60
51
52
KlawMaw
KlawMawrelocationsite,inKyaukKyiTownship,Pegu
DivisionwasoriginallysetupbytheBSPPin1975as
partofthefourcutscampaign.Intitiallytwovillageswere
orderedtomovetothenewsite,however,In1997,the
SPDCdecidedtorelocatesevenmorevillagestothearea.
Therearecurrently317families,totaling1,785people,
residinginthesiteonethirdofwhomareChristianwith
themajoritybeingBuddhist.Therelocationsiteisserved
byaprimaryschoolwhichcatersfora131studentswho
aresupportedby14teachers.Someoftheteacherswere
appointedbythegovernmentwiththerestprovidedby
thelocalcommunityandsupportedbyaBuddhistmonk.
Healthisamajorproblemandthereisnoclinic.Malariaisextremelyprevalentandvillagersareforcedto
relysolelyonherbalremediestocuretheirills,althoughitbutbenotedthatPoliovaccinewasdistributedby
KyaukKyihospital.Malnutritionisalsoamajorproblemespeciallyinyoungchildren.Duetogovernment
restrictionsmostfamiliesareforcedtosurviveononlyonesimplemealaday.Mostofthevillagersresiding
inthesiteareunabletofarmandpredominantlysurviveasdaylabourers.
ForcedlabouriscommonplaceandvillagershavetoworkatnearbySPDCoutposts.Theyarealsoforcedto
contribute labour Ior road construction and Ior carrying Iood and supplies Ior the army 2-3 times a year. The
nearest SPDC battalion, IB-350, demands Iamilies pay them 1,000 kyat every month in tax.
Villagersriskbeingshotonsightiftheyarefoundoutsidetherelocationsitewhilelookingforfood.In
addition,theareaisriddledwithlandmines.Ifavillagerstepsononetheymustpaythearmy10,000kyat.
ItwasalsoreportedthatifaBurmaArmysoldieriskilledbyresistanceforcesthenvillagersmustpaythe
costsofthefuneral.
Location:KyaukKyi,PeguDivision
49 35.28'
Date:1997
Namesofrelocatedvillages:Hepoeder,Mabi
Ywama,Mabi,Wetlataw,Dakala,Bawgata,
GawThazin,Gone,Tontada,Shukinthaya,
Zeebingon,Konmyintthaya
Currentpopulation:1,785(317families)
Currentarmyunits:IB350
Ordersissuedby:SouthernMilitary
Command
53
54
NaungboKwetThitrelocationsite
(Koni)
In1976,threevillages,YwaHaung(WaiSwel),MeMe
Ywa (Noe-nya-la), and Takgone (Ta-koh-pwa), were
Iorced to relocate to Naungbo (Koni) as part oI anti-
insurgencyoperationsinthearea.Whilemostvillagers
wereeventuallyabletoreturntotheiroriginalhomes,
theywereagainorderedtomovein1989.Atthetime
theywereallowedtoleavehousesstandingandweretold
tomoveonly.
InJune,2001,theSPDCrotatedtwonewarmyunits
into the area, LIB 599 and LIB 590. LIB-599 operated out oI Tonedaw and controlled Irontier outposts at
Aungloungsein (local named: Aw-law-sei), and Kyunbinseik (local name Pa-he-lu). The headquarters oI
LIB-590 was at Ye O`sin. Both were responsible Ior three village tracts: Takgone, Naungbo and Metaingdaw.
Onarrivingintheareathetwounitsorderedeachvillagetopay400,000kyatortheywouldhaveto
relocate.Despiteallvillagespayingtheamountdemandedthebattalionsrelocatedthemanyway.In2004,
three villages, Takgone, Ywa Haung, and Me`Me Ywa (Noe-nya-la) were Iorced to relocate to Naungbo
villagewhichwasthenrenamedasNaungboKwetThit.
In addition to relocating the villages, LIB 590 confscated, without reparation, 256 acres oI private land.
Theretheybuiltaninfantrybattalionheadquartersandturnedwhatlandthatwasnotusedintosugarcane
plantations.Althoughmilitaryunitsarefrequentlyrotatedintothearea,administrationdutiesprimarilyrest
withLIB590and599.
In addition to having to provide various IoodstuIIs to the army units, both fxed and rotational, villagers are
alsorequiredtocutwoodandbamboopolestobuildandmaintainarmycamps,carrywater,cook,andactas
messengers.Theyarealsorequiredtoprovidelabouronarmyrunbusinesses.
Villagersarealsosubjecttovariousformsofextortion.Theymustprovidefoodforvisitingdignitaries,
when units travel out oI the area Ior training they must also provide fnancial support Ior them. II a soldier
isinjuredorkilledbyalandmineintheareatheymustpaycompensation.Inonereportedcaseoflandmine
injury,onevillagehadtopay50,000kyatfortheinjuredsoldier.
