Women were forced to patrol the village in Southern Ye Township

March 5, 2007

HURFOM,Yin-Ye, Toe-That-Ywa-Thit village, Southern Ye Township, Mon State

Recently, Major Kyaw Zay Ya, the commander of the Burmese Infantry battalion No. 31 which based near Khaw Zar Sub Town ordered all villager including women to patrol the villages in Yin-Yae, Singu and Toe-Tat-Ywa-Thit villages, Khaw Zar Sub Township, Southen Ye township, Mon State.

According to Nai Aung Tun, 33 years old paddy farmer from Singu village, ?The order reached this village since two week ago. Our village administration group said this emergency village sentry ordered was instructed by Bo Ba Lay (known as IB No. 31 commander Major Kyaw Zay Ya). Each family need to take care village at lease one night per week s. If there are no men in the household, women have to complete the duty.

It was reported that this is not the first time to patrol the village in this areas. Whenever the Burmese Army received the strange news about the rebel armed group entry to the villages, the Army troops ordered the local resident to take care their village.

?Women are not suitable for patrol the village. If something happened, they could not effort to do as men can do. On the other hand, there are many bad events regarding women patrol the village in the past. I want to bring up that there are a lot of rape cases which were committed in the past by Burmese soldiers during the women guarded the village at night time in this village. We really don?t want to hear that kind of cruel news again? a fifty years old local farmer who does not want to mention his name from Yin-Yae village uttered his opinion to HURFOM Reporter.

?They (the SPDC soldiers) did not point out men, women or children. They said they want everybody to take responsibility in guiding the village,? said Nai Tin Tun Aung (not real name) from Singu village, Khaw Zar Sub Township, Mon State. The villagers in Toe-Tat-Ywa-Thit village, Yin-Yae village and Kabya villages in southern Ye Township are being forced to send three to five villagers from each quarters of the villages for day or night patrol on rotation, the source added.

?I have to patrol the village and the activities of rebel the whole night (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m). Because my husband and my son are too busy with their betel nut plantation,? said Mi Aye Nyein, 48 years old woman from Toe-Tat-Ywa Thit village, Khaw Zar Sub Township, Southern Ye Township , Mon State. Similarly, many women patrol the village because their husbands are busy with betel nut plantations out side the village.

In Yin Dein village, it was reported that every day, one person from each household has to guard their own village, providing security to protect the army from the approach of the rebel armed groups. Depending on the number of households in villages and how many entrances there are to the village, 10-20 villagers are forced to perform guard duty.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News