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CHRO News: September 1999
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Rhododendron News Bulletin
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Chin Human Rights Organization
50 Bell Street, North #2, Ottawa. ON K1R 7C7, Canada
Ph\Fx : 613 234 2485 Email : chokhlei@xxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.chro.org
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Volume II No.7 September 1999
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Civilians held responsible for disappearance of army personnel
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( Burmese soldiers tortured villages' headmen in Chin State).
On 26/6/1999 a company of Burmese Army comprising of 34 soldiers led by 2nd
Lieutenant Myo Kyaw from LIB 266 stationed at Lungler Camp set off for Lung
Ding village from Lungler.
On their way to Tlangpi village on 27/6/1999, one army personel disappeared
half way. Stunned by the sudden disappearance, the 2nd Battalion Commander
Major Khin Maung Ye, then, led the search for the lost soldier. According to
a villager of Tlangpi, Pu LianMang (name changed), the Major held Tlangpi
villagers responsible for the soldier's disappearance, since the place where
the soldier was believed to be disappeared was in Tlangpi area.
Moreover, villagers from Dawn, Bung Khua, Zang Tlang and Tlangpi were
forcibly taken to Lungler to construct road between Lungler and Fung Kah
village without payment. The villagers had to give a total of Kyats 300000
to the Major as a ransom for their release, with Dawn and Bung Khua
contributing Kyats 120000 each and Zang Tlang village Kyats 80000.
Unable to afford for the ransom, Tlangpi villagers are still being held at
Lungler army camp and are being engaged in the forced labor. The Major also
took control of the entire rations that the villagers had brought for
themselves and gave them on a limited scale. The villagers had to stay
hungry as they were given only 34 cups (small milk can) of rice for a day.
Heavily guarded by the soldiers, the villagers are threatened that the
entire villagers will be punished if anyone attempted to escape. All males
in the village have been held and are now in the forced labor camp, as the
soldiers are suspicious that some villagers might ran away whenever they
arrived in the village. " The villagers could have been released if they
could pay the ransom. But the village is facing financial problems and still
had to work", said Pu Lian Mang.
The work started from 5 a.m. in the morning till 5 p.m. in the evening. In
a bid to block the soldier who was believed to be defected, from sneaking
into India, ferrymen in two major routes to Farkawn (Mizoram),
India-Tlanglo(Burma) and Tlangpi-Thekte (Mizoram, India) - were detained and
their ferries were confiscated.
Pu Biak Lawm, Pu Van Thleng and Pu Leng Ling were among the detainees who
were taken to Hakha Army Headquarters and put in jail. They are yet to be
released, as they have no money to bribe. The blockade of Tio river and
absence of ferry service had led to the drowning of Salai Tluang Sawm and
Mai Siang Zi (school girls) who attempted to cross the flooded river
on19/7/1999.
The Chairman and members of Village PDC, all of them 8, are also arrested
and jailed in Hakha prison on account of being responsible for the
disappearance of the soldier. The members are Pu Tial Awr, Village PDC
chairman, Pu Ral Lian Kap, Pu Hnok Kio, Pu Lian Kham, Pu Kap Lian, Salai
Peng Thang and two other villagers. They were subjected to several beatings
with baton on their feet. Because of these severe torture, they are now
unable to walk.
During the torture, the Chairman's calf was pierced with a-4-inch heated
nail at least 20 times that his feet were completely maimed. He had to be
carried by other people with his hands tied up in the back whenever he was
summoned to the Army camp in the hilltop.
The fates of the eight victims are unpredictable.Other 7 members apart from
the Chairman are likely to be able to release on giving bribes to the army
authorities.
None of them, however, cannot afford it and has to remain in jail. Tlangpi
villagers are in dilemma as to how to deal with the 34 villagers being
detained in Lungler camp, as well as the 8 village council members being
jailed in Hakha and the two villagers drowned while crossing Tio River.
They are still busy trying to collect the ransom money for the release of
the Village Council members. There is still another major problem for
civilians, landmines are being planted by the SPDC troops in areas like
Leilet village in Falam Township and along the Mizoram borders of Thantlang
areas.
According to disclosure of residents of Thantlang township areas, a
landmine was found during the month of February1999. Although the primary
purpose of planting landmines in these areas is to prohibit the movement of
Chin National Army, civilians are rather being impacted. It is estimated
that as many as 30 landmines have been laid in the area.
Date of receiving report :23 July 1999.