Ricefarmersareorderedtoborrowmoneyfromthebattaliontoplantrice.Onharvesting,themoney,
includinginterest,mustbereturned.Alargeportionofthericeharvestedmust,byorderofthevillagehead,
besoldtothebattalionatgovernmentpriceswhicharehalfthemarketprice.
Ifthevillagerswanttogoouttoworkontheirfarmstheymustpay7,000kyatforarecommendationletter
whichallowsthemtoworkfrom8:00until5:00pm.InMay,whenplantingtakesplace,villagerswere
allowedtopaytherequestedamount.InJune,afterhavingalreadypaidforonemonth,therecommendation
letterwascancelledandvillagerswereorderedtodestroyalltheirfarmhuts.
Coordinates: N 18 28 0.98' and E 096 39
57.95'
Date:1976,1989
Namesofrelocatedvillages:YwaHaung
(Wai Swel), Me` Me` Ywa (Noe-nya-la),
and Takgone (Ta-koh-pwa)
Currentpopulation:56families
Currentarmyunits:LIB590,LIB599
Ordersissuedby:
55
56
PaukThaTawandNewHePoeDer
ThisrelocationsitewascreatedafterDaikturelocation
sitewasorderedtobeclosedduetoovercrowdingand
unsanitaryconditions.
Residentsweretoldatameeting,heldonthe27thof
December2008,thatvillagerswereallowedtoreturnto
theiroldvillagesandhadtogivemoneytodosowithin
thenextthreedays.Theywereinformedthatwouldhave
topay1.5millionkyatiftheywantedtoreturntotheir
originalvillagesinPatalarvillagetractor1.7millionkyat
toreturntoWetlatawvillagetract.Themoneywastobe
paidtoCol.SoeThein,thecommanderofNo.1TOC,
SouthernMilitaryDivisionCommand.
Although people Irom Wetlataw were able to fnd suIfcient money to return, those Irom Patalar, who were
poorer,couldnot.Consequently,peoplefromPatalarwereorderedtorelocate.VillagersfromPaukTha
Daw,TaikpaukandHepoedervillageswereorderedtomovetoafarmbetweenPatalarandTawkohvillages
onthe1stofJanuary2009.
PeoplefromDagalawereorderedtomovetoafarmbetweenWetlatawandDaiktuvillages.
51.0'
Date:2009
Namesofrelocatedvillages:PaukThaTaw,
Taikpauk,HePoeDerandDagala
Currentpopulation:985
Currentarmyunits:TOC1
Ordersissuedby:Col.TinBoAung,
commander oI IB-588, Southern Military
Command
57
58
Traditionsatrisk
InthoseStatesinwhichethnic,religiousorlinguisticminoritiesexist,personsbelongingtosuchminorities
shall not be denied the right, in communitv with the other members of their group, to enfov their own
culture,toprofessandpracticetheirownreligion,ortousetheirownlanguage.
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,Article27
TheforcedrelocationofKarenvillagesnotonlyimpactsontheabilityofvillagerstoearnalivingandfeed
theirfamilies,butalsohasresultedindestructionoflocaltraditionsandculture.Atleastonegroup,the
devoutlyanimistMawNayPwa(alsospeltasMonnepwaandMonebwa),
1
hasbeenforcedtoleavetheir
ancestral homes causing signifcant deterioration in their ability to practice their traditional customs.
PeoplebelongingtotheMawNayPwahavestronglyheldanimistbeliefs.Aswithmanyotheranimist
practitioners,theybelievethatthegroundandtheenvironmentwheretheyliveisintrinsicallyconnected
totheirexistence.Thus,theabilitytobeabletotraveltotheirancestralhomesifapersonbecomesill,to
performreligiousceremonies,andtoholdtraditionalfeastsisextremelyimportant.
Sincebeingforcedtorelocate,thesevillagershavebeenpreventedfromreturningtotheirabandoned
villages.Thosewhodososecretlyriskthepossibilityofbeingshotonsight,steppingonlandminesor
being arrested. Such risks were highlighted by the Karen Human Rights Group when the villages were frst
orderedtorelocate:
1TherehasbeensomeconfusioninthepastastowhethertheMawNayPwaisaseparategroupfromthePaku.TheSummerInstituteofLinguistics(SIL)
Ethnologue2009reportstillgroupsthemwiththePakubutconcedesthattheymaybeseparate.Fieldworkforthisreportsuggeststhetwogroupsareinfact
separate.
59
intheMawNayPwaareainTantabintownship,SPDCLightInfantryDivision66hasbeenpatrolling
thevillagesandsurroundingarea,andwhenevertheyseeavillagertheycapture,tortureandkillthem.Six
of the villagers from this area have also been killed in the hrst half of 2006.
2
Whilethiswasreportedalmostthreeyearsagothecurrentsituationhasimprovedlittle.
Inadditiontotherestrictiononmovement,theMawNayPwawerealsoforcedtohideoneofthemost
importantitemsaKarenhomecanhave,abronzedrum.Thesedrums,whichtheKarensbelieveconnect
themwithalongforgottenpast,areheldinparticularreverenceandofferingsareusuallymadetothem.
