Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region

June 12, 2023

HURFOM | June Week Two

Fighting in Southeastern Burma has displaced over 500,000 people in Karen State alone. The military junta is losing their war on the people as fierce opposition results in mass casualties. And yet, the response by the regime is to engage in more conflict, particularly in areas which target civilians. The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) remains committed to documenting human rights violations to bring urgency to the situation. A response rooted in the voices of the people who have long called for targeted sanctions, a global arms embargo and cross-border aid.

According to family members who evacuated from the fighting, local people and IDPs are facing food and water starvation due to the junta forces’ strict control of rice and food in the area. From the end of April 2023 until June, more than 5,000 refugees from twelve villages have been trapped in Dawei East District. They are facing a lack of food and water due to offensives and continuously targeting of locals with weapons. Their attacks include artillery weapons, including airstrikes:

“Last May alone, more than 3,000 residents fled from the fighting in Dawei District. All the roads leading into the area are being blocked and checked by the junta military, so we have not been able to transport rice and other food items for a long time. We have come to a situation where we have to share what we have with each other. Now the nutritional needs of children and older people are increasing. Sickness rates are high among weak children. The most dangerous thing we are concerned about is dengue fever and malaria in this rainy season,” said the person in charge of the IDP support group, who did not want to be named.

Those conflict-affected refugees were Yephyu Township residents and were the first to be hit by the junta-deployed airstrikes in Tanintharyi Division. More than 3,000 residents of the villages from Kha Myaung Chaung, Wat Chaung, Ei Ka Ne, Pa Gor Soon, Mu Duu, Ba War, and Na Pu Lae were forced to evacuate. Due to airstrike raids, they were attacked, arrested, and killed by junta military terrorists, which caused villagers’ homes to be burned down, and they had to flee.

An East Dawei refugee support group administrator said, “For the refugees from our side, we are not yet in a position to return. I heard that artillery weapons are being installed in the places where the battalions are stationed. We have been in a food shortage for a long time, and now more and more households are relying on fruits and vegetables grown in the forest. It is impossible to reach this area because the junta military cut everything down.”

According to the information obtained by the ground field team, the number of people fleeing the war after the military coup in Dawei Township is 358: about 5,000 permanent refugees and 5,000 temporary refugees in Long Lon Township. Pu Law Township has over 2,600 permanent refugees and over 10,000 temporary refugees. In Tanintharyi Township, there are about 5,000 villagers who fled from their homes, including permanent refugees. Although the military situation is calm in Tha Yat Chaung Township, the supplies of food, communication, and traffic are still being cut and tightened by the junta military.

Junta forces continue to target civilians in Kawkaraik township by attacking them with airstrikes. One school, four civilian houses and some local gardens were damaged. The junta Air Force based in Nay Pyi Taw dropped a cluster bomb on San Palar village, Khu Dom village tract, around 2 AM on June 6, 2023. One basic primary school, four civilian houses and some local gardens were destroyed. Due to the cluster bombs dropped by the junta, the explosion destroyed the school campus. The blast ruined the windows, roof, side wall, ceiling, whiteboard, school pole, drinking water pot, and school fans. According to separate reports from the locals, due to the explosion of the bombs, seven civilian houses and other properties were damaged.

The attacks are yet another reminder of the impunity with which the junta thrives. Without true and meaningful accountability, these attacks will only worsen. The international community must listen to the calls of civil society, which are rooted in the protection and dignity of the people.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Analysis, News