HRDU Yearbook 2006 | Chapter 2: Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution

Extra-judicial killings are an affront to the conscience of humanity and as such represent a fundamental violation of human rights law. Pursuant to Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” International humanitarian law also protects the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of life. Common Article 3 in the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, prohibits “at any time and in any place whatsoever . . . violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds”, against persons taking no active part in an armed conflict not of an international character. The junta acceded to the four Geneva Conventions in 1992, and regardless, Common Article 3 is widely recognised by the international legal community as having the status of jus cogens, i.e. a peremptory norm of international law, binding on all States.

In direct contravention of these fundamental principles of international law; extra-judicial killings, summary and arbitrary executions were frequently carried out by agents of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC- the Burmese military junta) throughout 2006, with the threat of killing employed as a means to subjugate the population to a system in which the enjoyment of their fundamental freedoms and rights are punishable by death.

Unsurprisingly, areas in which the SPDC mounted military offensives during the year saw particularly high numbers of such unlawful killings by the SPDC’s armed forces (the tatmadaw). The largest SPDC offensives in 2006 were conducted in northern Karen State, where there was a notable increase in civilian deaths following the onset of the offensive in November 2005 (despite a significant number of killings in the past). [2] Similarly, areas of Mon State in which the SPDC launched offensives against Mon resistance groups saw an alarming number of such unlawful killings.

In these areas, SPDC orders to villagers were frequently accompanied by threats that non compliance would result in the offending individual being shot. Severe curtailments on villagers’ freedom of movement were imposed by such shoot on sight policies. As KHRG state, “Those caught outside their village without official permission can, and have been, fired upon by SPDC Army soldiers. The soldiers then claim that they thought that the villager was a KNLA (armed wing of Karen National Union) soldier, regardless of the fact that they were unarmed and were wearing civilian clothing.” [3] Likewise, the forced relocation of entire villages is enforced under threat of death. In one instance, in Toungoo District, Major Aung Yan Tun of LIB #168 ordered that any villager from Yo Lo, Ta Pa Kee and Plo Baw Der whom had not relocated to Play Htsa relocation site by 25 April 2006 would be killed. [4] Through such threats, arbitrary killing serves the SPDC as a tool in the control of entire communities. (For more information see Chapter 12: Freedom of Assembly, Association and Movement and Chapter 13: Internal Displacement and Forced Relocation).

Karen villagers living in the hills were particularly targeted by such shoot on sight policies during 2006, in order that they are forced into villages and relocation sites in the plains, where they could be easily controlled and subjected to demands for forced labour and extortion. As asserted by KHRG, “Intentional killing of civilians directly serve(d) this goal as it create(d) a heightened level of insecurity and fear [for those in the hills].” [5] Throughout the year, there were numerous reports emanating from northern Karen State of SPDC troops firing indiscriminately upon villages in the hills; killing and injuring many innocent villagers and forcing those who escaped to abandon their homes. [6] When SPDC troops approached a village, they frequently fired mortar shells into it without warning, followed by the mortaring of adjacent escape routes. Troops then entered the villages firing small arms at the houses and any villagers sighted. [7] In one such attack, on 1 November 2006, SPDC IB #35, under the command of Soe Tun, fired machine guns and mortar rounds indiscriminately upon Klay Hta village, Daw Pa Ko Township for six minutes. Villager Saw Ay Pweet was killed in the attack whilst Saw Baw Thoo and Naw Heh Ku Mo were wounded and reported missing. [8]

KNLA soldiers stand guard while groups of displaced villagers cross the SPDC military road from Pwa Ghaw to Saw Htah in February 2006. Villagers dare not cross this road without KNLA escort for fear of being sighted and shot at by SPDC patrols. When the SPDC Army is particularly active in the area, crossings can only occur at night. Villagers fleeing Toungoo district toward the Thai border have no option but to cross this road. [Photo and Caption: KHRG]

Those who flee their homes and continue to evade SPDC control and exploitation by living as Internally Displaced Persons in the forests have also been consistently fired upon by SPDC battalions whenever they come into contact with them. On 3 November 2006, villagers from Hsaw Wah Der, whom had fled from the SPDC, returned to harvest their fields as they were running out of food. When troops from IB #35 came across the villagers they immediately opened fire killing two and wounding two more villagers. [9] Similarly, on 27 March 2006, Saw Maw Keh and his mother, Naw Eh Ywah Paw, aged 80, were shot and killed by SPDC troops near Ka Ba Hta, Mone Township. They had been attempting to climb out of a gully where they had been hiding, in order to get to higher ground where they felt they would be safer. Saw Maw Keh carried his elderly mother on his back. As they came into an open clearing, SPDC troops, who had been waiting on a higher ridge, began to fire on them from near point blank range. His mother fell from his back when she was shot, and as he turned to help he too was shot and killed. Saw Maw Keh’s nine year old daughter was also shot in the incident but managed to escape. [10]

Such deliberate and widespread targeting of civilians represents a crime against humanity. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines murder as a “crime against humanity” when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, if either part of government policy, or tolerated or condoned by that government. Furthermore, UN Security Council Resolution 1674, adopted on 28 April 2006, “reaffirms the provisions of paragraphs 138 and 139 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document regarding the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity”. The resolution therefore commits the Security Council to take action to protect civilians from crimes against humanity. In January 2007, both China and Russia vetoed a weakly worded resolution initiating Security Council action regarding the situation in Burma. South Africa also voted against Security Council action.

