[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
KHRG Report February 20, 1996
- Subject: KHRG Report February 20, 1996
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 06 Mar 1996 08:18:00
Received: (from strider) by igc2.igc.apc.org (8.6.11/Revision: 1.16 ) id IAA04999; Wed, 6 Mar 1996 08:18:10 -0800
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 08:18:10 -0800
SLORC ORDERS TO VILLAGES: SET 96-A
Kya In / Kawkareik Area
An Independent Report by the Karen Human Rights Group
February 20, 1996 / KHRG #96-08
** PART 1 OF 2 - SEE SUBSEQUENT POSTING FOR PART 2 **
NOTE: SOME DETAILS IN THIS REPORT HAVE BEEN OMITTED OR BLANKED OUT
WITH 'XXX' FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
Following are the direct translations of SLORC typed and handwritten orders
sent to Karen villages in the Kya In and Kawkareik areas of Karen State.
All of these orders were signed by SLORC Army (Tatmadaw) officers or SLORC
officials, and most of the orders bear the rubber stamps of the issuing
military unit. Many of them were copied and sent to many villages.
Photocopies of the original orders (with certain details such as village
names blacked out) are available on request. Most of the following orders
involve demands for forced labour, money, food, building materials, rice
confiscation quotas, etc., along with forced relocation orders, threatening
demands for village heads to go to the Army camp, and others. Hundreds of
such orders are issued every week, so those translated in this set should
only be considered a representative sampling. The elders of a village
generally receive several such orders every week.
Some of the orders mention "voluntary labourers", a SLORC euphemism for
forced labour; as the orders make very clear, serious action will be taken
if the "volunteers" fail to show. Another common expression is "If you
fail, it will be your responsibility". This means you can expect to be
arrested and tortured, and it will be your own fault. Action taken against
villages for failure to obey such orders often includes arrest, detention
and torture of elders, increased forced labour or extortion quotas, troops
coming and looting the village, burning houses and food supplies, or
shelling the village.
Some abbreviations used in the report: IB = Infantry Battalion; LIB = Light
Infantry Battalion, LORC = Law & Order Restoration Council (SLORC's local-
level administration, such as Village LORC, Township LORC and Karen State
LORC). In the orders, numeric dates are always written in dd-mm-yy format.
Some details such as village names must be omitted for protection, and these
have been replaced by 'xxxx', 'yyyy', etc.
TOPIC SUMMARY: SLORC rice confiscation (Orders #1,2), forced relocation
(#5), forced labour on roads (#3,4,17), other forced labour (#6-9,17-19,24,
33,44-47), demands for money (#4,15,21), demands for wood (#10-14), demands
for food (#12,22,23,33,34,40,41,46), demands for oxcarts (#15,16), demands
for video machine (#20), intelligence gathering (#18,25,26,42,43),
arrest (#27,28), threats (#5,7,14,16,19,20,27,28,31,32,35,44,45,47),
travel restrictions (#9,48).
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #1
Stamp: VERY URGENT Township Law & Order Restoration Council
XXXX town
Ref. No. XXX / XXX / TLORC (XXXX)
Date: 1995 November
To: xxxx
xxxx village
XXXX Township
Subject: To purchase the full amount of paddy for 1995-96
1. Regarding the above subject, according to the Karen State LORC meeting
held on 15-11-95, a plan was made to purchase at the previous price (4)
baskets of summer paddy per acre, and if possible more than that, in each
township of Karen State. Under the Agriculture and Purchasing Plan,
according to the decision made by the Karen State LORC, it was directed
to fulfill the plan, order reference 212 / 60-2 / Township LORC (Karen
State) dated 21-11-95.
2. Thus, we inform you to make arrangements to purchase (4) baskets per acre.
[Sd.]
(for) Chairman
(U XXXX - Secretary)
Copies to: Office Copy / by clearance only
[Notes: a village chairman wrote on this order "We received this letter
on 3 Dec. 1995". Four baskets per acre for the 95/96 harvest is 4 to 5
times higher than previous quotas. SLORC is increasing quotas exponentially
in order to export rice for profit and to show the world "things are good
in Burma", as well as to feed its ever-expanding Army. As a result, Burma
is now in the grip of a staggering rice shortage - people are starving, and
rice prices have doubled since last year in many areas (only military
families can buy rice at subsidized prices). However, as noted in this
order the farmers are still to be paid the "previous price" for the quota,
probably 70 Kyats per tin. A year ago market price was 225 Kyats per tin,
and this year market price is 400-500 Kyats per tin.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #2
Stamp: VERY URGENT Township Law & Order Restoration Council
XXXX town
Ref. No. XXX / XXX / TLORC (XXXX)
Date: 1995 December 4th
To: Chairman
xxxx Village LORC
XXXX Township
Subject: Invitation to a Meeting
To discuss the milling of the rice bought from XXXX Township,
ricemill owners are invited to come to the Township LORC office on 12-12-95
at 10 a.m. We inform you to attend the meeting without fail.
[Sd.]