Villagershavehadlittlerecoursebuttohidetheminthesurroundingforestorriskthembeingstolenby
SPDC troops or other villagers. As one feld report notes:
Between the 13th and 18th June 2006, LIB 567 destroved 7 houses bv dismantling the roofs and walls. In
addition, thev destroved about 30 baskets of rice, hsh-paste, salt, cloths, cooking utensils and one Karen
traditionaldrumbelongingtoNawDu.Theycouldnotcarrythedrumbecauseitwastoobig.Theancient
drumwasmadeofmetalalloywithafaceofgold.Theycutthefaceoffthedrumandleftthebody.
Thelossofsuchsacredobjectstoavillageandthepeoplewhoownthemisofextremeimportanceandtheir
losshasculturalandnotonlymonetaryconsequences.
To date, fve Maw Nay Pwa villages have been Iorced to relocate. While there are no accurate population
fgures Ior the group the Burmese government`s Iorced relocation will see these fgures Iall drastically.
2ToungooDistrict:Thecivilianresponsetohumanrightsviolations,KHRG,15August,2006
60
Muthey
Mutheyrelocationsitewascreatedin1979aspartofthe
fourcutscampaign.Althoughvillageswereorderedto
relocate, most villagers fed into hiding in the hills with
onlyafractionlefttomovetothenewsite.In2006,the
commanderoftheSouthernMilitaryDivisionCommand
decidedtoturnMutheyintoadevelopmentproject.
Relocatedvillagerswereorderedtoclearthebrush
aroundthesitetomakewayforanewvillage.
Thecommandersintentionwastorelocatelowland
Burmanvillagersintothenewarea.However,hisplan
metwithstrongresistance.Afterarriving,manyofthe
Burman villagers were unable to adjust to their new environment. AIter some confict with local villagers
they returned to their old villages and the development plan was fnally abandoned.
Location:KyaukKyi,PeguDivision
56 30.80'
Date:1979,2006
Namesofrelocatedvillages:Saybawlu,
Bawpukhi, Htee-panar-a-khi and Paw-hpaw-
khi
Currentpopulation:
Currentarmyunits:
Ordersissuedby:
61
62
Bawgaligyirelocationsiteornew
townproject
Bawgaligyiislocated38mileseastofToungooandis
undertheadministrationofThandaungtownship,Karen
State.Thesitewasoriginallysetupin1979bytheBSPP
andmanyoftheoriginalvillagershavebeenableto
returntotheirabandonedvillagesafterpayingbribesto
localarmybattalions.
Mostrecently,Bawgaligyihasbeentrumpetedasa
modelvillagedevelopmentprojectandcurrentlyhouses
1,820people.ThemajorityofthepopulationisKaren
withafewBurmanvillagersprovidingbusinessservices.
Plans Ior the new town include the creation oI 12 sub-
districtscoveringanestimated650acres.Toallowforthisexpansionthesurroundingfarmsandorchards
were confscated.
Villagersearntheirlivingfromharvestingdurian,mangoes,andbetelnuts.Theproduceisthensoldto
BurmantradersinthevillagesortakentoTaungoo.Thereitissoldtopurchasericeoressentialhousehold
items.Between2006and2007theauthoritiesimposedsevererestrictionsontimeswhenvillagerscould
collect their harvest. While these restrictions have been eased it is still very diIfcult Ior villagers to collect
theirproduce.Cardamomharvestingtimeremainsrestrictedandonlyrecentlyhavevillagersbeenallowed
tosleepintheirorchards.Aportionofwhatproducetheyareabletocollectmustalsobegiventothevarious
militaryoutpoststheypassonreturningtotherelocationsite.
Thereisamiddleschoolandanumberofstudentsarealsoabletostudyupto10thStandard,however,they
mustattend10thStandardexaminationatThandaungMyothit,atleast1dayswalkaway.Inadditionto
theschoolthereisalsoa25bedhospitalalthoughserviceispoor.Thereislittletonomedicineandnurses
are oIten Iorced to earn a living outside the camp. In 2005, ICRC was allowed to install water purifcation
equipmentbuttheorganisationhasbeenrefusedaccesstotheareaeversince.Itismustbenotedthat
villagershavestatedthatafterICRClefttheincidenceofhumanrightsabuseshasincreased.
Bawgaligyiislocatedinanarrowmountainousareaandthereisverylittlespaceforfuturesettlement.As
aresultvillagersareforcedtoseekshelterinotherpeopleshouses.Inhabitantsareprohibitedfromleaving
the site and must thereIore secretly leave to fnd Iood and other items. Some villagers have been able to
paybribestolocalarmyunitsandhavebeenallowedtostayatabandonedvillages.Thereareavarietyof
recommendationlettersthatcanbeboughtfromthelocalauthorities.Someallowoneday,othersaweek,
and cost 200-300 kyat and 2,000 kyat respectively.