Soldiers Extorted Domestic Animals in Falam Township
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Name : Hrelian
Occupation : Farmer
Place : Lungpi, Falam township
A troop of 10 soldiers from LIB (268) Falam Battalion led by 2nd Lt. Khin
Than was posted in Lungpi village of Falam township to collect fire woods
for brick kiln. The soldiers ordered nearby villages Mangkheng, Rialti,
Lungpi, Lungrang and Thlanrawn to provide two chickens per week to the
soldiers without fail.
Since the villagers can not afford to provide the requested chickens, they
went to Falam and complained to the Battalion Commander. As soon as the
Battalion commander received the complain, he sent a group of soldiers to
the said villages. The soldiers entered village by village and took all the
chickens ( no matter big or small ) by force. The villagers were pointed
with guns when they tried to prevent them. Besides, the villagers were
ordered to weave baskets to keep the chickens. After that the soldiers
collected porters to carry the chickens that they had looted.
PDCs chairmen from Lungpi, Mangkheng, Thlanrawn, Rialti and Lungrang
villages went to the commander of LIB 268 and report the incident. However,
the Battalion commander threatened them that the civillians have
responsibility to feed the army and have no rights to complain or take any
action on the army. If any body create trouble to the army, the whole
village or town has to suffer.
Burmese troops terrorized Indian villagers
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12 Burmese soldiers led by Sergeant Tin Oong (Ration Supply Unit) under
company 2 commander, Lt. Myo Kyaw from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)268
based at Falam, Chin State made their way to patrolling the Indo-Burma
borders on 15 July 1999. During such operations the soldiers usually carried
out brutal acts against the civilains.
Pu Suan Do (name changed) and 5 other traders from Kui Thang village of
Tiddim Township (Chin State) were at that time setting off for Mizoram State
of India to sell 10 pigs and 18 chickens. These pigs and chickens were sold
to Zote villagers of Mizoram State who received them at Tio River, which
borders India and Burma.
On hearing this news, the Sergeant immediately chased the Indian villagers
who just bought the pigs and chickens up to one mile inside the Indian
Territory and forcibly took one pig worth 20000 kyats, one chicken worth
1000 kyats in Burmese currency, and Rs.500 in Indian currency in cash from
them.
According to the Nu Biaki(one of the traders), the soldiers killed and ate
a pig at FarTlang village in Tidim Township. The Mizoram public was enraged
over the conduct of the Burmese troops looting and extorting money inside
their territory. Making an excuse to clear suspected Chin National Army's
bases around the areas, the sergeant-led company had been carrying out
extortion and confiscation.
Such brutalities in the border have prompted the Indian Army and Mizoram
armed police to carry out fresh operation against the Chin National Army,
which has been leading armed resistant movement against the Rangoon
government for democracy and self-determination for the Chins. It is being
observed with great concern that the Chin peoples in these areas, who solely
depend on selling livestock to Mizoram, will face severe hardship if the
Burmese troops continue to commit intrusion and brutalities in the Indian
side.
Date of receiving report : 23 July 1999
Civilians engaged in road construction as forced laborers
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Date of interview : 4.7.99
Name : Ngun Hmung (Village tract chairman)
Age : 40
Gender : Male
Occupation : Farmer
Village : Khua Bung (A), Thantlang Township, Chin State
Nationality : Chin
Religion : Christian
Family member : 8 including 6 Children
By using the name of " Border Trade between India and Burma" the millitary
government of Burma, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), constructed
roads merely for better links between army camps in the border areas. The
junta forced the people to construct road between Hriphi army camp and newly
constructed Vuangtu camp, which is 13 miles in distance. One thousands
villagers from the surrounding 30 villages were working for this
construction as forced laborers. Moreover, these laborers had to carry their
own tools, equipments and ration supplies during the road construction,
which lasted from 1st February to the first week of June. The soldiers
guarded the laborers and threatened that the entire concerned villages will
be punished if anyone from any village ran away from the work site. The
laborers were forced to work from dawn to dusk and were allowed to sleep
only by their respective work sites where the soldiers assigned them. No
medical treatment was given to the sick during the construction.
The army allotted the work to each village and the villagers were forced to
finish their allotted work before the first week of June that started from
March 23. Major Khin Maung Ye, from Company 2 of Hriphi Camp and 2nd
Battalion Commander of LIB 268 stationed in Falam, was directed to supervise
the construction. Known among his inferiors who helped supervise the
construction were Sergeant Nyo Win, Corporal Win Kyiang and Corp. Soe Myint.
Firing 5 or 6 shots in the air the Major would often threaten the tired
laborers with dire consequences if they did not follow his instruction.
Therefore no one dare to complain their tiredness and had to stay calm.
Sometimes the laborers were even robbed of their rations such as rice, dried
meats that they brought from the village.
