A number of villagers from Kehsi Township in Southern Shan State, were abused and died from various violations including rape during portering by the Burmese Army, according to sources who fled to the border.

On July 26, two villagers Sai Htun (27) and Hsang Sai (38) from Mong Nawng village, Mong Nawng village tract, were forced to porter for 10 days by a group of 20 Burmese soldiers from Infantry Battalion (IB) 287 based in Mong Nang in order to search and eliminate rebel groups.

On August 4, when one porter Hsang Sai was unable to continue the journey because of a long-standing hernia, the soldiers kicked him on his testes till he died on the spot.

"He was kicked three times," said a source.

As soon as Hsang Sai died, the soldiers returned to their post and went to tell the family that their son died on the way due to his illness. As for compensation for his death, the soldiers gave a bag of rice to the family and also warned them not to leak any information to the outside world, said the source.

"The families just got 20 Pay (67 liters) from the bag," said the villager.

 Similar violations took place in another village by the soldiers from the same unit.

A group of five soldiers, who were patrolling the area, on July 1 raped three Palaung women at a location three miles from Mong Nawng village. One of them died on the spot, said a source.

The names of the victims were not known, but one of the women was 40, another 37, and the last a 10-year old girl. They were from Nam Ood village, Hkawkzang village tract. They were going to Mong Nang to ask for food from the other villagers and on their way were raped by the soldiers.

"The one who died was the 37 year old woman. She was stabbed on her breasts while the other one was beaten with a piece of wood on her head and fainted," said a source.

Fortunately, the 10-year old girl was able to escape to the village, while the other two were being raped, said the source.

"After they [soldiers] had raped them, they threw two of them into a gully and covered them with leaves," said a local villager who arrived on the Thai-Burma border.

The families learnt what happened after one of the woman survived the ordeal. And the other family went to bury the dead woman. But the family dared not report the matter. "The village headman was also afraid to charge the soldiers for the crime," said a villager.