Bawgaligyi is located in a particularly strategic location and the Bawgaligyi-Mawchi car road provides easy
access to the SPDC camps at Yethogyi (Kaw-the-der), Maung Daing Gyi (Naw Soe), Sikehdo ( Si-ker-der),
Pyaungmatho (Plaw-mu-der) and Busakee.
EveryfamilyhastoworkonceaweekfortheSPDCatthesevariousoutposts.Theyhavetocutbamboo
poles,carrythemtotheoutpostandrepairthemwhenrequired.Theyarealsoforcedtocleanbrushalong
thesideofthecarroadtopreventresistanceforcesattackingfromundercover.Theyarealsoresponsiblefor
maintainingthefencessurroundingthesiteandprovidingsecurity.
Location:ThandaungTownship,KarenState
47 9.04'
Date:1979
Namesofrelocatedvillages:MeKyaw
(MawKoDer),Sabagyi(Pe`kawder),
Garmudor(Garmuder),DoeDo(Der
Doh),Kondaing(Kuplawder),Pyaungtho
(Mawpahder).
Currentpopulation:1,820
Currentarmyunits:
Ordersissuedby:
63
64
Marlardaw
MawKerThaPerKoh(KaNaSoeBininBurmese)
islocatedatThebyenyuntvillagetract,Thandaung
Township,KarenState.Duringits2006offensiveinthe
area,theBurmaArmy,MOC16,orderedthreemountain
villagestorelocatetothisnewlowlandsite.Itislocated
atthefootofanSPDCarmyoutpostcalledKanazoebin
whichtherelocatedvillagerswereforcedtobuild.
Villagersweregiven15daystomovetothenewsiteand
eachfamilywasgivenaplotofland40x60feetwide.
Due to the lack oI space it is very diIfcult to survive and
lifeismadeworseduetothefactthatthereisnoshade.Villagerswereorderedtoclearthelandofalltrees
and subsequently the summer season is extremely hot while in the rainy season the land foods. Illness is
commonplaceandwhilethereisaSPDCbuiltclinicthereislittletonomedicineandvillagerswhocan
affordithavetotraveltothehospitalinZayagyitown.
Thereareapproximately700peoplelivinginthesiteandeachpersonhastogivethelocalarmyunit5,000
kyat a year. This is becoming increasingly more diIfcult due to SPDC travel restrictions which only allow
villagerstoleaveforfourdaysayearduringharvesttime.Villagershavetosurvivebyreturningtotheir
abandoned orchards and selling what produce they can fnd in return Ior Iood thus leaving little leIt to pay
theextortionfeesdemandedbythearmy.
BetweenJanuaryandMarch2008,villagersfromMarlardawwereforcedtoconstructaroadconnecting
ThabyenyuntthroughMarlardawtoZindainggyi(SawTayDer)SPDCcamp.AttheendofMarch,villagers
werethenorderedtoconstructanotherroadconnectingThabyenyuntrelocationsitetoZindainggale(Ka
MuLo).Apersonwhocouldnotgoforroadconstructionhadtopay40,00050,000kyattothelocal
SPDCauthorities.Atleastonepersonsteppedonalandminewhileworkingontheroad.Inadditiontoroad
construction,villagersarealsorequiredtorepairmilitaryoutpostsandactasportersforthearmy.
Location:ThandaungTownship,KarenState
5.01'
Date:2006
Namesofrelocatedvillages:KaNaZoe
Bin,KaNaZoeBinAtetandMarlardaw.
Currentpopulation:700
Currentarmyunits:MOC16
Ordersissuedby:
65
66
Taikpu(PlayHsarLoe)
Taikpu,locallyknownasPlayHsarLoe(PlaySaLo),is
locatedinThandaungTownshipeastoftheoftheSittang
river.Itisapproximately10mileseastofZaYatKyitown
andhasapopulationof394people.ItwascreatedinApril
2006whentheSPDCsLID66orderedtheprimarilyMaw
NayBwavillagesofMyaukChaung,HanThoandBebeh
to relocate as part oI an ongoing pacifcation campaign in
theareathatbeganin1974.
Asinothersites,villagersfacenumerousrestrictionsand
abusesbytheBurmesearmy.Althoughauthoritieshave
promisedtoallowvillagerstotraveltoThabyaynyunt
totradewhatlittletheycanforagefromtheirorchards,theyhavebeenconstantlypreventedfromdoing
so.Throughout2006theywereusedasforcedlabourandin2007theywereorderedtocleartheareaand
constructa16milelongroadbetweenThabyaynyuntandTaikpu.Sincecompletionoftheroadtheyhave
constantlybeenusedtoportergoodsbetweenThabyenyuntandMaeTinTaing(HteeLo),HsawMaKyi,
ThaKaw,PawPa,andThayPlerDay.BetweenMayandJune2007theBurmesearmyalsoforcedthe
villagerstoworkfortheircamp,repairingbuildings,carryingfood,performingsentrydutiesandcutting
bamboo.Asaresultofarmydemands,villagersareunabletoadequatelysupportthemselvesandtheir
families.
