Burma army intensifies attack on Karen civilians

As Burma’s military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) troops continue to carry out offensives against villages in Nyaunglebin, Taungoo, Thaton and Papun Districts, more innocent Karen villagers are fleeing to the Thai-Burmese border to take refuge.
Currently, there are more than 18,000 new Karen refugees taking refuge on the Thai-Burmese border.
“We thought that they (Burmese troops) would reduce the acceleration of their military offensives by the end of May, but in practice, they not only reduced, but increased the offensives,” said Phado Mahn Sha, the spokesman and General Secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU). “There is no problem if they carried out offensives against us soldiers and revolutionaries. We are soldiers, but they are carrying out this uprooting strategy on the public. They destroy their properties, animals, rations, homes and the like. And they are planting landmines where people live. These are very disgusting matters.”
When asked how the KNU will react to these offensives, Mahn Sha said:
“On our part, we demand dialogue. But if they are not going to do that and continue the offensives against us, we have to resist and fight back. That is our own measure. We are in a position to resist. Today, we are taking part in the revolution and it is just. The public has the right to defend itself. As for the oppressed public, if they are warred upon, they have the rights to defend themselves.”

DVB
Jul 10, 2006
Image: Village burned earlier by Burma Army - FBR

Six Karen villagers sent to remote Khamti Jail in northern Burma

Jul 10, 2006 (DVB) - Six Karen villagers including a Christian pastor from Tawkywe-inn Township in eastern Pegu Division, were arrested at their homes and sent to Khamti Jail in northern Burma, on suspicion of being hardcore supporters of the Karen National Union (KNU).

Six villagers including their pastor Saw Tun Ni from Bo Kone Village, Khintanggyi Hamlet in Tawkywe-inn Township were arrested in the second week of June and transferred to Taungoo Jail straight away, according to sources from the prison. Then, on 21 June, they were transferred to Mandalay Prison and then onto remote Khamti Jail on the 27th. Although it is not known exactly why they were detained and what kind of sentences they were handed down on, the villagers could be accused of being hardcore KNU supporters as they are Karen nationals, according to local residents. Bo Kone Village is among one of the ten villages which were destroyed by the military which accused the villagers of having contacts with the rebels and it was forcibly relocated just before the SPDC Information minister Kyaw San’s visit to Karen State with journalists during last month. The relatives of the detainees have either been sent to other villages or fled to the Thai-Burmese border and there is no one to come and see them at the jail.

Burma junta attacks KNU from all fronts

Burma’s military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) troops have been launching offensives in Karen National Union (NKU) -controlled regions, and the KNU claimed that the junta is launching the offensive to block media news.

Furthermore, the SPDC is said to be negotiating with other KNU factions, on a one on one basis, to disunite the KNU. KNU information officer Col Saw Hla Ngwe said the current SPDC offensives are intended to block the media. “Now that the media is covering the junta's offensives from the grass roots level, and their human rights and forced labour issues have become known, they wanted to get the upper hand and they will continue with their offensives. They have deployed MOMC (Military Operations Management Command)-15 and MOMC-16 in the KNU regions occupied by brigades 2, 3, 5, and 1. It will not be easy for us as well as them but we have made certain preparations.” At the same time, the SPDC has stopped bilateral talks with the KNU and preparing to hold separate talks with KNU factions. Some high-level SPDC officers came to Myawadi at the end of June and met some prominent KNU members without the knowledge of the KNU leadership.

Phado David Htaw, who was deputy leader of the KNU delegation at all the meetings with the SPDC, said the following: “We have not sent any official delegation to hold talks. We consider the meeting as personal. The junta is so desperate they will take whatever they can get, whether one, or a few or a group. They have already persuaded people like Phado Aung San, and Mahn Aung Tin Myint, so this is not new. It has been in existence since we began talks in 1996. We would like to remind the revolutionaries to be vigilant.” Col Saw Hla Ngwe said the following concerning the SPDC's media-blockade offensive and the underhand trick to organize KNU factions. “They will have to be aware of the KNU's activities. Otherwise they will have to face the consequences. If we are slack then we will suffer but we are trying very hard not to be inefficient. Since they started the offensive, we are in a better position in the international arena. We will fight them and the prospects are good for victory.”

DVB
Jul 08, 2006
Image: KNLA troops -Saw Tennyson/KHCPS Archive

Heavy rains kill one student in eastern Burma’s Karen State capital Pa-an

Heavy monsoon downpours have been pouring down at Karen State capital Pa-an in eastern Burma for a week and a student drowned during an accident, according to local residents.

The victim, Tun Myint Aung, a second year college student died after the motorcycle he rode plunged into a flooded trench. Travelling passengers are said to be in trouble as communication lines and roads between Pa-an and Rangoon are being interrupted and washed away by heavy rains and floods. Similarly, heavy rains in nearby Mon State are causing havoc to communication lines and transport systems at Moulmein, Kyaikhto, Bilin, Thaton and like. A couple named Nai Lin Tun and Zinma are missing due to an avalanche of earth due to the heavy rains, according to the state-run Myanmar Alin.

