Women Attacked by SoldiersWait for Justice

February 6, 2014

On January 26, 2014, Mi Cho, from Wae Ka Yat village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, was brutally assaulted and beaten by Second Corporal Ye Lin Tun, from Artillery Battalion No 315. The assault, resulting in a severe head injury, among other bodily injury, has left Mi Cho struggling to find a way to support her family, as well as to finance her hospital bills and court expenses.

Early in the early morning of January 26^th, Mi Cho was collecting rubber liquid in the rubber plantation located near the Artillery Battalion, when she was hugged by Second Corporal Ye Min Tun.Ye Min Tun tried to rape her, but Mi Cho struggled and bit his arm; whereupon Ye Min Tun continued to beat the woman severely.

As a result of Ye Min Tun’s assault, Mi Cho sustained severe injuries to her eyes, face, chest, head, back, as well as a bite injury on her hand. She was initially brought to Wae Rat Clinic, but the clinic was not able to treat her, so she was transported to Thanbyuzayat Hospital. Unfortunately, Thanbyuzayat Hospital was not able to treat her either, so she was sent to Moulmein Hospital.

Currently, Mi Cho’s head injury is very severe, and she is in need of help to pay her medical bills, as the military did not pay for her treatment, and she cannot finance the costs herself. Mi Cho also needsassistance with trial and court costs, as well as providing for her family.

A local woman, who lends Mi Cho some support, says that, “Now [Mi Cho] is in the Mawlamyine Hospital. She is still not well, and her condition is still in danger. She has no money for her treatment, and she needs it. One of her sons did not eat rice; he just went to see and stay beside his mother. Today we met with her son in the hospital and he is not happy; he is afraid”. The woman explains that, “Some local people [give Mi Cho] a little bit [of] support, but it is not enough. [Mi Cho] can’t talk too much, and she just says a few words that she wants to go back home, but she worries for her health. Now, [Mi Cho] has a big problem with her head, [which she sustained when she was] beaten by [the] soldier”.

Another local source added that Mi Cho went to Yangon Hospital yesterday, as her head injury is getting worse, and was accompanied by a representative from the Mon Democratic Party (MDP). According to Mi Cho’s family, Ye Lin Tun’s wife came to the hospital and gave her family a small amount of money. Along with 50,000 kyat donated from the Mon Women’s Organization (MWO), Mi Cho still does not have enough money to cover the costs.

Mi Cho’s family initially reported the assault to the village administration and police in Thanbyuzayat Township on the morning that the assault occurred. According to her family, “the authority from Thanbyuzayat Township said that they [would] investigate the case, and on Wednesday (January 29, 2014) the authorities tackled the perpetrator, Ye Lin Tun”.

On January 29^th, Mi Cho allowed her husband and social group to file an official report of her assault with the authorities, reporting offences against section 376, 511( attempted rape) and section 325 (grievous hurt) to a woman.

The victim of a similar assault case, from December 24, 2013, is still waiting for her attacker to be brought up on any charges. In this case, a thirteen year-old girl was abducted from her home in Khaw Zar village and raped by local soldier Than Win, of Infantry Battalion No. 31 (IB No. 31), based in Khaw Zar Sub-Township, Ye Township, Mon State. The military has offered the victim’s family a settlement of 500,000 kyat compensation, on the condition that if anyone asks the victim or her family about it, they say that the soldier only touched the girl’s hand; that Than Win was not able to rape the girl. The military forced the girl’s family to sign an agreement attesting to these conditions. The victim has seen Than Win since the attack, and he has yet to be brought to justice.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News