Dawn 11th March

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxx]

SLORC DEFECTORS IN KARENNI AREA DUE TO THE ABUSES IN ARMY       

	The defection of the Slorc soldiers occurred in Karenni area due 
to the abuses and corruption of the army officials. During the "Pyi Nyein 
Aye operation" in which from 2000 - 3000 troops from 27 battalions were 
used,  18 soldiers from Slorc have fled and defected with their weapons 
to the KNPP forces as of March 1996. 
	Many stories of human rights abuses by the military officials, 
corruption and discrimination against low ranking soldiers have been 
reported from those defectors lucky enough to escape to the KNPP.  
	Among the Slorc defectors, a  five man - platoon led by its 
leader from Slorc's division (2) of Light infantry Battalion (72) under 
the commander of Eastern Military Command defected to KNPP Battalion (2) 
on March 15, 1996. Platoon leader Corporal Maung Win (BC. 676053), Ye Win 
Hteik (BC. 880179), Myo Min Aung (BC. 963954), Kyaw Win(BC. 980955) and 
Win Htay (BC. 980961) defected to KNPP forces with one M.79 launcher and 
twelve shells, four G-3 assaulted rifles, a hundred and twenty-five 
7.62mm bullets, twenty rounds of ammunition, two assault weapons, and two 
mines. 
	Corruption and abuse of power by the high ranking officials are 
common in the Slorc  army, according the defectors.  Privates are ordered 
to work unpaid for business ventures run by the army officials in the 
name of Self-reliance programs of the battalions. All the money and 
benefits earned from these programs are shared among the officers but not 
with low ranking soldiers. "Our LIB 72 runs several businesses such as a 
sawmill, logging, and mines at Dawsee village in Lawpita. Every soldier 
is required to work unpaidin these business. No inquiry can be made. All 
money is shared among the officers," said Myo Min Aung,  a 18 - year - 
old private from LIB 72 based in Lawpita. He was ordered to work in the 
lead mine in Dawsee village along with fellow soldiers for the so-called 
"project for Battalion's fund." The lead minded by the soldiers was taken 
back to the 
battalion and sold, one viss for 15 kyats, to local merchants.  Everyday 
the soldiers mined 
at least 100 visses but no money was allocated for the welfare of the 
soldiers.  Likewise in 
the logging project, soldiers were ordered to work without pay.  They had 
to cut the hardwood and carry it back to the battalion. Local people were 
also ordered to provide bullock carts for carrying logs. Although all 
facilities and working forces were free and unpaid, no money went to the 
battalion.  Everything was for the officers' own benefit, according to 
Myo Min Aung. Besides these money-making projects, soldiers were assigned 
to do private work for their superior officers.  Former (72) Battalion 
commander Lt-Col. Win Myint ordered 10  soldiers in every day to work 
making bricks for the construction of his house. Soldiers were ordered to 
make  2,000 brick and could not return to the barracks until their quota 
was finished. 
	Myo Min Aung was only 15 - year - old when he first enlisted into 
army in June  1994.  The official age for new recruits is 18, but he  had 
no problem enlisting. "Some are even younger than me." he said. He also 
reported being beaten frequently, sometimes aspunishment, but often 
merely as entertainment for drunken superior officers.
	"Soldiers are asked to massage the officers at night or cook for 
their family. When they are not satisfied with the service, the officers 
beat them." he said in his interview. "Captain Lin Oo was the worst 
person in my battalion. He treated the soldiers like animals. He always 
looked for the weakness of the privates and loved to beat them. He 
sometimes assigned soldiers to take a guard at the post which was an 
hour's walk from the battalion. He did not order the other to give meal 
or food for the soldiers on guard duty. Nobody dared to bring food for 
them without his order. When the soldiers came back to the barracks to 
get food, he beat them up for disobeying his order" Myo Min Aung 
reported. 
	"Corruption was rampant among the officials," said corporal Maung 
Win from the same battalion. "For example, I was promoted to  lance 
corporal position in 1990.  According to army rules, I was to get the 850 
kyats corporal salary after one year service in corporal position.  I got 
my promotion salary after three years.  Capt. Nyan Htun who was the 
finance official concerned received my salary in accord with the laws. 
But instead of giving it to me, he took for himself."  he explained. 
	Another defector, Win Htay added " when a soldier dies in battle, 
the  headquarters compensates 10,000 kyats to the surviving family. But  
Capt. Nyan Htun always took that money and told the family that the 
soldier had defected to the ethnic  forces."  
	Rations are routinely stolen by the officers in charge and sold 
at the  market. When food and other supplies arrived, the supply officer 
sold them and replaced them with lower quality food.  The money was 
shared among the officers. "All privates know about that, but these very 
same corrupt officers are the ones who we have to report to, so nobody 
says anything." explained Ye Win Hteik, 24- year - old private who 
defected to the KNPP. 	The situation was worst at the front. Soldiers 
got only rice and very basic rations while officers were enjoying good 
food stuffs. That situation led soldiers to use force towards the local 
people to supply them with food. No action would be taken against 
soldiers who committed robbery or other abuses towards the local 
civilians. 	According to them, many of soldiers used in the offensive 
attack against the KNPP were as young as 14 - 15 years old and sent to 
the frontlines as soon as they finished their four - month basic 
training.  Most were recruited at random. Recruitment is often done by a 
quota system; new soldiers are demanded from each village or township per 
year. If the quota is not reached, the local people will face punishment. 
Recruitment depends on the size of village or townships. For villages of 
less than 100 houses one youth must be supplied; for villages of upto 200 
houses two youth- and so up to maximum five youths for villages of more 
than 400 houses.  
	Due to the lack of training and experience, many of these young 
soldiers were  killed and some fled during the offensive. Young soldiers 
are deliberately placed in danger during operations.   
	This five - man platoon decided to defect after the platoon 
leader Corporal  Maung Win had a quarrel with Sergeant  Khin Maung Win 
over rations distribution to the soldiers in Dawwi Moe outpost on March 
10, 1996. The next day when the  sergeant returned to his other outpost,  
Corporal Maung Win led his troop to defect. Before they were left, they 
burned down and destroyed their outpost.