DVB
Jul 09, 2006

Karen IDPs may face food, medical shortages - FBR

As fresh operations were launched at the beginning of this month by the Burma Army, more Karen villagers have fled and are hiding in the jungles. They may face acute shortage of food and medicine if they have to hide longer, according to a source from the Free Burma Ranger (FBR) which is helping Burmese IDPs.

“The number of IDPs is causing anxiety for they might become sick because it’s raining. Rice is almost gone; there are stocks left for only about one month. We need medicine and more important is their safety. If there is no security for them, they might be killed by Burmese troops. I think it’s a condition which is worrisome,” said the source.

Because of renewed attacks by the Burma Army on Karen villages in Mon Township, Nyaunglebin District, about 4,000 villagers from at least 28 villages have fled and are hiding in jungles. They have to depend on meagre rice and rations that they brought with them and stored in the jungles.

The Burma Army has, since last March, launched monthly attacks on villages in Mon Township.

“They [Burmese troops] launched fresh attacks on July 1. The villages under attack are those between Kyauk Kyi and Mone River,” the source added.

The villagers went back to their villages when the army withdrew its troops from the areas in late May. However they have again had to flee when the army started launching renewed attacks on the 1st of this month, according to the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People (CIDKP).

The FBR and CIDKP are currently providing medicine and food to Karen villagers in the jungles.

A report released by FBR on June 30 says the Light Infantry Battalion 240 under MOC 16 was attacking the Kyauk Pia area and on June 29 fired from machineguns to chase villagers hiding in the jungle.

Thousands of Karen refugees have fled to the Thai-Burma border after the Burma Army’s attacks, started in late 2005, on villages in Taungoo, Nyaunglebin and Papon districts.

Some of the villagers arrived in Mae Ra Moe refugee camp and some are staying at the new Ei-du-hta camp on the border. The rest of the villagers are hiding in the jungles of Karen State as homeless refugees.

Network Media Group
6/7/06

Battalion Arrives in Rear, Another Departs

A Burmese army battalion based in Arakan State left for the eastern side of Burma to wage a civil war against the Karen army on the Thai-Burma border soon after another battalion arrived at their base from the front lines of Karen State, report local people.
Burmese army Light Infantry Battalion 535 based in Buthidaung arrived at the Arakan base from the Karen front lines near Thailand on 30 June.
After the battalion arrived at the base in Buthidaung, another battalion LIB 345, based in the same town, left via ferry for eastern Burma to provide reinforcements.

A source close to the army said that in LIB 345 there are 120 soldiers including 8 officers, led by Major Zaw Zaw Naing; they left their base in Buthidaung on 1 July, 2006.
An eye witness reported the battalion went to Akyab via the ferry Danyawady 2 at 8:30 AM on 1 July, and it proceeds from Akyab to Burma proper via Taunggup-Prome motor road, crossing Arakan Roma.
Since the beginning of this year, a number of battalions stationed in Arakan State have left for the eastern side of Burma to wage war against the Karen soldiers. Battalion 345 is the most recent battalion sent out from Arakan State.
Battalion 535 is the first battalion in Arakan to return to base after fighting on the front lines of Karen State.
The Burmese army is now waging a civil war with the Karen soldiers and the high army authority has brought a number of battalions from Arakan to Karen State to provide reinforcements in battle.

Narinjara News
4/7/2006
Image: Stephen Brooke

New attacks in Karen state

The Burmese army attacked villages in Nyaunglebin District, Karen State on June 29 with mortar and machine gun fire that displaced hundreds of local inhabitants, two of whom are still missing and presumed dead, according to a recent report by the Free Burma Rangers.

The report documents attacks by Burma’s Light Infantry Division 240 in Hsaw Kah Der and Ka Pa Hta villages in Nyaunglebin’s Mone township, during which two villagers where shot and hundreds more fled to the jungle to escape the violence.
Other battalions, including LIB 522, continue to operate in Nyaunglebin and Taungoo districts, where attacks are thought to be part of a coordinated plan to clear villages throughout the region.
“At first, the State Peace and Development Council ordered villagers in Taungoo to relocate as a group,” said Zaw Naung, the Karen National Union’s administrative head of Taungoo District. “But later, they ordered villagers to disperse individually and go wherever they could.”
According to the FBR report, at least 28 villages from Papun District and 12 others from Taungoo have been abandoned by inhabitants fearful of more attacks, leaving hundreds to fend for themselves in the jungle during the rainy season.
“The most important thing for them now is food, medicine and shelter, all of which the junta has tried to block them from getting,” said Zaw Naung.
The FBR report also said that the Burmese army is planning to develop logging and jade mining operations in the area recently under attack.
“They [Burma Army] have invited international companies, as well as local companies under two businessmen, Maung Khaing and Ma Nan, to begin logging and developing jade, and have requested an increase in Thai exports to Burma in return for these rights,” the report states.
An FBR team member told The Irrawaddy on Monday that they will continue to monitor developments and seek confirmation of companies being offered logging and mining concessions.

Shah Paung
The Irrawaddy
Mon 3 Jul 2006