TheBurmeseArmystrictlycontrolsmovementinandoutoftheareaandvillagersfoundoutsidewithout
permissionriskbeingshotonsight.Villagersplantationsandorchardshavebecomerottenandovergrown
due to the Army`s restrictions and labour demands. Food is almost impossible to fnd. As a result, villagers`
healthcontinuestodeteriorateandthereisnomedicineavailabletotreatthem.Thosefacinghealthproblems
havelittlerecoursebuttorelyontraditionalmedicinesastherearenoothermedicalfacilitiesinthearea.
Addingfurthertotheirhealthproblemsisthelackofcleanwaterespeciallyinthehotseason.Villagers
musttraveltotheirabandonedvillagesandcarrywaterbacktoTaikpuintheprocessavoidinglandmines
andarmypatrols.Villagersreportedthatthemostcommondiseasestheysufferfromaremalaria,diarrhoea,
gastricillness,malnutrition,colicpain,chickenpox,andanaemia.
Inthe2007rainyseason,theBurmesearmyconductedmilitaryoperationstotheeastofTaikpu.Two
battalions,underthecontrolofMOC9andTOC2,wereresponsible.Themainunitactiveintheareawas
TOC-2, consisting oI LIB 540, LIB 375 and IB 539. They ordered villagers to patrol and scout with them,
carryfoodsuppliesandbuildanumberofnewarmyoutpostsandcampsincluding,SawTayDeroutpost,
LerWahSoeoutpost,KlarHoDaycampandoneothercampbetweenLerKlahDerandToeHta.
Militaryoperationsintheareacontinuetodestroyanypotentiallivelihoodthevillagersmayhaveaccess
to.Onthe3rdofMarch2007,MOC9andLIB539soldiersburntdowntheforestinthesurroundingarea
destroyingwhatlittlecrops,fruitsandvegetables,thevillagerscouldcollect.Inadditiontheyalsoburnt
downthreegardensofbetelnutandsixgardensofcardamomallbelongingtoTaikpuvillagers.Withoutthis
sourceofincomevillagersareunabletobuyfoodfortheirfamilies.Ourresearchestimatesthatin2007,
49orchardsand4houseswereburnt,3peoplewerekilled,villagerswereforcedtoprovide1,400bamboo
polesforthearmyand741peoplewereusedasforcedlabour.
Location:ThandaungTownship
42 56.42'
Date:2006
Namesofrelocatedvillages:Myaukchaung
(YerLoe),Hantho(Plawbawder),Bibe
(Laywawloe).
Currentpopulation:1953(approx.400
familes)
Currentarmyunits:LID66
Ordersissuedby:
67
68
Bawgata(KawThaSay)
In an attempt to secure the Kyauk Kyi-Shwegyin car road,
betweenBawgatatoMinlanThanseik,theSPDCordered
thatallvillagesalongtherouteberelocated.These
villagesincludedMaUBin(Burman),Tonetada(ToThey
Poo),GawthazinGon(KawThaSay),YunPon(Shan
village),NgapeInn(Shanvillage),ShwaiDe(Karen),
MabiYwama(MabiDoh),Shukinthaya,Konemynitthaya
andMabiAtetsu(MabiPoe).Forthepurposesofthis
reportGawthazinGonevillagewasselectedasasample.
Therearealsoapproximately300relocatedfamilies
livinginthesurroundingareaaroundBawgatavillage.
Bawgataislocated17milesfromShwegyintown(Hsaw
HteeinKaren)and15milesfromKyaukKyiTown.It
islocatedinwhatisconsideredtobeagreyzone,undertheadministrationofboththeSPDCandKNU.
VillagersfromBawgatahavefrequentlybeensubjectedtoarbitraryarrest,torture,andexecutionandthey
have been arrested and Iorced to pay exorbitant fnes aIter nearby clashes between SPDC and KNLA troops.
TopreventcontactwithKNLAforcestheBurmaArmyhasreliedonforcedrelocation.Gawthazingon(Kaw
ThaSay)hasmovedthreetimesinthelasttwoyears,andatalltimeswithinanareaof3squaremiles.As
aresult,villagershavescatteredthroughouttheareaandhavetakenshelterinothervillagesorinsome
instances moved to reIugee camps on the Thai-Burma border.
Between2007and2008theareacameunderthecommandoftheSPDCsTacticalOperationsCommand
(TOC) stationed at Bawgata. All oI the villages between Minlan- Thanzeik and Bawgata were ordered to
relocatetoPanInnandthesurroundingareasaroundBawgata.Inoperationstoclearthemountainousareas
ofKNLAforces,theTOChasbaseditsforcesaroundlowlandvillagesandreportsofhumanrightsabuses
haveincreasedaccordingly.Inadditiontodemandsmadebythelocalarmyunits,villagersarealsoforcedto
paybribestothelocalpolice.