Convicts used as military porters by SPDC forces during their 2006 offensives, lived perhaps the most precarious existence of all, staying alive only at the discretion of the tatmadaw; with the killing of these convicts carried out with complete and total impunity when no longer able to serve a purpose in terms of the offensive. Those collapsing from fatigue were killed instantly, not only as an example to ensure that the rest of the group continued to work, but also to guarantee that information could not be passed on to opposition groups. [11] One escaped convict porter who had portered for LIB #251, as they moved from Thaton to Papun District, reported that his group of prisoners were told, “You are going on a pilgrimage. If you can’t continue, you won’t be left behind alive.” [12] Another escaped convict reported seeing close to one hundred executed convict porters during the offensive in Toungoo District. [13] Another told how 46 porters were shot on 6 October 2006. [14] In June 2006, 10 bodies of convict porters were found along a route where MOC #15 had been conducting operations between late May and mid June, moving along the upper Bilin River to their camp at Baw Hser Ko. [15]

Whilst some porters did manage to escape from their battalions, those captured trying to escape such brutality were executed. Such executions were held up as an example to other porters, who might be considering similar attempts at flight. In June 2006, one interviewee told how three convict porters, who were captured trying to escape, were hung upside down from a tree and then shot in full view of others, at Baw Hsar Ko camp. Similarly, SPDC troops are themselves subject to arbitrary executions should they try to desert their posts, posts which many were forced into in the first place. (For more information see Chapter 1: Forced Labour and Forced Conscription and Chapter 6: Rights of the Child). On 13 January 2006, it was reported that seven deserters from the SPDC navy were captured and executed without trial at LIB #34 base in Kyaukpru, Arakan State, after failing in their attempts to cross the border into Bangladesh. [16]

Village headmen in ethnic areas also occupied a particularly vulnerable position within the state apparatus. Serving as conduits for SPDC control and exploitation; they are often held responsible for the conduct of their villagers, failure to report insurgent activity in the area, or simply being unable to comply with unreasonable demands. In Chin State, two village headmen were arbitrarily executed within a month of each other, during 2006: one by the police, the other at the hands of the tatmadaw. [17]

Outside of ethnic rural areas under military control, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) asserted, in July 2006, that “In recent weeks and months there have been a growing number of reports of bloody killings of ordinary people by police and other state officers in the cities and towns of Burma,” adding that “such incidents expose the myth of “state stability” that the military government there uses to justify its continued existence.” [18] From these attacks, the AHRC discerned several re-occurring themes. These assaults are often carried out against someone with whom either the authorities, or those close to the authorities, have a ‘personal grievance’ with. Whilst victims may be considered politically subversive in the eyes of the SPDC, they are often charged with common criminal misdemeanours, such as possession of drugs or illegal lottery tickets, rather than under any politically suppressive legislation. Correct criminal procedures are patently ignored whilst making the arrest, and no efforts are made to conduct any sort of investigation. Instead, AHRC asserts that “the only techniques known (to Burmese authorities) are to arrest, detain and beat up.” [19]

In addition, there is rarely any avenue for the relatives of victims to lodge a complaint against those in authority. [20] The UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigations of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions pronounce that:

Such principles remained alien to the SPDC throughout 2006, with attempts by victims’ relatives to seek redress regularly resulting in harassment, intimidation, bribery or denial. On 14 March 2006, Maung Ne Zaw was arrested and beaten by the Special Anti-Drug squad police. He died in detention on 2 May 2006 after failing to receive adequate medical treatment. A post-mortem of the body was not permitted and the doctor claimed he had died of either HIV or cerebral malaria. [21] Maung Ne Zaw’s mother repeatedly attempted to have a case opened against the police who killed her son. As a result, she faced constant and heavy harassment, and finally fled to Thailand. [22] In summary of the situation, AHRC have asserted that “even the lowest-ranking government officials in Burma seem to enjoy absolute impunity to commit any type of offense against Burma’s citizens, without any prospects for complaint or redress.” [23] Furthermore, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra Judicial Killing reported, in 2006, that “the Government of Myanmar has failed to cooperate with the mandate he has been given by the UN Commission on Human Rights”, regarding the investigation of such acts. [24]

