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New Relocation Orders Issued to Vil (r)



Subject: New Relocation Orders Issued to Villages in Kyar--In-Seik--Kyi

Township, Southern Karen
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News Release: 

New Relocation Orders Issued to Villages in Kyar--In-Seik--Kyi Township,
Southern Karen State 

YOMA (3) 
Kanchanaburi, April 6 
  
  

Residents of 31 villages from Kyar-in-seik-kyi township (termed Win-Ye
township by the Karen
Nation Union-KNU) have been issued orders by SPDC regional commanders to
abandon their
villages and move to "concentrated villages" no later than April 20. 

Village headmen, monks, priests and prominent members of the 31 villages
were summoned April 1
by members of Light Infantry Battalion 284 and issued orders to depopulate
the area and move to 4
designated sites near SPDC military posts. The consequences for failure to
obey the relocation order
were spelled out in no uncertain terms. Villagers were warned that they
would be treated as hostile
forces if they were found in or near their village areas after 20 April. 

The SPDC  relocatation orders mirror those issued to other villages in the
area during the dry season
one year ago and signal the SPDC intent to turn the entire area into a
free-fire or so called "black"
zone. Indeed, Karen and other ethnic villagers in this large area of
Southern Karen State have long
been subject to a continuing litany of Human Rights violations including
forced portering, seizure of
property and arbitrary torture and detention. SPDC actions in this area
during 1998 are fully detailed
in a report released by the Mon Information Service in January. 

The renewal of the notorious four-cuts strategy in and around
Kyar-in-seik-kyi township is likely
related to recent limited successes achieved by armed members of the KNU
and other opposition
groups against Burmese military targets. The continuing terrorization of
unarmed and peaceful ethnic
minorities in rural areas such as Kyar-in-seik-kyi occurs simultaneously
with an offer by the SPDC
to negotiate cease-fire terms with the KNU. The current preparations for a
military offensive in
Sothern Karen State suggest that such offers have neither a basis in truth
nor sincerity. 

A large number of village residents are reportedly ready to desert their
treasured homes and land to
flee for possible shelter over the border in Thailand rahter than face
privation and victimization in the
"concentration" villages. 
Below is a list of the villages issued with relocation orders and the
"concentration" village to which

they have been ordered to move. 

    

  Relocated villages
     Concentrated village 

  1) Ka-katit
               Ye-ta-khon 
  2) Ya-thae 
  3) Lu-shar 
  4) Rat-phaw 
  5) Htee-to-kaw 

  6) Khon-na-war          `
            Anan-kwin 
  8) Ta-nyin 
  9) Upper Pha-ya 
  10) Lower Pha-ya 
  11) Win-kha-na 
  12) Pang-aung 
  13) Pu-taw 
  14) Than-pa-ya 

  15) Khon-khan
              Taung-zon 
  16) Mae-ka-naw 
  17) Mae-ka-wa 
  18) Sin-pyay 
  19) Hmar-law 
  20) Htee-mow-kae 
  21) Kyauk-bi-lu 


  22) Tha-pyay-kone
             Pha-bya 
  23) Myay-ni-kone 
  24) Tha-ya-kone 
  25) Mont-lone-taung 
  26) Nan-kwee 
  27) Win-taung 
  28) Kha-lae-saw 
  29) Na-aine 
  30) Win-poak 
  31) Taung-ka-lay 
  ---------------------
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