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Human rights abuses are still being committed in the area of land confiscation on and around Kywe Thone Nyi Ma Island

HURFOM, Yebyu: The sources from Kywe Thone Nyi Ma Island reported that after confiscating 4000 acres of rubber plantation owned by ethnic Mon, the Burmese Navy Unit No.43, under the command of Ka Dike-based Government Navy Regional Command Headquarters, is still committing human rights abuses on the Kywe Thone Nyi Ma Island. The residents on the island face difficulties making a daily living, as they are forced to pay money if they can’t perform unpaid labor (which is known as Loh Ah Pay) for the Navy Unit No.43. Besides forcing them to work, the Navy Unit No.43 demands them to bring their own supplies and work materials. They also commandeer the villagers’ motorbikes. Read more

Press Release: Burma’s Navy Attacks on Civilians’ Livelihood

A Report on Land Confiscation and Human Rights Violations on Kywe Thone Nyi Ma Island, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division

By Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) – Burma

Although Burma’s new supposedly civilian-led government has been in power since March 2011, human rights violations and abuses are still committed by the troops of Burmese Army, which receive backing from the current ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).  Because the president, U Thein Sein, a former military general, does not have control over local military battalions or commands, a change in government makes little difference towards stopping the land confiscations by the USDP’s proxy business companies and the Burmese Army (tatmadaw). Read more

Large Scale Land Confiscation Persists with No Compensation in Thanbyuzayat Township

HURFOM: It has been reported by the residents in the Thanbyuzayat Township that Nay Pyi Taw government has unfairly confiscated over 1,000 acres of privately-owned rubber plantations, orchards and paddy lands. The interviews conducted with the plantation owners also reveal that the case has been ignored by the Nay Pyi Taw and the respective state government, despite attempts to petition the confiscation. Plantation owners say they are frustrated because many acres of their plantations have been taken over. And, despite having a new supposedly civilian-led national government, the government army continues to act without respect to the laws of the country. Read more

Traveling Restrictions, Extortion, and Goods Seizure Intensified in Ye and Yebyu Townships; Local Villagers Abused By Government Tollgate Authorities

Ye and Yebyu Townships

Travel restrictions and arbitrary seizure of citizens’ goods and personal effects have been reported at checkpoints and tollgates along the highway between Mon State and Tenasserim Division. Local merchants and passengers traveling through Burma on the Mon State-Tenasserim Division highway commented on the heightened procedures in comparison with former government demands to halt and inspect the personal belongings of citizens.  Government troops have appropriated effects and demanded bribes in order for citizens to be allowed to pass. Those civilians passing through have professed that the impact of the heightened security and inspections have directly impacted their ability to travel and seek job opportunities to sustain their own livelihoods. Read more

Torture in Kyauk-kyi Township, Pegu Division

Burmese troops stationing in Kyauk-kyi Township, Pegu Division, ordered Karen residents living in Kyauk-kyi Township, to destroy their paddy-field huts built in their own paddy fields for security reasons. Giving strict orders those who refused to tear down their huts were tortured by troops from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 349 as punishment. Read more

Large Sums Extorted from Residents by Local Authorities for the Water Festival in Kawkareik Township

Kyaik Don Sub-township: Local township authorities collected mandatory payments from residents of most villages and village tracks in the Kyaik Don Sub-township, Kawkareik Township to make a financial reserve for Water Festival celebrations. The administrator of the Township General Administration Office ordered a fund collection and sent this written order to village headman of eight villages in Kyaik Don Sub-township. HURFOM found that there were two types of fund collections. The first was a compulsory order made to each household in the eight designated villages to provide the specific funds. The second was a letter of intimidation to prominent rich individuals or businessman. Read more

Gas Pipeline and Railway Security Troops Unintentionally Shoot Local Residents Free From Culpability

On April 7, 2011, in Thanbyuzayat Township: Government sentries patrolling the railway and gas pipelines between the townships of Ye and Thanbyuzayat, shot two residents they mistook for insurgents. Instead of taking responsibility for inadvertently shooting and wounding these villagers, the army increased the number of sentries, inevitably causing further threats to villagers residing nearby. Read more

Residents Forced to Construct Military Barracks for Border Guard Forces’ (BGF) troops in Myawaddy District, Karen State.

In early February 2011, the Captain of Military Operation Management Command (MOMC) No. 5, under the Southeast (SE) Command Military Operation, ordered ethnic Karen villagers to do loh-ah-pay[1] in the form of barracks construction for former Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) troops now turned Border Guard Force (BGF).  The buildings built for the BGF army battalions include the captain’s office, military barracks, officers’ hostels, long-low buildings with collection rooms, garages, and ordinance stores. Though the central government has allocated funds for the construction of those buildings, villagers forced to do loh-ah-pay are not only unpaid, but are obligated to provide their own supplies as well. Read more

Young women and elderly forced to Porter in Kawkereik Township, injuries result

Residents of Kawkareik Township have been pressed into service as porters by the Burmese army Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 32. According to residents, porters included young women and youth who were forced to carry supplies to the top of a nearby mountain to a forward unit base of IB No. 32. While porters were able to return the same day, some have suffered injuries from the extreme loads and steep uphill climb. This brief highlights the State Police and Development Council (SPDC)’s continued use of forced labor which is classified as a crime against humanity, and highlights how even the most basic forced labor is a danger to the victims involved. Read more

Authorities in Ye Township seize land ostensible for community development; development remains absent

HURFOM, Feb.28.2011, Southern Ye Township: Residents in Southern Ye Township, Mon State, are facing efforts by local village headmen and staff, to seize farmlands owned by local residents. These are being ostensibly sold for raising funds for community development. Residents whose land is has already been seized describe being upset and explain the effort as a ploy to provide extra income for the village head and staff. They also note that none of the promises of community development or public services have been met. While residents whose lands has been taken reported the seizer to District and Township authorities, no response has yet occurred. This seizure appears to signify a growing trend in which land seizure under the guise of community and economic development is on the rise.[1] Read more

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