The killing of Thet Naing Oo exhibited many such recurring facets of state sanctioned violence identified by AHRC. Thet Naing Oo (a.ka. Pya Laung) was a 40 year old former political prisoner, whom had been released in 2003. Following the escalation of a quarrel between Thet Naing Oo and others at Thriminglar market, Rangoon, on 17 March 2006, he was reportedly set upon by members of the police and auxiliary fire brigade. He continued to be assaulted even after he had been handcuffed and placed in a trishaw to go to hospital. Thet Naing Oo was subsequently declared dead at the hospital. [25] His mother, San Yi, proceeded to request an investigation into the death, a call supported by opposition groups including the National League for Democracy and the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The police detained several eye-witnesses, including Thet Naing Oo’s friends, Win Myint, and Khin Maung Zaw. They were interrogated and forced to sign false statements to the effect that Thet Naing Oo was a drunk, and it was not the fault of the police that he had been killed. A special tribunal was then held at Kyimyintaing police station, on 29 March 2006, to which San Yi was initially invited, but then excluded. Local residents reported that police were pressuring eyewitnesses and trishaw drivers to provide false statements. Win Myint and Khin Maung Zaw were each charged with obstructing government officials and held incommunicado, until being released approximately one month later, on 12 April 2006. Seven trishaw drivers were also interrogated and ultimately charged. Fire brigade officers had been interrogated but released and no police officers were investigated. [26] The newspaper published by the Rangoon municipal department described Thet Naing Oo as an out-of-control drunk who needed to be contained. An anonymous officer at the newspaper reported that the paper had been ordered to publish this. [27] Court actions seeking to include further defendants to be held responsible for his killing were unsuccessful, and all appeals denied. [28]

2.2 Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution - Partial List of Incidents for 2006

On 13 January 2006 it was reported that, in the previous week, seven deserters from the SPDC navy were captured and executed without trial at LIB #34 base in Kyaukpru, after failing to cross the border to Bangladesh from Rambree Island. [29]

On 24 June 2006, a male Burmese citizen was shot dead by NaSaKa (Border Security) forces, whilst crossing the Naf River to the Bangladeshi border town of Teknaf on a cattle smuggling boat. The man’s body was recovered by Bangladeshi police 48 hours later. Two further cattle traders were injured when NaSaKa opened fire on their boat. [30]

On 26 June 2006, a boat carrying 12 Rohingya across the Naf River to Bangladesh was reportedly intercepted by NaSaKa and fired upon. One man was killed, and his body was thrown into the river; the rest of the group was arrested. On 29 June, the bodies of two young Rohingya women thought to have been onboard the boat, aged 18 and 20, were found on the banks of the Naf River by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel. The bodies exhibited clear signs of sexual abuse. [31]

On 12 August 2006, (also reported as being on 13 August ) [32] Maung Nyi Pu, aged 15, was killed by police when they opened fire on villagers in Dha Kai, Pauktaw Township. Four villagers had been arrested whilst protesting against the confiscation of their lands, tied to a tree and beaten. Following their cries for help a large number of villagers confronted the policemen, who subsequently fired live rounds into the crowd, in order to quell the gathering. There was no official investigation of the murder. Pauktaw TPDC Chairman, Kyaw Zaw Hla, threatened the family to prevent them from taking any further action or spreading the news regarding the case. The Township’s Police Chief, U Hla Kyaw, also paid the boy’s father, U Sein Tun, 200,000 kyat in order to close the case without a law suit. [33] Sub-Inspector Soe Than Oo, who led the police team responsible, was later transferred to another region. [34]

On 17 August 2006, in Kyaukpru Township, Ba Myint Aung, aged 40, was killed by 4 sailors from Kyaukpru Dhannawaddy Naval Base. He was beaten heavily and villagers later found his severely wounded dead body. It was reported that two private sailors, Yin Min Htite and Zaw Min, were involved in the incident. They were detained by naval authorities. Kyaukpru Police Station confirmed that it was a murder case but made no further comment. There have been no reports regarding the whereabouts of the other two sailors. [35]

On 22 August 2006, Sergeant Tha Cho, from Pauktaw police station, shot and killed Ko Maung Win, aged 20, from Tha Pri Kan village during an argument. No investigation had been undertaken as of the date of this report (21 October 2006) despite pleas from family members. [36]

Around 18 September 2006, Ko Maung Shwe, arrested for theft, died at the police station in Sittwe after a police interrogation. He was from Renar Byin Block, Wra Gri Mrauk Tract, Sittwe. Police officials reported that they found his body in the custody room on 18 September and announced he had hung himself. The Arakan State High Court ordered a report by the 2nd in charge at the station, Aung Kyaw Oo, into the cause of death. [37]

On 10 October 2006, NaSaKa forces abducted 30 Bangladeshi nationals from a border area of Cox’s Bazaar district. They had intruded into Bangladesh territory to do so. The detainees were taken to a NaSaKa border camp at Dheki Bonia. Earlier that week, NaSaKa had also abducted three Bangladeshi citizens. [38] On 29 December 2006, by agreement with Bangladesh, 26 Bangladeshi prisoners were to be returned to Bangladesh. However, NaSaKa reported that three of the prisoners had died in custody, and only 23 were returned. [39]

On 20 December 2006, NaSaKa personnel intruded on Bangladeshi waters on the Naf river and arrested Boshi Armad, a Bangladeshi fisherman, according to a report in a Bangladeshi newspaper. The officers are said to have brought the fisherman to Burma where they later shot him. Bangladesh border authorities asked NaSaKa for the body of the fisherman to be handed over to Bangladesh authorities, but NaSaKa had not replied to the request at the time of this report (23 December 2006). [40]

