Published
Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 12:50
Burmese soldiers harassing villagers
Burma Army soldiers on patrol harass villagers after accusing them of having contacts with SSA soldiers in the areas of Mongkeung and Kehsi Townships, Southern Shan State.
Burma Army soldiers on patrol harass villagers after accusing them of having contacts with SSA soldiers in the areas of Mongkeung and Kehsi Townships, Southern Shan State.
On January, 26, 2008, Mong Keung townships' Pangketu based Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 292 commander Major Soe Win Khaing dressed as a villager along with a teacher went into Pong Yeng village in order to collect taxes on poppy fields, livestock such as cows, teak as well as transportation tax.
On the way, he was ambushed and shot in his thigh. It is unknown who shot him. He accused the SSA and went to arrest the village headman Sai Chit, and beat him up until he bled on the head. The wound needed seven to eight stitches at Mongkeung hospital, according to a local source.
"Our headman did not get any compensation. Also,Major Soe Win Khaing's company interrogated and beat up villagers when they went searching houses for SSA soldiers," said a villager who wished to remain anonymous.
Many similar incidents have occurred around the area.
On January 4, 2008, at 13:00 pm, Major Thurain Tun of Mongpawn-based Light Infantry Battalion 517 led his company from Wan Kyawng, Mong Khun tract and forced the villagers to buy things such as condensed milk and rice from them. "They came and sold the bad rice that they got from their ration. They said they did not want to eat this bad rice, that's why they sold it to us. It is not fair, but we could not do anything," complained a villager.
Again on January 11, 2008, at 16 pm, the same unit, surrounded Wan Nawng Khio and detained one of the villagers Sai Nandaw and asked, "Did you see SSA soldiers go through this way?" and he replied, "No, I didn't see". He was then hit and beaten with the butt of a gun and was punched on the back of his neck, said a villager.
They then went to arrest four villagers, Sai Kean, Sai Pang, Sai Lern and Sai Kar to carry things for them to Mong Nawng. They had to carry about 20 viss (1viss= 1.6 Kg) each. They have not returned home yet. "Burma Army ordered villagers not to inform the SSA or the four villagers will be dead," he added.
Moreover on January 20, 2008, Major Thurein Tun led a 50 strong patrol and encountered the SSA at a place called Five Banyan Trees, near Pang Hpone village, Mong Yai tract, Kehsi Township, and the clash lasted for one hour.
The Burma Army lost seven soldiers and eight were injured while two SSA soldiers were injured.
"After the clash, some Burmese soldiers went into hiding at Pang Hpone while some ran back to Mong Nang and the injured soldiers were treated at Mong Nawng hospital," said another local source.
Some Burmese soldiers saw three villagers harvesting in the farm on the way to Mong Nang, and detained them. One was killed and two were tied and taken with them. The person killed was named Long Hsaw (50) and lived in Mu Nao village, Mong Nang tract.
"The Burmese military is very harsh on the villagers without any solid reason. Whenever they are attacked by the SSA, they always take revenge on the villagers," said a villager.
On January, 26, 2008, Mong Keung townships' Pangketu based Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 292 commander Major Soe Win Khaing dressed as a villager along with a teacher went into Pong Yeng village in order to collect taxes on poppy fields, livestock such as cows, teak as well as transportation tax.
On the way, he was ambushed and shot in his thigh. It is unknown who shot him. He accused the SSA and went to arrest the village headman Sai Chit, and beat him up until he bled on the head. The wound needed seven to eight stitches at Mongkeung hospital, according to a local source.
"Our headman did not get any compensation. Also,Major Soe Win Khaing's company interrogated and beat up villagers when they went searching houses for SSA soldiers," said a villager who wished to remain anonymous.
Many similar incidents have occurred around the area.
On January 4, 2008, at 13:00 pm, Major Thurain Tun of Mongpawn-based Light Infantry Battalion 517 led his company from Wan Kyawng, Mong Khun tract and forced the villagers to buy things such as condensed milk and rice from them. "They came and sold the bad rice that they got from their ration. They said they did not want to eat this bad rice, that's why they sold it to us. It is not fair, but we could not do anything," complained a villager.
Again on January 11, 2008, at 16 pm, the same unit, surrounded Wan Nawng Khio and detained one of the villagers Sai Nandaw and asked, "Did you see SSA soldiers go through this way?" and he replied, "No, I didn't see". He was then hit and beaten with the butt of a gun and was punched on the back of his neck, said a villager.
They then went to arrest four villagers, Sai Kean, Sai Pang, Sai Lern and Sai Kar to carry things for them to Mong Nawng. They had to carry about 20 viss (1viss= 1.6 Kg) each. They have not returned home yet. "Burma Army ordered villagers not to inform the SSA or the four villagers will be dead," he added.
Moreover on January 20, 2008, Major Thurein Tun led a 50 strong patrol and encountered the SSA at a place called Five Banyan Trees, near Pang Hpone village, Mong Yai tract, Kehsi Township, and the clash lasted for one hour.
The Burma Army lost seven soldiers and eight were injured while two SSA soldiers were injured.
"After the clash, some Burmese soldiers went into hiding at Pang Hpone while some ran back to Mong Nang and the injured soldiers were treated at Mong Nawng hospital," said another local source.
Some Burmese soldiers saw three villagers harvesting in the farm on the way to Mong Nang, and detained them. One was killed and two were tied and taken with them. The person killed was named Long Hsaw (50) and lived in Mu Nao village, Mong Nang tract.
"The Burmese military is very harsh on the villagers without any solid reason. Whenever they are attacked by the SSA, they always take revenge on the villagers," said a villager.