GawthazinGone(KawThaSay),oneofthevillagesthathadbeenabandoned,wasdividedintotwoparts:
YwatMaandYwarThit.MostpeopleinYwarMaareBurmanandShanandcomprise80families.Most
oftheKarenandsomeBurman,approximately120families,liveinYwarThit.Atthetimeofwritingonly
GawthazinGoneisaffectedbyarelocationorder.Ithasrelocated200familiesor548people.Mostofthem
areChristianandthereisalsoasmallBuddhistpopulation.
Originally,Bawgatahadamiddleschoolwhichallowedstudentstobeeducatedupto7thstandard.Later
only a primary school was allowed to operate and it did so unoIfcially. Children who wish to attend
middleschoolorhighschoolhavetogotoPdaiKawvillageonehourswalkaway.Thereisaruralhealth
clinicbutthereislittleornomedicine.Villagershavetobuymedicinethemselvesorrelyontraditional
alternatives.
MostoftherelocatedvillagersinBawgataarefarmerswhileothersmakealivingasdaylabourersworking
on Iarms and picking dog-Iruit in the Iorest. Every Iamily who want to work on their own Iarm needs to
purchasearecommendationletterat3,000kyatfor7days.Ifvillagerswishtoavoidforcedlabourtheymust
pay500kyatperfamilyormore.Duetothesevererestrictionsonmovement,excessiveextortiondemands,
andtherequirementtodoforcedlabour,villagersarefacingextremepovertyandareforcedtosurviveon
nothingbutwateryriceporridge.
Location:ShwegynTownship
50 41.60'
Date:1974
Namesofrelocatedvillages:KawThaSay,
MaUBin,ToneTanTa,GawthazinGone,
YunPon(Shanvillage),NgapeIn(Shan
village), Shwai De, Mabi-Ywama (Mabi-
Doh), Mabi-atetsu (Mabi-Poe), Shu Kin
Thaya,Konmyintthaya.
Currentarmyunits:TOC1,MOC101
Ordersissuedby:
69
70
Thabyaynyuntrelocationsite
Thabyaynyuntrelocationvillage,alsoknownas
ThabyeynyuntSanPya,islocatedsouthwestof
Thandaungtownship,atthefootofBoneMaTee
Mountain, 10 miles south-east oI Zatatagyi town,
TantabinTownship,Pegudivision.
AspartofthegovernmentsdevelopmentstrategyMOC
16commander,Maj.Gen.ThetOo,ordered4Karenhill
tribevillagestorelocatebetweenthe20thofAprilandthe
12thofAugust2006.Thissitehasbeendesignatedasa
modelvillage(SanPyatranslatesasidealormodel)and
theSPDCauthoritieshavesetupavillageadministration
organisedthroughgovernmentappointedvillageheads.
Thereare199familieslivingintheareatotaling1,064people.Allvillagersarerequiredtoprovidelabour
atthenearbymilitaryoutpostsatThabyaynyunt,Zindainggyi,MoepyantadaandMalardaw.Theseoutposts,
andtherelocationofthevillages,aremeanttosecureareasatthefootofthemountainandprovidesecurity
Ior communication and transport between Kyauk Kyi-Thabyaynyunt-Zindainggyi-Zindaing Galay and the
surroundingmountainousareas.
Everydryseason,villagershavetoworkatthemilitaryoutpostsorcarryammunitionorfoodsupplies.
Theyarealsorequiredtoserveaswatchmenormessengersatthearmycamps.Theymustperformthese
duties at least 5 times in a year. In 2007, the situation was extremely diIfcult Ior the relocated villagers.
Theywereusedasforcedlabourinroadconstruction.Villagerswereorderedtocleartheroadbeforeheavy
constructionequipmentwasused.Duringarmypatrols,villagerswereorderedtowalkbetweenSPDC
soldiersincaseofaKNLAattack.Everydryseason10villagers,rotatingeverythreeweeks,areordered
to work on reconstructing the Thabyeynyunt -Zindainggyi road (The road is only passable during the dry
seasonafterwhichitiswashedawaybytherains).
Duetoitsmodeldesignation,thevillagehasasmallhospital,however,thereisoftennomedicine.Those
seekingmedicalattentioncanalsotraveltothelargerhospitalinZayatgyi,butmedicinethereisalsoinshort
supply.Peoplesufferingfromillnesshavetobuymedicinefromoutside.Thereisamiddleschoolwhich
allowseducationupto10thStandardbutnoeducationalsupplies.
Mostvillagersearnalivingthroughowningorchardsandgardensbutsomeworkasdaylabourers.Afew
are able to cultivate hill-side Iarms within the relocation site vicinity and others may be able to travel, with
much diIfculty, to their abandoned villagers.
DuringthemonthsofJanuarytoAugust2007,villagerswerenotallowedtogooutside,excepttoworkon
roadconstruction.Asaresult,theywereunabletoclearthewildplantsandweedsfromtheirdurianand
betelnutgardens.InSeptember2008,theywereonlyallowedtovisittheirfarmstwiceamonthandwerent
allowedtosleepintheorchards.AstheharvestingtimefordurianisMaytoSeptember,thefruitwas
eitherdestroyedbyinsectsorrotted.Whatfruittheywereabletosaveandsell,eithertolocaltradersorin
Zayatgyionathreedaypass,providedverylittleintheformofincome.