On 21 May 2006, Chawng Ting, aged 45, village headman of Tiphul village, Hakha Township, was shot dead by a police officer. A policeman had accused Chawng Ting of favouring the army over the police when he had provided the army with more food and drink than he did the police the night before. This accusation came despite the fact that there had been twice as many army personnel as police, and as such the headman had in fact provided the same amount of goods per person. When Chawng Ting tried to make this point, to the policemen who confronted him, one began to punch and kick him whilst another pulled out a gun and shot him dead. [41]

In the last week of June 2006, Andry, aged 40, the village headman of King Kang Kung village, Paletwa Township, was arrested and subsequently killed by SPDC LIB #140. The exact date of his death was unable to be discerned although he was reported to have been killed in the Kaisi mountain region. It is thought he was initially apprehended for interrogation regarding the presence of the Chin National Army (CNA) within the area. [42]

On 19 July 2006, Saw Stin Pho of Ta Khun Seik village, Einme Township, Irrawaddy Division, died from torture whilst being interrogated by Military Security Affairs (MSA). He had been arrested on 16 July 2006 along with 17 others and taken into custody in Pathein Military Headquarters under suspicion of having connections with an alleged KNU sympathizer. MSA released the other 16 persons and reportedly paid compensation of 400,000 kyat to Saw Stin Pho’s wife and their six children. [43]

On 14 March 2006, Maung Ne Zaw was arrested and beaten by the Special anti-drug squad police. He died in detention on 2 May 2006 after failing to receive adequate medical treatment. A post-mortem of the body was not permitted and the doctor claimed he had died of either HIV or cerebral malaria. When his mother tried to pursue the case she was continually and heavily harassed by local authorities forcing her to flee to Thailand. [44]

On 28 December 2006, a military column from SPDC IB #36, led by Hto Min, killed three cattle traders in Htee Hto Kaut village, and looted 15 million kyat. The three buffalo traders; A Lupoe, 41, from Lo Shan; Neing Htaw Ko, 43, from Htee Hto Kaut; and Pah Pae, 34, from Mae K'wa; were captured, dressed in soldiers' uniforms and shot dead. [45]

On 15 February 2006, SPDC Battalion Commander Chit Than Oo and troops from LIB# 351 (also reported as LIB #35. [46]) arrested Saw K'Paw Htoo, aged 42, Saw Lat Mu, aged 25, and Saw Nyi Heh, aged 40, from Khoh Pu (Ho-pu) village tract, Mone Township. They immediately shot and killed Saw K'Paw Htoo. [47]

On 8 March 2006, Saw Du Kaw and his son, Saw Peh Lu, aged 14, (also reported as Saw Eh Lah Hser, aged 12. [48]) were shot dead by troops from SPDC MOC #10. The troops had come from Muthey village and were patrolling the Keh Ka Koh area. The father and son had been working on their farm and were returning home for lunch. They tried to escape but could not run fast enough as Saw Peh Lu had only one leg. The incident occurred near Sho Kaw Der village, Mone Township. 16 year old Saw Heh Nay Htoo, brother and son of the two murdered villagers, was shot twice in the same incident injuring his hip, backbone and right armpit. [49]

On 9 March 2006, troops from LIB #366, #377 and #399 under the control of LID #55 began operations around their base camp at Maladaw village, Mone Township. Troops from these units arrested Maung Than Lwin, aged 28, a villager from Nya Mu Kee, and killed him at Theh K’Per Lu. It was also reported that in the area around Maladaw, they killed a villager named Poe Hser Pya and in K’Pa Hta they killed an unidentified mother and daughter. [50]

Also on 9 March 2006, a male, aged 28, from Klaw Kee village, Mone Township, was shot and killed by LIB #351. [51]

Also on 9 March 2006, troops from SPDC IB #386, LIB #522, LIB #567 and LIB #240 shot and killed Maung Thagyar and burnt down 3 rice barns belonging to Maung Thagyar, Saw Gay Moo and Saw Pah Reh. The same troops entered Ler Klar Doe village on the same day at 3 pm and shot and killed Saw April Htoo, aged 18. [52]

On 13 March 2006, Naw Beh Bay Paw, an 18 year old female from Ler Klah village was killed by SPDC troops from LIB #599. [53]

Also on 13 March 2006, a 30 year old male Karen villager was arrested SPDC troops while he was returning from his hill farm in Nwar Lay Koh village, Mone Township. Villagers heard gunfire, but initially dared not risk going to see what was happening. When his body was found, the eyes, ears and mouth had been removed. [54]

Also on 13 March 2006, SPDC troops from LIB #364, #366 and #368 shot and killed Saw Oh Moo, aged 19, of Saw Mi Lu village, Mone Township. [55]