(for) Chairman
(U XXXX - Secretary)
Copy to: Office Copy / by clearance only
[Note: By SLORC order, the Township LORC confiscates rice from all farmers
at only 10-20 percent of market price. This will be a meeting to order all
ricemill owners to mill it for SLORC, most likely with no compensation
whatsoever for their costs.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #3
Stamp: VERY URGENT Township Law & Order Restoration Council
XXXX town
Ref. No. XXX / XXX / TLORC (XXXX)
Date: 1995 December 4th
To: Chairman and Headmen
xxxx Village LORC
XXXX Township
Subject: To carry out voluntarily Kya In Seik Gyi to Tee Paw Kloh road
construction
Regarding the above subject, we inform you that since the work on the Kya In
Seik Gyi to Tee Paw Kloh road has to be finished on (8-12-95) and (9-12-95),
each village has to dig (217) holes as assigned and has to bring along all
the tools needed in order to carry out the voluntary work.
Note: You must gather at 6 a.m. at XXXX village.
[Sd. / 4-12-95]
(for) Chairman
(U XXXX - Secretary)
Copies to: No. XXX Infantry Battalion, XXXX town
Township Law & Order Restoration Council, XXXX town
Office Copy / by clearance only
[Note: the villagers have to dig the holes to get earth and rock, then carry
it to the roadbed.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #4
To: Chairman
We notify you that nobody from your village turned up at xxxx village at
6 a.m. on 8-12-95 to finish digging the (200) holes assigned to (4) villages
for the construction of the Tee Paw Kloh road. Give the assignment to share
equally amongst your villagers for the above mentioned (200) holes. The
other villages have all arrived. If your villagers cannot do this, you can
also hire people in XXXX. For one hole, 200 Kyats, as it was for the
Dali road. Come to me to make a contract if any quarter people [people from
the quarters of XXXX town] need to be hired. The wages will be
paid as follows: 100 Kyats first and then 100 Kyats the second time. Come
and make a contract.
[Sd. / 8-12-95]
(xxxx)
Rice collector for the government
[Note: This order in Burmese is full of spelling mistakes and written in a
shaky scrawl, by an official who is apparently semi-illiterate. "The wages"
of 200 Kyats does not mean they will be paid for the work - it means the
amount villagers must pay to hire replacements if they can't go.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #5
To: Headman Stamp:
xxxx village #XXX IB
Column 1 HQ
Subject: Relocation
Regarding the above subject, we inform you that since there will be soon a
military operation, the following villages: XXXX, XXXX,
XXXX, XXXX, etc. have to move quickly to a war free zone.
When our column enter into these villages, if they see any villagers it
will be the responsibility of those villagers.
Area: xxxx village [Sd.]
Date: 30-6-95 Intelligence Officer
No. XXX IB
[Note: "it will be the responsibility of those villagers" means any villagers
still seen in their villages will be considered as enemy and shot on sight.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #6
Stamp:
No. XXX IB To: Chairman Date: 14-8-95
Column ( ) xxxx village
Subject: To go to cut and to clear
Regarding the above subject, one person from each house must go to No. XXX
Infantry Battalion on 15-8-95.
Note: You must bring your own rice packet.
[Sd. / 14-8-95]
(for) Column Commander
[Note: This work is cutting trees and clearing land for an army post or
forced-labour farming fields. The village head later wrote "Done" on this
order and signed it.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #7
To: Chairman Stamp:
xxxx village #XXX IB
Column 1 HQ
Subject: To send voluntary labour
Regarding the above subject, the headman has to provide (7) voluntary
labourers and rice for 3 days for SLORC and DKBA troops to xxxx monastery.
You must send the labourers and the rice on 1-7-95 at 9 a.m. If you fail
to send them, action will be taken.
Area: xxxx monastery [Sd.]
Date: 30-6-95 Intelligence Officer
No. XXX IB
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #8
Stamp:
No. XXX IB
No. 2 Company To: Village Head
Date: 4-3-95 xxxx village
I am writing to you. On the 6th at 0900 [9 a.m.] you must bring 30 voluntary
labourers, food for 3 days, spades, machetes, and baskets to the Battalion
headquarters.
Note: Come without fail.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 2 Company
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #9
Stamp:
No. XXX IB
No. 2 Company
Date: 6-3-95 Acknowledgement
Attached is a list of (30) people from xxxx village. We acknowledge that
they are going to xxxx, XXXX township, to do voluntary labour for
No. XXX IB.
(Attached: (1) list of people's names)
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 2 Company
No. XXX IB
[Note: this document was given to the villagers to allow them to travel to
the forced labour site - otherwise they would not be allowed to pass the
SLORC checkpoints. The list attached has been withheld from this report for
security reasons.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #10
To: Village Head 10th day of Thadin Kyo waning moon
xxxx village 18-10-95
You must arrange that your villagers send 100 logs, each 6 plah [9 feet] long
within 3 days from your village to XXXX camp.
[Sd.]
