Food Security in Karen (Kayin) State
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Livelihood consequences of SPDC restrictions and patrols in Nyaunglebin District |
| Date of publication: | | 22 September 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | "This report presents information on abuses in Nyaunglebin District for the period of April to July 2009. Though Nyaunglebin saw a reduction in SPDC activities during the first six months of 2009, patrols resumed in July. Since then, IDP villagers attempting to evade SPDC control report that they have subsequently been unable to regularly access farm fields or gardens, exacerbating cycles of food shortages set in motion by the northern Karen State offensive which began in 2006. Other villagers, from the only nominally controlled villages in the Nyaunglebin's eastern hills to SPDC-administered relocation sites in the west, meanwhile, report abuses including forced labour, conscription into government militia, travel restrictions and the torture of two village leaders for alleged contact with the KNLA..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Reports (KHRG #2009-F15) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (821 KB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2009/khrg09f15.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 28 October 2009 |
|
| Title: | | SPDC and DKBA order documents: August 2008 to June 2009 |
| Date of publication: | | 27 August 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | "This report includes translated copies of 75 order documents issued by Burma Army and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army officers to village heads in Karen State between August 2008 and June 2009. These documents serve as supplementary evidence of ongoing exploitative local governance in rural Burma. The report thus supports the continuing testimonies of villagers regarding the regular demands for labour, money, food and other supplies to which their communities are subject by local military forces. The order documents collected here include demands for attendance at meetings; the provision of money and alcohol; the production and delivery of thatch shingles and bamboo poles; forced labour as messengers and porters for the military; forced labour on road repair; the provision of information on individuals and households; registration of villagers in State-controlled 'NGOs'; and restrictions on travel and the use of muskets. In almost all cases, such demands are uncompensated and backed by an implicit threat of violence or other punishment for non-compliance. Almost all demands articulated in the orders presented in this report involve some element of forced labour in their implementation..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Orders Reports (KHRG #2009-04 ) |
| Format/size: | | pfd (1.2 MB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2009/khrg0904.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 15 November 2009 |
|
| Title: | | IDP responses to food shortages in Nyaunglebin District |
| Date of publication: | | 10 April 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | "Since the beginning of 2009, SPDC troops have patrolled areas near displaced hiding sites in Nyaunglebin District. These patrols prevent displaced villagers from cultivating their secret crops or otherwise accessing food, which in turn exacerbates food insecurity for these civilians. Despite such hardships, villagers have responded by cooperating with each other-often sharing food or helping each other cultivate crops and sell goods in 'jungle markets'. This report describes the situation of displaced villagers in Nyaunglebin District from December 2008 to March 2009..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Reports (KHRG #2009-F7) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (881 KB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2009/khrg09f7.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 31 October 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Attacks, killings and the food crisis in Papun District |
| Date of publication: | | 04 February 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | "SPDC abuses against civilians continue in northern Karen State, especially in the Lu Thaw and Dweh Loh townships of Papun District. Abuses have been particularly harsh in Lu Thaw, most of which has been designated a "black area" by the SPDC and so subject to constant attacks by Burma Army forces. Villagers who decide to remain in their home areas are often forced to live in hiding and not only face constant threats of violence by the SPDC, but also a worsening food crisis due to the SPDC's disruption of planting cycles. This report covers events in Papun District from August 2008 to January 2009..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Reports (KHRG #2009-F2) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (578 KB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2009/khrg09f2.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 31 October 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Forced labour and extortion in Pa'an District |
| Date of publication: | | 08 August 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "At a time when civilians in Pa'an District are already struggling with rising food prices and unemployment, an increasing number of villagers are being subjected to forced labour and extortion by local SPDC and DKBA forces. This is especially true in eastern Karen State, near the Thoo Mweh (Moei) river, where DKBA commanders are forcing villagers to ignore their own livelihoods in order to help these leaders cultivate their personal rubber plantations. The result of these abuses is a worsening food crisis and constant economic migration to other areas both in Burma and in neighbouring Thailand, places where villagers hope to find more sustainable employment opportunities. This report describes the situation in the Dta Greh and T'Nay Hsah townships of Pa'an District from January to June 2008..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Reports (KHRG #2008-F11) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (511 KB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2008/khrg08f11.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 01 November 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Military expansion and exploitation in Nyaunglebin District |
| Date of publication: | | 05 August 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "With the SPDC Army's continued expansion in Nyaunglebin District, local villagers not under military control have had to once again flee into the surrounding forest while troops have forcibly interned other villagers in military-controlled relocation sites. These relocation sites, typically in the plains of western Nyaunglebin, alongside army camps or SPDC-controlled vehicle roads, serve as containment centres from which army personnel appropriate labour, money, food and supplies to support the military's ongoing expansion in the region. Extortion by military officers operating in Nyaunglebin District has included forced 'donations' allegedly collected for distribution to survivors of Cyclone Nargis in the Irrawaddy Delta. This field report looks at the situation in Nyaunglebin up to the end of May 2008..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Reports (KHRG #2008-F10) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (697 KB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2008/khrg08f10.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 01 November 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Attacks, killings and the food crisis in Toungoo District |