On 22 March 2006, Saw Maw Keh and his mother, Naw Eh Ywah Paw, aged 80, were shot and killed by SPDC troops near Ka Ba Hta, Mone Township. They had been attempting to climb out of a gully where they had been hiding, in order to get to higher ground where they felt they would be safer. Saw Maw Keh carried his elderly mother on his back. As they came into an open clearing, SPDC troops who had been waiting on a higher ridge began to fire on them from near point blank range. His mother fell from his back when she was shot, and as he turned to help he too was shot and killed. Saw Maw Keh’s 9 year old daughter was also shot in the incident but managed to escape. [56]

On 27 March 2006, SPDC LIB #522, LIB #567 and LIB #240 under MOC #16, entered Htee-day-khee, Kyauk-pyar and Ka-bar-hta villages, Mone Township and opened fire indiscriminately on the villagers. Naw Wee Bu, aged 75, and Saw Leh (also reported as Maung Saw Cha [57]), aged 35, were killed. Saw Leh’s daughter, aged 10, was seriously injured. At 5 pm on the same day, the same troops entered Maladaw village and shot dead 2 villagers. [58]

On 7 April 2006, troops from SPDC IB #440 were reported to have killed Saw Tun Yin and Saw Taw Toe Roh from Maladaw village. [59]

On 7 April 2006, troops from MOC #16 killed 20 year old Saw Ler Pweh Say of Ler Klah village. [60]

On 19 April 2006, an unidentified body of a man was found dead in Mone Township. One of his eyes had been cut out and his nose cut off. [61]

On 28 April 2006, troops from SPDC LIB #599 including Yan Naung and Kyun-bin-hsiek camp leader Sergeant Major Than Tun, and Sergeant Yeh Min along with 7 other soldiers killed Saw Maung Htay, of Mone Township, and proceeded to loot 150,000 kyat from the dead man. [62]

A the end of June 2006, troops from SPDC IB #522, under MOC #16, came to Kyauk-pya village and arrested Naw Kwee Kwe, and Saw Bi Aw (Saw Bee Ohn). They subsequently killed Saw Bi Aw. His body was found on 6 July 2006. [63]

On 26 July 2006, SPDC troops from LIB #542 killed an army porter at Wah Kee village, Mone Township, whom they had forcibly conscripted from Mandalay to carry their loads during the offensive. [64]

On 29 August 2006, troops from SPDC LID #66 under Major Than Oo shot and killed 22 year old Meh Lone of Tawpu village. [65]

On 12 September 2006, a 48 year old villager, Saw Nay Twey was shot and killed in They Baw Der village by SPDC troops. [66]

On 18 September 2006, Major Thein Htay, of SPDC IB #522, stationed at Maladaw, severely assaulted villager Saya Wah Shee before finally killing him. [67]

On 23 October 2006, SPDC troops killed Hla Shwe, from Sin Sae village, Mone Township. [68]

On 24 October 2006, troops from IB #242 fired into Mawn Ki village, Mone Township, killing one villager, Saw Moo Hkin, and injuring another. [69]

On 25 October 2006, SPDC LIB #73 killed two residents of Malagone village as they rested in their farm hut. Those killed were Saw Maung Maung Tha, aged 40, and his son Saw Kyo Kyo Tha, aged 16. [70]

On 26 October 2006, troops from SPDC IB #242 fired upon villagers in their hill paddy fields in Htee-nu-hta, Mone Township. Saw Tha Gay Too was killed in the attack. [71]

On 28 October 2006, SPDC forces killed 45 year old Win Myaing, of Sin Sae village, Mone Township. [72]

On 30 October 2006, SPDC LIB #11 reportedly arbitrarily executed Saw Pyer Htoo, from Kaw Thay Der village. [73]

On 14 November 2006, SPDC troops captured and killed Tin Aye, aged 34, from Paw Pi Dor village, Nyaunglebin District. [74]

On 21 February 2006, it was reported that Ko Than Tun, an Arakanese prisoner who was forced to work as a porter, was killed by SPDC forces after he could no longer walk while carrying army supplies. According to the report Ko Than Tun requested that he be left on the trail as he could not walk and was unable to carry the goods, he then lost consciousness and the soldiers killed him in a graveyard in Shan Wra Village, near Milestone 33 under Papun District. Ko Than Tun was among 200 prisoners from the Sittwe jail who had been brought to the area to be used as military porters on 19 January. [75]

In April 2006, one escaped convict porter told KHRG how another porter; Lwan Maung from Mandalay prison was shot in the head after falling to the ground whilst portering for the tatmadaw. [76]

On 13 April 2006, in Luthaw Township, SPDC troops from LIB #316 shot to death Saw Htaw La, aged 32, of Paw-mu-doe village. [77]

On 14 April 2006, the same SPDC troops from LIB #316 shot and killed Saw Sein Htoo, aged 29, of Lay-gaw village. [78]

On 15 April 2006, SPDC soldiers shot Saw Wey Htoo (Saw Win Htoo [79]) beside his fields at Ler Klaw Kee. The man had gone to his field in order to clear it. It is reported that when the soldiers opened fire the man fled but tripped. The soldiers set upon him and he was shot and stabbed numerous times. [80]