Anumberofvillagershavebeenabletoreturntotheiroldvillagesandtendtotheirfarmsandorchards.
However,theseare12milesawayandittakesaboutthreeandhalfhourstotraveltotheirfarms,and,
carryingaload,longertoreturn.Villagershavetoleaveat6.00a.m.andmustreturnby5.00p.m.Villagers
mustalsotraveltoeachoutpostandaregivenotherduties,usuallycarryingsuppliesormessages.The
Name:Thabyaynyunt
Location:TantabinTownship,PeguDivision
25.84'
Date:2006
Namesofrelocatedvillages:Zingdainggyi,
ZingdaingGalay,MeSaPyu(HsawWah
Der), Ga-mone-aing (Ler Sha Htoo)
Currentarmyunits:MOC16
Ordersissuedby:Maj.Gen.ThetOo,
Commander,MOC16
71
villagersorchardsareontheothersideoftheYaukthawaChaung(PlayLoKloRiver)andtheymusteach
pay400kyattothearmytocrossbyboat.Takingintoaccountalltheproblemsfacedontheirjourney,
villagershaveatmost2to3hourstopickproducefromtheirfarms.Whatlittletheyareabletocarryisalso
reducedonthewaybackasbribes,intheformofproduce,areoftendemandedbytheoutposttheyhaveto
passthrough.
TherelocationorderhasalsohadseriousconsequencesforthecultureofoneoftheKarentribes,theMaw
NayPwa.TheMawNayPwaareastronglyanimistandtraditionaltribeoftheKaren.Oneoftheirvillages,
ZingdaingGalay(Kamulo)wasalsoorderedtorelocate.Asaconsequenceanumberoftheirtraditions
weredestroyedincludingtheancientcustomofkeepingaKarendrum,anumberofwhichwerelootedor
destroyedbySPDCtroops.(seeTraditionsatrisk)
72
RelocationsitesinThandaungTownships
ThandaungtownshipisinthefarnorthofKarenStateandbordersKarenniStatewhichliestotheeast.
Between 1976 and 1978, during the Iour cuts campaign, the army frst began to construct a number oI
militaryoutpostsinthearea.Theycontinuedthisexpansionandbetween1992and1997thearmylaunched
anumberofoperationsaimedatdeprivingthecivilianpopulationofitsabilitytosupportresistanceforces.
TheBurmaArmysweptthroughtheareadestroyingfarmsandorchardsthatvillagersreliedontolive,thus
deprivingthelocalpopulationoftheirlivelihoodsandtheabilitytoadequatelyfeedthemselves.
Inearly2006,theSPDCembarkedonafurtherconcertedefforttocontrolthecivilianpopulationinthe
northofKarenState.TheBurmaArmydemarcatedtheeasternbankoftheThaukyekutriverasamilitary
operationzoneandtopreventvillagersmovementintheareadestroyedtheThaukyekutChaung(DayLoe)
bridgeandminedthelocalfootpaths.
As part oI its pacifcation policy in the area the army Iorced 16 villages to relocate. In total, 2,487 people
were ordered to leave their homes, the majority belonging to the Bwe and Pa-ku Karen sub-groups. Many
ofthoseorderedtorelocatewereChristianandtheywereforcedtoleavebehindthemanychurchesthey
had built. Unlike in other areas were relocation sites had been previously defned, villagers were ordered
to simply fee with no provision made as to where. Villagers took reIuge in areas around Thandaung Gyi,
Pyasakan,Yezingone,andTonebogyi.Theretheyhadlittleoptionbuttobuildsmallhousesonother
peoplesland.
Theareaaroundtherelocationsiteisdemarcatedasablackzone.Allmalesareforbiddenfromenteringthe
areaandanyvillagersfoundaresubjecttosummaryexecutionorarrest.Asaresult,villagersareafraidto
travel to their abandoned orchards and tend to them. With little or no income the villagers fnd it extremely
diIfcult to obtain the most basic oI IoodstuIIs and have to rely on selling what little possessions they have.
TheBurmaArmy,asinotherareas,forcesvillagerstodomanuallabourforthem.InOctober2006,1,771
peoplewereforcedtoworkforthemilitary.Extortionisalsowidespreadandvillagersfrequentlyhaveto
providegoodsforthearmy.Inthesamemonththeyhadtogivethelocalarmyunit120vissofcardamom
seeds(worthabout1,200,000kyat),10basketsofrice,1,138basketsofpaddy,25,000Bamboopolesand
70 logs. The Burma Army, also in October, burnt down 17 houses and confscated 34 acres oI cardamom
plantation.Duringthesummerof2006,villagerswereforcedtopayreconstructionfees,at50,000kyatper
village,for5bridgestheSPDChaddestroyed.