Camp Commander
XXXX camp
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #11
To: Chairman
xxxx village Date: 1995 November 14
Subject: To send wooden posts
To use as lamp posts, you must send (10) wooden posts of teak or pingado
[a kind of ironwood] of (4) hands [handspans] circumference and (11) plah
[17 feet] long to No. XXX Infantry Battalion on 20-11-95 at the latest.
[Sd.]
xxxx
Intelligence Officer
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #12
To: Village head Stamp: 15-5-95
xxxx village No. XXX IB
No. 2 Column HQ
Subject: Come and report to the Column
Regarding the above subject, we want to meet with the headman. So come and
report to the column as soon as you receive this letter.
[Sd.]
Column Commander
Note: You have to bring along (2) viss [3.2 kg.] of chicken for curry.
We also need (2) tonnes of padauk timber to make beds.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #13
Stamp:
No. XXX IB To: Chairmen
Battalion Office XXXX / XXXX / XXXX / XXXX /
XXXX / XXXX / XXXX /
XXXX / XXXX villages [9 villages]
Date: 7-12-95
Subject: To send firewood to sell to the battalion brick factory
Each village must come and bring (10) bullock carts of firewood in December.
We inform you that we will pay cash.
[Sd.]
Battalion Captain
[Note: The cash paid will almost certainly not be very much, but villages
have no option but to obey. In many areas villagers and teenage conscripted
rank-and-file soldiers are made to do forced labour at these brick
factories.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #14
Stamp:
No. XXX IB To: xxxx village head
Battalion Office Date: 7-12-95
Subject: The headman must come to the Battalion Office urgently
Village headman, we ordered you to bring (20) oxcarts of firewood in November
but you did not bring anything. So village headman, you yourself must come
urgently and account for this at the Battalion Office.
[Sd.]
Battalion Captain
[Note: the language used in this letter is particularly strong and
threatening.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #15
Myanmar Column and Township Law & Order Restoration Council
Stamp:
No. XXX IB To: Chairman Date: 23-8-95
Column ( ) xxxx village
Along with the bearer of this letter, you must send (2) bullock carts to the
column at 6 a.m. tomorrow.
You have already paid 1,800 Kyats out of the 2,100 Kyats servants' fees for
the 11th to the 31st. So you must send the rest of the money, 300 Kyats,
immediately along with him.
Thank you,
[Sd.]
23-8-95
(Sergeant xxxx)
[Written on the back of the order: "Please collect and send as quickly as
possible and bring the remaining servants' fees. The column is asking for it
and also for the (2) bullock carts." The following was written in later on
the order paper: "We didn't go and meet.
25-8-95
[Sd.]
Chairman, xxxx village"]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #16
Stamp:
No. XXX IB To: Chairman / (U xxxx)
Column 2 xxxx village Date: 3-12-95
Date: 3-12-95
Subject: To send (4) bullock carts
Regarding the above subject, Chairman U xxxx, you yourself and (4) bullock
carts must come to the place where the Column is staying. You must come
without fail. If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd. / 3-12-95]
(for) Column Commander
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #17
Stamp:
No. XXX IB To: Chairman Date: 6-11-95
Column 2 xxxx village group
Subject: To come and attend a meeting about the restoration of XXXX
monastery and the building of the road.
Regarding the above subject, the following village leaders have to come and
attend a meeting on 7 November 1995 at 8 a.m. at XXXX monastery
without fail.
1. U xxxx
2. U xxxx
3. U xxxx
4. U xxxx
P.S. Attend without fail.
[Sd. / 6-11-95]
(for) Column Commander
[Note: this will be a meeting to assign forced labour quotas for the two
projects.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #18
To: Headman
( xxxx ) village
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we inform you that the headman himself has to
come and attend a meeting on 18-10-95 at the ( xxxx monastery ) about
"security and military operations" and "development of the area" without
fail.
[Sd.]
Date: 16-10-95 XXXX Infantry
No.: XXXX / XXX / (X) Column 1
[Note: this is a typed form letter with the place names written into blanks
enclosed in brackets.]
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #19
To: xxxx village Stamp:
Chairman #XXX LIB
Column #2
Village Chairman, you must come to xxxx camp or to the place where the column
is staying on 18-10-95 at 1 p.m. to discuss about control of the area and
servants' matters [porters]. We inform you to come as soon as you can.
Note: Come without fail under any circumstance. If you fail, it will be your
responsibility.
[Sd.]
(for) Column Commander
No. XXX LIB
_____________________________________________________________________________
Order #20
Stamp: Full Moon Day of Tha Bo Tway
No. XXX IB
No. 2 Company Layman-in-charge of monastery / Headman
Date: 14-2-95 xxxx / yyyy villages
- You must come and meet us at xxxx army camp without fail on the first day
after full moon day of Tha Bo Tway.
- We inform you that you must bring a video player on the first day after
full moon day of Tha Bo Tway.
- If you fail to come, we won't take any responsibility [for what happens to
you].
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 2 Company
No. XXX Infantry Battalion
_____________________________________________________________________________
- [END OF PART 1 - SEE SUBSEQUENT POSTING FOR PART 2 OF 2] -