On 20 April 2006, SPDC troops from LIB #316 (LIB #366 [81] ) shot dead Saw Ray Kyay (Saw Hsa Rae Sae [82] / Saw Has Ri Say [83]), aged 17, of Paw-mu-doe (Paw Mu Der) village, whilst he was in his rice field. [84] His friend, Saw Kyay Nu Wah, 18, was also shot in his right leg. [85]

In June 2006, 10 bodies of convict porters were found along a route where MOC #15 had been conducting operations between late May and mid June, moving along the upper Bilin River to their camp at Baw Hser Ko. [86]

Also, in June 2006, an interviewee told KHRG how three convict porters who had tried to escape but were recaptured, were hung upside down from a tree and then shot as an example for others, at Baw Hser Ko camp. An SPDC non-commissioned officer who also tried to escape was captured and killed at the camp. [87]

On 5 June 2006, troops from SPDC LIB #362 shot dead Saw Yweh Moo of Ka-baw-khee village, Lu-thaw Township. [88]

On 14 November 2006, troops from SPDC LIB #223 shot and killed Saw Kya Thu of Htee-Baw-Kee village whilst he was working at his farm. [89]

In late January 2006, roughly 200 prisoners were reported to have been transported from Sittwe Prison, Arakan State, to Thaton Prison, for use as porters in the SPDC offensives against Karen villagers. These prisoners were assigned to different battalions at the prison. One prisoner, Aung Min, who later escaped, told how he and 43 others were assigned to LIB #251, accompanying the troops as they moved from Thaton to Papun District. During the journey, one inmate, 31 year old Than Tun from Arakan State was shot dead as he was sick and too weak to carry on. Aung Min claimed that the SPDC told the convicts “You are going on a pilgrimage. If you can’t continue, you won’t be left behind alive,” Aung Min managed to escape 10 days into the operation. [90]

On 21 January 2006, 5 Karen villagers from Sha Say Boe and Yan Shar in Thandanug Township were shot dead by troops from IB #48. [91]

On 5 February 2006, troops from LIB #3, IB #14, IB #35 and LIB #108 in the Wah Mee Ber Ko area at Blah Kee, forced 41 year old villager Saw Dta Du Du to act as their guide. They subsequently cut off his left hand before killing him. [92]

On 25 February 2006, Saw Roland, aged 40, and Saw Da Nu Nu, aged 43, were carrying rice to their farm. SPDC troops caught them in the Klee Loh area, and killed them with their bayonets. The previous day, TOC #3 Commander Tin Aung had ordered the Bo Maw Kee, Tha Pa Chaung and Day Yeh Kee roads closed to villagers, stating any person found on them would be shot on sight. [93]

In March 2006, a villager from Play Hsa Loh, Tantabin Township, was killed by SPDC troops in revenge for the fact an SPDC soldier had been injured by a landmine. They reportedly cut of his arms and legs and left him by the roadside to bleed to death. [94]

On 3 March 2006, at 5 pm, in Tantabin Township, SPDC troops fired on the villagers of Htee-baw-lo; killing 21 year old Saw Bu Ler, along with his father, Saw Htoo Kaw. The troops then stole 200,000 kyat and three baskets of rice from Saw Bu Ler’s house. [95]

On 11 March 2006, SPDC LID #66, led by Commander Aung Soe, captured Saw Ah Poe and Saw Dah from Ker Der Kah village before torturing and killing the pair as punishment for leaving their village. [96]

On 3 April 2006, SPDC TOC #661, led by Commander Soe Htwe, killed a village elder of Ker Der Kah village, northeast of Than Daung Gyi, Thandaung Township. They had earlier tortured their victim before finally killing him and dumping his body on the banks of Day Loh River, where villagers were frightened to retrieve him from, due to the threat of reprisals or booby traps. [97]

On 7 April 2006, 2 males, aged 47 and 24, from Maladaw, and a further male in Toungoo District were reportedly killed by SPDC troops. [98]

On 18 April 2006, LIB #108 troops, under Battalion Commander Nay Myo Aung, fired upon villager Saw Mya Lin outside of his village. He managed to escape but sustained serious injuries to his right hand. [99]

On 3 May 2006, soldiers from SPDC LIB #14 shot and killed 22 year old Saw Thu Ler Taw. The troops are reported to have simply entered the village of Saw Der and arbitrarily killed their victim. As a result all other villagers fled their village, leaving their possessions which the SPDC troops subsequently looted. [100]

On 8 May 2006, LIB #108 Commander Nay Myo Aung and his soldiers were burning down houses in Hsaw Wah Der village, southeast of Kler Lah, when they shot and killed 80 year old Saw Than Aung. [101]

On 8 August 2006, SPDC troops from LID #66 shot and killed a 75 year old woman named Naw Ta Kee Lee from Ler Kla Doe village, Tantabin Township, whilst she was in a hut at her plantation. [102]

On 22 August 2006, three villagers from Klaw Mu Der (Ye Ta Kon) village were shot by SPDC troops from LIB #567 when they returned to the village to collect their belongings. [103]

On 30 August 2006, SPDC soldiers reportedly killed a villager from Ymeberko village. [104]

