Burmese Army soldiers led by Captain Kyaw Thu, of the LIB No. 517, based in Shandaw Township, Htay Yuu Taung, also known as Loipeeso, has demanded rice from Dawtanaw and Dawmule in the last couple of days, according to sources in Shandaw Township in Karenni state.

The two villages were forced to supply rice to the Burmese troops. Dawtanaw village shelled out 10 cans of rice and Dawmule gave eight cans. The villages were not paid for the rice by the army.

Drought destroying crops in Burma has caused acute food shortage in provinces in central Burma and ethnic regions, but troops based locally are ignoring this, which has resulted in hunger among the people, a local resident said.

"They (junta’s troops) forced us to feed them free of cost. With water shortage and consequent crop failure this year, we are extremely worried. In our hour of distress the soldiers demanded rice from our villagers, even as local authorities do nothing to help the villagers," said the resident.

The Burmese troops held a meeting with village leaders and then demanded five sacks of rice from every village along Shandaw Township.

In the wake of the Karenni Army blocking the movement of food for Burmese troops last month, the latter threatened Karenni residents, said a source in Karenni Social Welfare and Development Centre (KSWDC).

Burma Nine, a vice coordinator of KSWDC, said “If they still use villagers to carry rice for their troops, the Karenni Army will block supplies again. As a result, they have not yet forced residents to carry rice and food to their base camp, they have just demanded that it be readied so they could get it themselves.”

There are 12 villages, which have to arrange for five sacks of rice each for the Burmese troops in Shandaw Township.