To escape relentless persecution and human rights abuse, including forced labour by the Burmese Army villagers in Southern Shan State are fleeing to the Thai-Burma border, according to SHAN sources on the border.
Soldiers belonging to the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 524 and Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 246 based in Kunhing have been subjecting villagers to forced labour including security, portering duty and domestic work like collecting firewood and building fences for the battalion, said Sai Panti (28) from Kunhing who fled to Fang district on August 20.
"Each person from every household has to take turns for sentry duty at the local command post five days a week. If we refuse to comply, we will be fined Kyat 1,500 (US $ 1.25) per day," said Sai Panti.
"Moreover, widows are required to pay Kyat 2,500 (US $ 2) if they can't go to work and a person who is absent from portering must pay Kyat 10,000 (US $ 8). We have no time to eke out a livelihood," complained Sai Panti's wife Nang Herng (23).
Similar incidents took place in Keng Tawng sub-township, Mongnai Township.
On July 16, a group of Burmese soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 569 based in Keng Tawng, went on patrol around Kunhing area and called on the headman of Hsai Khao village, Hsai Khao village tract, and ordered villagers to carry soldier's weapons and to show troops the shortcut to the location of the rebels, according to a local villager who fled to the border.
Sai Nanda (28) who is not a native of Hsai Khao was chosen as the guide, but as he was not able to show the way, he was beaten on his head until blood flowed, said a source.
"You must be a member of the rebel group, as you don't know the way," a villager quoted soldiers as saying.
He was sent back to the village after he sustained many injuries. But no one including the village headman dared to report the incident to top authorities.
"The soldiers did not even go to the place where they said they wanted to go," complained the villager.
The human rights situation in Shan State is reported monthly by the Shan Human Rights Foundation based in Chiangmai.