On 5 September 2006, troops from IB #73 conducted searches throughout Zee Hpyoo Kohn village. There they arrested Saw Htoo Per and his family whilst they were worshipping. They later released most of the family but continued to detain Saw Htoo Per and his son Saw Baw Baw Htoo and subsequently executed them. [105]

On 5 September 2006, SPDC Southern Command sent 500 prison porters from Pa La Wah to Kaw Thay Der. Troops from LIB #10 reportedly killed 5 of these prisoners. [106]

On 5 September 2006, troops from LID #66 shot 75 year old Poo Thu Kee Deh, at a betel nut grove on the edge of Ler Kla Der village. He had refused to flee his village with the rest of his community and had reassured his fellow villagers stating, “even if they see me, I am old, so they will not shoot me”. [107]

On 29 September 2006, an SPDC LID #66 column began operations in the May-daw-kho and Per-tor areas where they shot dead one villager. [108]

On 2 October 2006, Saw Robin Hood of Hle-lan-gu village was shot four times in a rice field in Hse-lan by troops from SPDC LIB #439. He died as a result. [109]

From 10 October 2006 to 31 October 2006, over 50 porters were reportedly killed by the SPDC army in frontline areas of Toungoo District. One porter interviewed reported that he had seen 42 porters beaten, shot and killed by SPDC troops at the Nya Kya and Busakee road because the porters could no longer walk properly. [110]

On 25 October 2006, troops from IB #73 opened fire upon farmers harvesting their crops on the hill-side rice fields of Malagone village. 40 year old Saw Maung Maung, 16 year old Saw Chit Chit and 15 year old Saw Ah Cho, were killed in the attack and 15-year-old Saw Kwa Lah, was seriously injured. Whilst villagers were allowed to travel to their farms between the hours of 6 am and 4 pm each day, the three victims were shot in their farm huts at 3 pm. [111]

On 31 October 2006, troops from SPDC IB #11 shot dead Saw Bu Htoo from Kaw-thay-doe village. [112]

On 1 November 2006, Saw They Shur, aged 47, was burned alive in his home at Play Hta village, near Hoki, Toungoo. As he was sick he had been unable to flee with the rest of the villagers when his village was set alight by SPDC troops. He was married with 6 children. [113]

On 1 November 2006, SPDC IB #35, under the command of Soe Tun, fired machine guns and mortar rounds indiscriminately upon Klay Hta village, Daw Pa Ko Township for six minutes. Saw Ay Pweet was killed in the attack whilst Saw Baw Thoo and Naw Heh Ku Mo, were wounded and reported missing. [114]

On 4 November 2006, troops from SPDC IB #35 fired upon Hsaw-wah-doe villagers, killing Saw Kyaw, aged 45, and Saw Pre Say, aged 19. [115] The villagers had previously fled their village but had returned to harvest rice as they were faced with a severe shortage of food. [116]

On 13 November 2006, roughly 100 troops from SPDC IB #14 and IB #11 attempted to capture 12 villagers in Naw Thay Der village, who had come from Ber Ka Lay Koh village and Oo Per village. In the course of this operation the troops killed 23 year old villager Saw Kri Htoo. [117]

Also on 13 November 2006, the same troops moved on to Htee Hsa Bper where they shot dead 23-year-old Saw Tha Pwee from Oo Per village, whilst he was returning from selling cardamom seeds. [118]

On 20 November 2006, 37 year old Saw Kyer Lar of Saw Wah Der village was killed by SPDC LIB #6 troops whilst working in his field. [119]

Karenni State

On 4 January 2006, Saw Naw Gay, aged 29, was found beheaded in the jungle. He had been arrested along with 8 other villagers by SPDC and Karenni National Solidarity Organisation troops in Pahawkoe village, western Pasaung, on 17 December 2005. The villagers had reportedly been tortured and used as human mine detectors. There were no reports on the whereabouts of the other villages. [120]

On 25 March 2006, Wai Phyo Naung (a.k.a. Naung Nuang) a 19 year old cart-pushing porter at Kaingdang market, Mandalay, was arrested for loitering. He was taken to Police Station #6 where he died in custody the following day. The police initially refused to comment on the case, but later claimed that Naung Naung had committed suicide. [121]

On 16 October 2006, Thet Win Aung, died in Mandalay prison after being denied medical treatment for several serious ailments. He had been serving a 60 year sentence for organising peaceful student demonstrations. [122]

In late February 2006, Nai Seik, aged 19, and Nai Soe Nine, aged 20, (also reported as Nai Juu Hurn, aged 29, and Nai Ha Nyae, aged 20 [123]) were killed when fired upon by troops from SPDC #106 over a dispute about motorbikes in Maw-Ka-Nin village, Ye Township. [124]

In March 2006 it was reported that Nai Awin, aged 40, and Nai Azan, aged 49, from Kabya-Kyi and Kywe-Thone-Nyi-Ma villages, Yebyu Township, were killed by SPDC troops in Tin-Tha new village, Kaw Zar sub-town. They were accused of supporting a Mon splinter group, ordered to lead the troops to the rebels and severely tortured through beatings and electric shocks. Unable to locate the rebels, the soldiers shot them dead. [125]