The soldiers also stole five hoes from the laborers, which were brought
from ZaBung village. Moreover, 4 persons from each village along Thantlang
and Hriphi were forced to carry an empty diesel tank (50 gallons- capacity)
from one village to another - any group that could not carry the tank were
punched and beaten. The age of the laborers from each village ranged from 67
years to 15 years, including school children.
Among the laborers who worked in the road construction were 3 elderly men,
over 65 years, 3 widows and 5 school children from ZaBung village; 4 elderly
men (around age 50) from Zephai village; 1 elderly man and 4 middle school
students from Nga Lang village and people from different age group even
children and some Christian religious teachers from Hriphi village.
While working on the construction, Ni Awi, a 23-year-old youth, son of Nun
Hei from Hriphi village fell off the wall of the road and broke his right
arms. Ram Cung, a 17-year-old youth, son of Hei Mang received serious chest
and back injuries from the same incident. No medical treatment whatsoever
was given to the victims.
The newly constructed road had crossed private farms owned by Hram Thang,
Sui Mang, Lian Te and Hre Cem of Hriphi (B) village were destroyed. The
farmers received no compensation so far. These farmers are likely to face
serious difficulties in the coming year, as their farms were destroyed
without compensation.
According to a reliable information, despite reportedly sanctioning Kyats
500000 and 140000 worth diesel for bulldozer. However, nothing was spent for
the construction, instead forced labor was used. After completing the
construction the laborers were forced to work on the army farms.
Myanmar Christians flee to India alleging persecution
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( Source : Rangoon Post )
GUWAHATI, India, Aug 20 (AFP) - More than 1,000 Christian tribals in
Myanmar have fled across the border into India this month, alleging
persecution by the military junta and Buddhist monks, church leaders said
Friday.
The Naga tribals, mostly from eight villages in the Sagaing district of
northern Myanmar, crossed into the far northeastern Indian state of
Nagaland, according to Reverend Zhabu Terhuja, general secretary of the
Nagaland Baptist Church Council.
"Buddhist monks aided by Myanmar soldiers have been forcing the Christian
Nagas residing in that country to convert to Buddhism," Terhuja told AFP by
telephone from the Naga capital Kohima.
There are an estimated 20,000 Naga tribals in Myanmar. "Some Myanmarese
Nagas are taking shelter in a border village called Pangsa following alleged
persecution by the army," said local police chief L.T. Lotha.
"But there is no law and order as such due to the exodus," Lothi said.
Church leaders said the Naga Christians were being forced to close down
their churches, which had then been desecrated or used as kitchens by the
Myanmar army.
Reverend Bonny Resu, secretary general of the Asian Baptist
Federation said the issue had been taken up with the Myanmar Baptist
Convention "so that they can apprise the government about the reports of
persecution."
However, Buddhist leaders here questioned the validity of the reports."Even
if your father or mother accepts another religion, being a son you cannot
force them to reconvert to Buddhism. So the question of converting
Christians to Buddhism by force does not arise," said Gyanpal Bhiku, a
Buddhist monk and member of the Northeast Buddhist Federation.
Force to construct police station and army camp
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Name : Zamula
age : 35
Gender : Male
Occupation : Farmer ( presently Chairman of Shiao village
tract )
Religion : Christian
Family members : 6-Children
The police station in charge and army/company commander of Shinletwa,
Paletwa township, jointly, forced the villagers to construct police station
and army camp. The villagers were divided into two groups. One group was
assigned to build police station and the other was assigned to construct
army camp. Para village, Shewlike village, Yayitaung village, Gonepin
village, Pondmao village, Kyupyahtin village, Pyiwa village and Khone
village were assigned to build army camp. Under a watchful eyes of the
guards the villagers were forced to work from morning 6:00 until 5: pm
without taking rest.
No medicine was provided for the sick from the authorities. At night the
villagers had to sleep at the place where the authority had specified. The
villagers were warned that anyone who escape from the work field would be
severely punished. The villagers had no time even for bathing.
"The two constructions simultaneously started in February of 1999. As our
group could not complete the construction in February they told us to come
back in March. However, I could not go back to the construction because I
was busy with my farm works. So when I went for the meeting in the begining
of May, the commander questioned me why I did not show up in the
construction work and I was kept under arrest ( kept in the army camp ). I
requested the commander to allow me to stay in the village because I was so
uncomfortable to stay in the army camp" said Zamula.
He also addded, "even though the commander allowed me to stay in the
village, I had to give my signature twice a day at the camp. Moreover, the
authority asked me to pay Kyats 500 for the cost of papers and pens".
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