Brutally Attacked by Burmese Soldier, Victim’s Future is Uncertain

February 11, 2014

Mi Cho, 43, faces continuing hardship after having survived a brutal attack by Second Corporal Ye Lin Tun. Along with a serious head injury resulting from the assault, Mi Cho must undergo surgery for a finger injury; a surgery necessary for her to ever be able to work again. Effects of the attack have not only created serious health risks, but have left Mi Cho and her family destitute, as she tries to cover hospital costs and her family’s living expenses..

In the early morning of January 26, 2014, Mi Cho was assaulted and beaten by Second Corporal Ye Min Tun, from Artillery Battalion No. 315, located west of Wae Ka Lee village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State. Mi Cho was attacked while she was collecting rubber liquid in the rubber plantation located near the Artillery Battalion, whereupon she sustained severe injuries to her eyes, face, chest, head, back, as well as a bite injury to her hand.

Still unable to straighten her head, Mi Cho will be continuing her recovery from the brutal assault at Kyi Myin Dain Orthopedic Hospital in Rangoon, where she will undergo surgery for serious finger injuries. The victim and her family are in a dire situation, as they cannot afford the operation; if they do not find support, Mi Cho will lose the function of her finger, rendering her unable to work to support her family, and leaving the future of her family’s welfare uncertain.

On February 9^th, Captain Nai Aung Tun, of Artillery Battalion No. 315, along with two of his soldiers, visited Mi Cho at Rangoon Hospital where they met with the chairman of the Mon Democratic Party. Mi Cho was not able to talk properly, due to injuries withstood during the attack; she will be transferred to Kyi Myin Dain Orthopedic Hospital in Rangoon, on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.

Although the hospital in Rangoon deemed her well enough to be discharged three days ago, Mi Cho is still experiencing faintness and vomiting; her family has asked her doctor to re-admit her until she is able to be transferred to Kyi Myin Dain Orthopedic Hospital.

The victim and her family are desperately seeking support for Mi Cho’s hospitalization. As one of Mi Cho’s relatives recounts, “Mi Cho’s head [does not need surgery], but [it needs serious care], according to the doctor from Yangon hospital. However, her finger [needs] to have [an] operation”. The relative continues, “It will take a long time for her to be discharged from the hospital. We can’t assume how much [it] will [cost] for hospitalization. [The chairman of the] Mon Democratic Party is currently helping us; we [have] some support from [the] Mon community and [the] Women League Burma (WLB), [but] Mi Cho’s family needs a lot of support [right] now”.

This marks the second sexual assault by a Burmese solder in Thanbyuzayat Township in just four and a half weeks, between December 24, 2013 and January 26, 2014. Ethnic women are experiencing systemic and widespread sexual assault at the hands of the Burmese military. Military authorities are actively working to suppress any news of Mi Cho’s assault, as well as the numerous attacks like it.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News