MYANMAR: AI condemns forced porter

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>From hnaylor@xxxxxxxxxxx Thu Feb 09 13:39:39 CST 1995
Article: 16745 of soc.rights.human
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: MYANMAR: AI condemns forced porteri

/* Written 10:28 PM  Feb  3, 1995 by hnaylor in igc:ai.general */
/* ---------- "MYANMAR: AI condemns forced porteri" ---------- */
Amnesty International
International Secretariat
1 Easton Street
London WC1X 8DJ
United Kingdom
 
2 FEBRUARY 1995
 
        MYANMAR: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS FORCED PORTERING
 
Amnesty International today condemned the Burmese military's seizure of
hundreds of civilians as porters in their offensive against the Karen
National Union (KNU) -- Myanmar's largest ethnic minority armed
opposition group.
 
      The human rights organization also expressed concern about other
civilians who may be at risk of killing and torture by Burmese troops.
 
      "In the past week, scores of escaped porters have been fleeing
across the border to seek refuge in Thailand, many of them in terrible
condition as a result of beatings and other ill-treatment by the army,"
Amnesty International said. "They are among thousands of Karen refugees
who have left their villages to escape the fighting."
 
      For over 10 years the army has forced tens of thousands of
civilians to carry supplies during counter-insurgency operations against
various armed groups. Those who are taken are frequently beaten and
kicked if they are too weak to carry their load or attempt to escape.
 
      Porters often fall ill with malnutrition or malaria, but receive
no medical treatment. Some are even killed by troops if they do not obey
orders. Villagers have also been accused of supporting the KNU and are
tortured or killed by troops patrolling the area.
  
      Amnesty International is calling on the Burmese military
authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily seized for
forced portering.
 
      In spite of repeatedly stating that they were seeking a peaceful
solution through negotiations, the government launched a massive attack
against the KNU in December after a split between two KNU factions.  On
27 January Manerplaw, the KNU headquarters, fell to Burmese troops in
the heaviest fighting since the military government declared a ceasefire
in April 1992.
 
ENDS\