Two Kachin women in Hugawng Valley, in Burma’s Kachin State, were sexually abused by workers of the Yuzana Company, a local agricultural project supported by the military regime, according to sources close to the victims.

One woman from Wa Ra Zup, and another from Nam Sai, were sexually abused and beaten up by company workers on November 13, at the same time and in the same location, the sources said.

They said a 40-year-old woman was raped and another woman, aged 60, was beaten up by the rapists.

The two women were taken into the forest by the rapists while they were on their way to sell goods at the gold mines in Ban Kawk village, which is situated beside Stilwell Road (or Ledo Road).

“A rapist told a woman after he raped her, ‘I am living in 99 (company area). I apologize for this and will see you again’, and he disappeared,” a villager quoted the victims as saying.

Residents of the two villages have no idea who they should complain to, or call to take action on this case.

Villagers said they have no one to complain to except their village head.

“Unfortunately, the village headmen cannot help the two victims take legal action against the rapists, because the two village administrators have to remain loyal to Burmese military authorities,” said the villagers.

The Rangoon based Yuzana Company, chaired by U Htay Myint, entered the Hugawng Valley in 2006 with the help of the Burmese military, and confiscated up to 400,000 acres of land, including paddy fields and crop plantations owned by native Kachin people, as well as a tiger reserve.

Local people said the company also transported tens of thousands of Burman labourers, from southern Burma, to use as a workforce, but also to settle Burman people on Kachin soil.

Villagers are often fighting in different ways with the company workers, who locals accuse of being a big threat to local girls and women.

They said this is not the first incident of Hugawng area women being raped by Yuzana Company workers.

They also said a villager was murdered and two young women were raped after the company arrived in the area.

The source added the two victims have not received any medical treatment for their injuries, but remain at home.