73
74
RelocationsitesinlowlandareasadjacenttoThandaungTantabin
townships
Militaryoperationsinthisareaoriginallybeganin1975.BurmaArmytroopsenteredtheareaandbegan
systematically destroying Iarms and orchards and burning down villages. Villagers fed into hiding and were
abletoreturntotheirabandonedvillagesafterthearmyhadwithdrawntocentralbases.Asinotherareas,
military activity again intensifed in 1997. Troops moved into the area burning orchards and looting villages,
however, unlike previous times, the army began to construct a number oI fxed outposts.
Thesituationdeterioratedevenfurther,when,inJanuary,2006,theBurmaArmysLID66entered
ThandaungTownshipandimmediatelyimposedordersrestrictingthemovementofthecivilianpopulation.
Governmentforcesplantedlandminesonpathsleadingtovillagersfarmsandorchardsandthelocal
agriculturalmarket,whichprovidedthemainlivelihoodformostofthevillagers,wasdisbanded.
TroopsunderLID66ordered7villagestorelocateanddemarcatedtheareaasablackzone.Theorders
torelocatewerecuriouslyinconsistent.Anumberofvillageswereverballyorderedtoleavewhileothers
wereallowedtostayiftheyobtainedarecommendationletter.Thosevillagerswhohadtoleaveweregiven
noordersastowheretogoandmigratedtowardssmallertownsincludingZepyugone,Tawgone,Yeshan,
Shazebo, Aungmyeyar, Pyingun, Laythit, Thitchaseik, Tawma-in, Inngyaw, and Shwetazaung.
Inordertoensuresecuritythearmyhasconstructed7outpostsinthearea:Yetagon,Lamaingbya,
Ohnbinchaung,MyatswaChaung,AleChaung,KyauksintaungandPatalaMyaung.SPDCtroops
responsible Ior the area are controlled by LID-66 and are comprised oI LIB-568, LIB-240, LIB-567 and
IB-80. In March, 2006, the army burned the brush along the Yethogyi (Kaw Thay Der) - Busakee car road
statingthatitwastopreventambushbytheKNLA.Intheprocesstroopsalsodestroyedvillagersorchards,
especially cardamom plantations, causing yet more diIfculties Ior the local population.
MostofthepeopleinTaungoodistrictpracticeslashandburnpaddycultivationorownbetelnut,betel
leaf,durian,orcardamomorchards.However,thesoilisparticularlypoorforpaddycultivationandyields
insuIfcient rice. As a result, villagers buy rice by selling or exchanging orchard products. The mining oI
thefootpathsandtheclosureofthemarkethashadimmeasurableconsequencesonthelivesofthelocal
population.
75
76
WidespreadhumanrightsviolationshavebeenoccurringinethnicareasofBurmasincethelate
nineteen sixties. This report, based on a 2008/9 feld survey, Iocuses on the government`s use oI
massdisplacementandrelocationdesignedtodestabilizetheethnicpopulationsofKarenState.
The government frst initiated a policy oI ethnic relocation in Karen State in 1975 as part oI
whatbecameknownasthefourcutscampaign,apolicyintendedtodeprivetheethnicresistance
movementoffood,money,intelligenceandrecruits.Whilenotingtheexistenceofsuchearlier
camps, this report specifcally examines the lives oI people living in sites aIter a Iurther concerted
efforttocontrolthecivilianpopulationwasinitiatedin2006.
This report identifes three types oI sites created by the military regime. The frst, roughly
translatedfromBurmeseasmodelvillages,aresomeofthemostrecentexamplesandhavebeen
createdundertheguiseofdevelopmentthesecondtype,initiatedin1979,areprimarilysecurity
drivenandhaveresultedinhighlandvillagesbeingrelocatedtotheplainsthethird,whichare
alsosecurityinitiatedandmainlylocatedinTaungoo,consistsofvillagesclearedfromareasof
militaryinfrastructure.Villagersinthislattertype,unliketheprevioustwo,havebeengivenno
provisionforrelocationrather,thepopulationwastoldtovacatetheareawithlittleregardasto
wheretheywouldgo.
Relocatedvillagers,despitethefactthatpurportedcontactwithresistanceforceshasallbutbeen
eradicated,continuetofacesevereabusesbyBurmeseauthorities.Forcedlabouroninfrastructure
projectsandmilitarycontrolledbusinessiswidespread.Villagersareorderedtoactassentries,
messengers,portersandminesweepersbytheBurmaArmy.Corruptionandillegaltaxation
isprevalentinallthesitesassessed.Inaddition,theopportunityformakingalivinghasbeen
drasticallyreduced.Malnutrition,especiallyininfants,hasincreasedandisexacerbatedbyarmy
restrictionsthatpreventvillagersfromaccesstofood,medicineandeducation.
Thisreporthighlightsseriousissuesofconcernthatcontinuetoaffecttheethnicpopulationsof
Burma.Ithighlightsthegovernmentsdisregardfortherightsofitspeopleanditsblatantuseof
thelocalpopulationaslittlemorethanacaptiveworkforcetobeusedasthemilitarydictates.

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