| Date of publication: | | 01 August 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "SPDC troops have continued to target internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Toungoo District. Civilians continue be killed or injured by the attacks while many of the survivors flee their homes and take shelter in forest hiding sites. Some who have moved into SPDC forced relocation sites continue to secretly return to their villages to cultivate their crops, constantly risking punishment or execution by troops patrolling the areas. The SPDC's repeated disruption of regular planting cycles has created a food crisis in Toungoo, further endangering the IDPs living there. This report examines the abuses in Toungoo District from April to June 2008..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Reports (KHRG #2008-F9) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (880 KB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2008/khrg08f9.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 01 November 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Burma Army attacks and civilian displacement in northern Papun District |
| Date of publication: | | 12 June 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "Following the deployment of new Burma Army units in the area of Htee Moo Kee village, Lu Thaw township of northern Karen State, Papun District, during the first week of March 2008, at least 1,600 villagers from seven villages were forced to relocate to eight different hiding sites in order to avoid the encroaching army patrols. These displaced communities are now facing heightened food insecurity and an ongoing risk of military attack. This report is based on in-depth interviews with displaced villagers from Lu Thaw township regarding the recent Burma Army operations and the resultant effects on the local communities. It also includes information on the recent military attack on Dtay Muh Der village, Lu Thaw township, Papun District which Burma Army forces conducted during the first week of June 2008 and which led to the further displacement of over 1,000 villagers..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Reports (KHRG #2008-F6) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (537 KB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2008/khrg08f6.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 01 November 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Landmines, Killings and Food Destruction: Civilian life in Toungoo District |
| Date of publication: | | 09 August 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | "The attacks against civilians continue as the SPDC increases its military build-up in Toungoo District. Enforcing widespread restrictions on movement backed up by a shoot-on-sight policy, the SPDC has executed at least 38 villagers in Toungoo since January 2007. On top of this, local villagers face the ever present danger of landmines, many of which were manufactured in China, which the Army has deployed around homes, churches and forest paths. Combined with the destruction of covert agricultural hill fields and rice supplies, these attacks seek to undermine food security and make life unbearable in areas outside of consolidated military control. However, as those living under SPDC rule have found, the constant stream of military demands for labour, money and other supplies undermine livelihoods, village economies and community efforts to address health, education and social needs. Civilians in Toungoo must therefore choose between a situation of impoverishment and subjugation under SPDC rule, evasion in forested hiding sites with the constant threat of military attack, or a relatively stable yet uprooted life in refugee camps away from their homeland. This report documents just some of the human rights abuses perpetrated by SPDC forces against villagers in Toungoo District up to July 2007..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Report (KHRG #2007-F6) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (1.24 MB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2007/khrg07f6.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 08 November 2009 |
|
| Title: | | The Compounding Consequences of DKBA Oppression: Abuse, poverty and food insecurity in Thaton District |
| Date of publication: | | 09 July 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | "As the principal means of establishing control over the people of Thaton District, the SPDC has supported a more aggressive DKBA role in the area. With the junta's political, military and financial backing the DKBA has sought to expand its numbers, strengthen its position vis-à-vis the civilian population and eradicate the remaining KNU/KNLA presence in the region. To those ends, the DKBA has used forced labour, looting, extortion, land confiscation and movement restrictions and embarked on a hostile campaign of forced recruitment from amongst the local population. These abuses have eroded village livelihoods, leading to low harvest yields and wholly failed crops; problems which compound over time and progressively deepen poverty and malnourishment. With the onset of the rainy season and the 2007 cultivation period, villagers in Thaton District are faced with depleting provisions. This food insecurity will require that many harvest their 2007 crop as early as October while still unripe. The low yield of an early harvest, lost time spent on forced labour and the harmful fallout of further extortion and other abuses will all combine to ensure once again that villagers in Thaton District confront food shortages and increasing poverty..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Report (KHRG #2007-F5) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (527 KB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2007/khrg07f5.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 08 November 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Eastern Pa'an District: Forced Labour, Food Security and the Consolidation of Control |
| Date of publication: | | 23 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | "The SPDC and DKBA continued to consolidate their control over Pa'an District in 2003, especially in the mountainous eastern part of the district. Fighting between the SPDC and the DKBA was ongoing up until the ceasefire talks began in December 2003, culminating in an offensive against the KNLA's 7th Brigade headquarters in October. In order to expand their influence DKBA units are actively recruiting in the area. Villagers must also face demands from both the SPDC and the DKBA for forced labour, building materials and extortion money. Fulfilling these demands have left the villagers with little time to work their fields. Many villagers are unable to get enough food to eat, making food security a serious issue in the area..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group Field Report (KHRG) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 09 November 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Karen Human Rights Group Commentary #2000-C2 |
| Date of publication: | | 06 April 2000 |
| Description/subject: | | After they get a lot of paddy, they report to other countries that their country produces a lot of paddy. But really they beat civilians and take the paddy from us. They are just starting to do this now so we still have enough rice to eat, but if they keep doing this for many years, I don't think there will be enough. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Right Group Commentaries (KHRG #2000-C2) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
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