In March 2006 it was reported that, Nai Soe Win, aged 46, from Wae-Paung village, had been arrested under suspicion of supporting a Mon Splinter group. He was taken from his home, severely tortured and then killed by troops under the command of Myo Win. His wife had paid around 30,000 kyat in order to see him whilst he was detained and reported the torture he had endured; he was stabbed in the face, hung up by rope and given electric shocks before being killed. [126]

On 4 March 2006, in the Three Pagodas Pass area, two 16 year old DKBA soldiers, Chan Naung and Yer Phoo, (also reported as Poe Aye and Has Naw, both 18 years of age. [127]) from DKBA Battalion #901, were shot dead by SPDC troops from IB #18, led by Hla Min. They were travelling from Thabu mining site on the Makatha natural road. They were reportedly asleep at the time they were shot, and their guns were stolen. The SPDC claimed that they had been mistaken for KNU troops despite the fact that the KNU were not active in the area. The DKBA was not satisfied with this explanation, its troops took to the streets in protest and the leadership demanded compensation from the SPDC. [128]

In June 2006, it was reported that Soe Lin Aung, aged 23, from Ward #60 in Swa, was beaten to death by soldiers in charge of security on the railway tracks in Yetashe Township, Pegu Division. [129]

On 19 June 2006, Ma Nyo Kyi, a 23 year old mother with an 8 month old baby, was reportedly beaten to death by Yetashe Township police. She had been arrested by Police Deputy Superintendent Zaw Lwin and another officer under the accusation of being a thief. Although the police said that Ma Nyo Kyi had hanged herself, her body contained a number of inconsistent injuries including severe injuries to her back and her head, with her abdomen cut open. The police have rejected accusations of murder and there has been no independent inquiry into her death. [130]

On 17 March 2006, Ko Thet Naing Oo, a former political prisoner, was beaten to death in a Rangoon market by the police, fire brigade and reportedly members of the state sponsored USDA. [131] (For more detailed information see main body of text).

On 4 August 2006, district control police officer and local ward authority member San Win led a group of men to the home of a Hindu named Mutna, where they berated him for being drunk and severely assaulted him. Mutna was hospitalised at Insein General Hospital and advised by police not to report the incident. He subsequently died on 16 August 2006, which the authorities claimed to be a result of excessive alcohol consumption. [132]

On 24 January 2006, 2 prisoners were beaten to death at Kalaymyo Jail. Around 80 prisoners, including political prisoners, who were protesting against an extended water shortage, were beaten by prison staff, resulting in the two deaths, with 17 others seriously injured. [133]

On 2 January 2006, six members of the cease fire Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) fourth brigade at their base in Namti village, Mu-se Township, were killed by SPDC troops whilst eating dinner. Troops from the Shan State Army -South were known to have infiltrated the region and the SPDC commands responsible claimed that they were unaware that the place they had attacked was a KIO base, despite the fact that the KIO district office which was raided was well known. Complaints by KIO leaders and the victim's families were never addressed. Furthermore, interviews were not allowed to be conducted with the hospitalized victims. Funeral rites for the dead were also prohibited. The SPDC unit responsible for the attack was led by Major Hla Moe, under the Lashio based IB #68. [134]

In March 2006, Lung Suay Lu, aged 59, a villager of Kung Nyawng village, Nam Lan village tract, Si-Paw Township, was reportedly beaten to death by SPDC troops from LIB #505 based at Nam Lan. He had been returning home from tending his rice paddy. When his body was found his motorbike and valuables had been stolen. Villagers reported that SPDC troops had been the only persons in the area. There were also reports that SPDC troops had later been seen selling his motorcycle in May Myo. [135]

On 11 May 2006, 51 year old Lung Zaang Ti, of Nam Lawd village in Lai-kha Township, was taken from his house by SPDC troops from LIB #121, based in Mawk-mae Township. He was later found shot dead in Kun Maak Khur. [136]

On 8 April 2006, an unidentified female from Look-kang village was beaten to death in Mongkerng. She had been forced to serve as a sexual slave for a 60 member patrol of LIB #514 after her village headman was forced to select females from the village to sleep with the troops. The remains of the girl whom villagers were reluctant to identify were dumped by soldiers outside of the village. [137]

On 5 August 2006, a patrol of about 40 SPDC troops from IB #246, led by Commander Zaw Lwin, arrested 5 villagers of Nam Khaam village, Wan Paang village tract, Kun-Hing Township. The five men arrested and their ages were;

The villagers were detained in a lockup in the military base and were taken out at night to be interrogated about the activities of Shan soldiers in the area, with their interrogators often inebriated. During interrogations, the villagers were beaten with sticks and even shocked with electricity, sometimes leading them to lose consciousness. The interrogations continued right through August. On 1 September 2006, Lung Pan-Nya, was accused of being an agent of Shan soldiers and taken to the Nam Pang river at night where he was beaten to death and dumped into the water, about 2 miles southeast of Kun-Hing town. The four other captives have since disappeared, and are also believed to have been killed. [138]