Rape Victim Attempts to Flee Burma as Infantry Battalion No. 31 Incites Fear

January 23, 2014

WCRP: On December 24, 2013, a thirteen year-old girl was abducted from her home and raped by local soldier Than Win, of Infantry Battalion No. 31 (IB No.31), based in KhawZar Sub-Township, Ye Township, Mon State. The military has offered the victim’s family a settlement of 500,000 kyat compensation, and has told the victim’s parents that if anyone asks about it, they must say that the soldier only touched the girl’s hand and that Than Win was not able to rape their daughter. The military forced the girl’s family to sign an agreement attesting to these conditions.

Recently a military officer has been making daily visits to the victim’s house, inciting such fear, that the child’s family is trying to migrate to Thailand. The victim told field reporters from the Local women that Than Win has not been punished, and she has seen him since the incident. Even though the girl’s parents asked that, after signing the agreement, Than Win would not be able to see her, the girl said she “still saw Than Win around her”. The child repeatedly told field reporters that soldiers come to check on her, at her home, almost every day.

Head monks from the local monastery, and people from the Local women have tried to meet with the child, but her step-father will not allow them access. The groups would like to get the child medical treatment, but the girl’s step-father is inhibiting any chance of help.

As one Kyone Kanya Village resident reports, “the child does not want to migrate to Thailand because she is still in school. She is young, and needs to rely on her mother; if her mother will go [then she will go]”.

Another Kyone Kanya resident said that, “No one can go to her house because [the girl’s] step-father holds a knife, and if someone goes to his house about his daughter, he said he will kill [them]”. The resident attests that the girl’s step-father is saying that nothing happened to his daughter, and tells his neighbors not to return and ask about it again.

The neighbor notes that, “Mi Saw Dar, mi lawi han went to take [the] child, [but was] not successful because the step-father [did] not allow his daughter [to go]”. The step-father will not allow the girl to seek medical treatment, counseling at a safe house, or rehabilitation. The resident continues, “It seems [the] military had discussed an agreement with [the] step-father. Soldiers are coming to check [on the] child all the time, almost every day”.

MiSauhta Jo, coordinator of the Women and Children Rights Project (WCRP), states, “I fear that [the] military will say something to [the] child and [her] family. I think there [has been] some pressure and persuasion with money [between] the military and step-father, because the step-father just refuses the women’s group, without listening [to] anything”.

Nai Banyar Lai, from the New Mon State Party (NMSP) said that, “[NMSP] can inform [people of] the case, but cannot take the child under their [protection]”.

Now, the WCRP is trying to inform the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNNHCR) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) about the girl’s situation, in hopes that UNHCR may help her find medical treatment, and the ILO will investigate the perpetrations of the soldier.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News