Villagers report forced porter duty and ration collection in Tavoy

January 2, 2014

HURFOM: Residents of eight villages around Myittar Sub-Township of eastern Tavoy alleged that two military groups, the Military Operation Management Command No. 19 and Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 62, are demanding security fees and porter services from villagers in that area of Tenasserim Region in southern Burma.

Since December 9 the Military Operation Management Command No. 19 has reportedly ordered residents to donate 200 bags of rice to the LIB No. 62 frontline camp in Kyauk Htu village led by Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ko Ko Oo. Residents said that 55 Phaung Taw villagers and the village administrator have participated in carrying rations to the camp.

“We [had to] stop working and urgently bring those 200 rice bags and other rations to the military. The commander even threatened us that we would have to replace the rations if something happened to them on the way,” said plantation worker U Kyit Tin, 55, from Phaung Taw village. “The government already provides this type of [food ration] support to the military, but Commander Ko Ko Oo takes advantage of us. These kinds of abuses should not exist in this transition period and we, the residents, want this to change.”

Ko Myo Oo, a 32-year-old resident of Tavoy, described how many villagers and local boat owners had to stop working their jobs to help transport the rations. He said the military provided 12 gallons of petrol to boat owners who were asked to use 75 of their vessels to deliver the bags of rice, but that the money was insufficient to cover costs and many paid up to 300,000 kyat out of their own pockets. In addition, five villagers from Thabyu Chaung and Khon Chaung villages reported that the village administrator collected 5,000 kyat from each household to contribute to porter duties and boat trips.

With crops waiting for harvest in the fields while farmers are called away to porter and families supplying rations from their own personal stocks, villagers said they doubt whether democratic reform has reached their area. A township administrator who asked to remain anonymous said that if these abuses against regular citizens continue, the peace processes between the government and ethnic armed groups could be affected.

An ethnic Karen villager from Myitta Sub-Township said, “We do not believe anything now since we see many cases that are not solved for us. We have hope that if the military leaves here we could find peace because we think it is the military that destroys our peace.”

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News