Severe torture was inflicted on an innocent Naga businessman and money was extorted by Burmese Army soldiers in Hukawng Valley in Burma's northern Kachin State after he was accused of being a 'Naga rebel', said local sources.
Mr. Na Tat (30), a businessman dealing in gold was detained at the Burmese Army's Regional Operation Command headquarters (ROC or Da Ka Sa) in Danai (Tanai) on October 21. He was caught while he was going back home in Namti on the Myitkyina-Mandalay railway from the gold mines in Hukawng Valley, said residents in Namti.
According to Na Tat's family in Namti, he would have died following the severe assault. Na Tat's face and chest were badly bruised and his legs were locked in Chauk Pauk (a torture tool which is made of thick wooden planks with six or more circular holes where human legs are inserted and locked) by Burmese soldiers in Danai ROC, commanded by Brig-Gen Khin Maung Aye. The torture continued for three agonizing days.
Na Tat was freed by Burmese soldiers but family members had to shell out over 700,000 Kyat (est. US $574) to the Danai ROC for his release, added family members. Na Tat was admitted to Namti Hospital soon after he was released.
Residents of Namti swore Na Tat is innocent and has no truck with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) on the Burma side. He was tortured by Burmese soldiers only for extortion. The Burmese soldiers were aware that he had money given he was in the gold trade in Hukawng Valley.
It is not unusual for troops in the Burmese Army posts and the battalion in Hugawng Valley to fleece civilians. They always forcibly demand money from residents and traders or murder them for it, according to gold businessmen in Hukawng Valley.
Damaged bridges ignored by authorities, endanger residents in Mudon Township
Wed 12 Nov 2008, Mi Rai Maraoh, IMNA
Two damaged bridges have been left un-repaired for months, say IMNA sources in Mudon Township, who add that failure to repair the bridges is endangering road users and has caused at least one accident.
The bridges are located between Win-tamoe and Lat-tat villages and between Kwan-hlar and Phaung-sein villages. Each bridge had an edge collapse in September, making the bridges two narrow to accommodate traffic of more than one small HiLux truck, say local sources. Prior to the collapses, two small trucks could cross the bridge abreast of one another.
“Those bridges are so damaged. It is in danger for travelers and vehicles because small vehicles still can pass but it is difficult for trucks to pass on,” said a source that has watched traffic use the bridge.
The authorities have not fixed the bridges, though they did put up signs saying “Under repair” and diverted traffic by erecting a barrier of water tanks.
At least one accident has occurred, when a motorbike fell over the collapsed edge during heavy traffic surrounding the Kyaikkamee pagoda festival in nearby Thanpyuzayart Township. The driver was wounded and the bike damaged, but neither case was serious.
“In the past bridges were damaged, but the situation never got like this. The bridge is difficult to use at the current situation because only one vehicle can use the road and everyone must go slowly,” said a woman who regularly travels from Mudon Township to Moulmein, Mon State’s capital city.
Many drivers are stopping their vehicles at the bridge and making their passengers disembark, said the woman. “Travelers including me walk to pass our vehicles after we stop riding in them. The situation has been getting worse. I know this because I always go to Moulmein every week. Drivers also drive very slowly without carrying travelers. They also risk driving at that place. Nobody wants to ride vehicle at that place.”
Authorities compensated prominent Mon singer Mon Chit Soe after a damaged bridge caused him to have an accident near Hnitkayin village, Lamine Sub-Township, in December 2006.
