DKBA soldiers beat and rob villagers in Thaton district

September 25, 2009

HURFOM, Thaton: Four soldiers from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Brigade No. 333 led by Captain Hpa Khe Nyo entered Talaikayin village Pa –an township, Thaton district, Karen State, and committed several abuses against villagers, beating them and making demands for money, cooking materials, chickens and rice.

According to U Thee, a 40 year-old Talaikayin villager, four DKBA soldiers entered the village around 10 am on September 13th. They went to the headman’s house and demand 100,000 kyat and cooking materials, rice, and chickens. The headman was forced to immediately to collect money and supplies from villagers to give the 4 DKBA soldiers. Villagers with no money had to provide rice, cooking materials or farm animals. The soldiers took 4 tins (1 tin=15 Kilograms) of rice, 6 chickens, 1 tin of home made cooking oil from villagers. According to HURFOM sources there are 50 households in Talaikayin village.

Naw Pow Pow, a 32 year old, was beaten by soldiers after she begged them not to take all of her rice. During the raid, soldiers took her rice from her house and she asked soldiers not to take all the rice because she has only the 1 tin. She explained that if they took her supply she would have no idea where to get rice to eat. After she pleaded with them, a soldier, 17 years old according to witnesses, punched her in the face 3 times and kicked her in the chest 3 times after she fell over.

After soldiers had been given the supplies, as they were leaving they saw U Char Toke, who is around 57 years old, outside of the village and they called him to help carry the goods. U Char Toke refused to help after which Captain Hpa Khe Nyo hit him with in the head with his pistol, wounding his eyebrow. U Car Toke fell over and 3 of the soldiers kicked him repeatedly. His 2 nephews, who were reportedly on a plantation near by, saw the assault. The 2 nephews tried to stop the beating but Captain Hpa Khe Nyo pointed his gun at them and struck each of them in the head, from which they both received wounds, according to an eyewitness.

The solders left the three victims on the ground, and villagers came and picked them up and took them to the village. Villagers told the headman to make a report to Myaing Gyi Ngu (headquarters of the DKBA). However he did not, and a source close to the village headman said, “DKBA soldiers used to kill people who informed them about their soldiers doing bad things to villagers, in the past. He didn’t want to be like that”.

“Since DKBA Brigade No. 333 arrived in Thaton district, they always make problems for villagers, demanding money and conducting forced portering,” sad a Talaikayin resident. “Since early 2009 villagers have been suffering at the hands of DKBA soldiers.”

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News