• Home
• about
• Activities
• Contact
• Programs
• Manual

• Analysis
• Commentary
• Feature
• General Election
• Monthly Report
• News
• PDF Format
• Special Report
• Video Clips

Subscribe

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Third Week of September 2022

HURFOM: A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi region.

There are many challenges that civilians in Southeastern Burma are facing amid worsening military junta offensives. Those unlawfully detained are being forced to pay bribes as the economy continues to unravel. Inflation has made the cost of living nearly impossible for some households. And yet – the junta is demanding large sums for the release of innocent civilians. Over the last week, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) documented four cases of the junta demanding ransoms to free family members in Ye, Mon State. The situation is at a crossroads and is showing no signs of improving.

Read more

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Second Week of September 2022

A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.

Excessive violence across the second week of September 2022 in Southeastern Burma saw dozens more victims subject to the junta’s brutal violence, and draconian polices which have seen hundreds behind prison bars for crimes they are not guilty of. The junta-backed court imposed orders on about (42) political prisoners in Dawei Prison over the last six months, according to the sources from Dawei Political Prisoners Network. About 30 are still facing trial. Most of those imprisoned in Dawei have been charged under section 505 A and B of the Panel Code.

Read more

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
First Week of September 2022

HURFOM: A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.

Analysis
As the end of August 2022 came to an end, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) was alarmed by several new human rights trends in Southeastern Burma. Among them, there has been a notable increase in children being targeted by the military junta. They’ve been deprived of their basic needs including medical attention, food, education, and the right to live safely. As a result, the numbers of displaced children who are suffering from malnutrition are worrisome. 

Read more

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Fourth Week of August, 2022

HURFOM: As the month of August comes to an end, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), remains deeply troubled by the harsh reality’s civilians are facing on the ground. The growing presence of the junta in local areas continues to contribute to high rates of forced displacement, injuries and deaths of local villagers including women and children. Many have been killed with baseless accusations and suspicions from the junta which have seen dozens arrested and murdered.

Read more

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Third Week of August, 2022

HURFOM: Across the last week in target areas of Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) reported a further escalation in the human rights situation on the ground. Since HURFOM began documenting atrocities committed by the military junta post-coup, we have become more concerned about the level of inhumanity being witnessed and the lack of international action.

Read more

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Second Week of August, 2022

HURFOM: Throughout the second week of August, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) reported on increasing attacks against human rights defenders and youth, young men in particular. The military junta has been stepping up their assaults on freedom fighters and those aligned with the pro-democracy movement as well as indiscriminately targeting civilians.

Read more

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
First Week of August, 2022

HURFOM: The 8^th of August commemorates the anniversary of the 8-8-88 uprisings which took place 34 years ago. The historic day in Burma’s history recognizes the sacrifices that the country’s freedom fighters have been committed to for decades. Today, the struggle for peace and federalism continues.

Read more

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Third Week of July, 2022

HURFOM: A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.

Analysis

As the end of July nears, human rights violations in target areas of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) continued to be scaled up. Homes have been deliberately scorched by the junta as arbitrary arrests and ongoing raids spark fear in local communities. The international community’s slow will to act has led civilians to fear the worst is still yet to come. Without concrete action and a response that makes clear that the junta is not above the rule of law, the Burma Army will continue to commit crimes with impunity. 

Read more

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
Second Week of July, 2022

HURFOM: A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.

Analysis

The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) is observing a downward spiral of normalcy across target areas of Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region. The livelihoods of civilians are being threatened by the Burma Army whose increasing presence evokes fear and anxieties among local communities. The calls for international action have repeatedly called for targeted sanctions and accountability measures to be put in place to ensure the people of Burma have the peace that they have long craved.

Over the last week, locals from Kyaung Shar Kwin area, Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region told HURFOM that they had to abandon their plantations due to landmines. “A landmine exploded near my plantation. After that, I have not gone back. Another explosion can take place any time.” Between late 2019 and 2020, there have been 10 victims who suffered from landmine explosions in Yebyu Township. Five victims were from the Kyaung Shar Kwin area. Local plantation owners are frightened to go to their lands due to frequent explosions. “I’ve abandoned my plantation. I am afraid to go there. All landmine victims have been my neighbors. If I were injured, my family would be in trouble. That’s why I’ve abandoned my betel nut plantation for three years now,” said a plantation owner from Lae Sakan village.

Both ethnic armed organizations – the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karen National Union (KNU) are active in this area, but no group has taken responsibility for the landmines. The Dawei District NMSP office released a statement on March 16, 2020 stating that both NMSP and KNU had responsibility for finding a solution. It is estimated that approximately 200 plantation owners work roughly 2,000-acre of land in the Kyaung Shar Kwin areas.

A rising number of destroyed religious sites has been documented by rights groups including HURFOM with dozens destroyed in our program areas. The junta, despite claiming to be Buddhist, has destroyed many monasteries, threatened, and imprisoned monks and refused to honor temples and churches as places of sanctuary, peace and relief for civilians.

On 10 July 2022, Kyauk-Hlay-Kar village in Thayet Chaung Township, Dawei was attacked and extinguished by the junta forces who killed five villagers accused of being members and supporters of the People’s Defense Force (PDF). A 45-year-old Kyauk-Hlay-Kar villager said three local people were killed when about 70 Junta troops stormed the village:”They arrested two more villagers on suspicion of being PDFs. Then they shot and killed those villagers when the military columns arrived at Yaung Maw village, Thayet Chaung. A total of five villagers were killed as many locals were fleeing the village. It was estimated about 200 families are fleeing to safer areas. Names of the victims; the exact personal accounts, and locations are being examined by HURFOM.

Arbitrary arrests and warrantless raids are also ongoing. On the night of July 9, 2022, a group of junta forces and their sponsored-armed members stormed a civilian house in Wei-Kyun-Myothit Ward, Dawei, and abducted three young men. According to local sources, it was later confirmed that one of them was shot to death. The victim was Ko Paing Paing, age 21, and the son of the Pan-Chit-Thu family, located on the Wei-Kyun-Yay road.

Meanwhile, clashes continue to displace and devastate communities. Local villagers near No. 1023 Military base of the Border Guard Force (BGF) were afraid of being investigated, arrested, or tortured by the military, as well as possible armed clashes, so they fled from their homes.

Most villagers moved to Mudon Township, Mon State: “I’ve left my house and just come back once a week to check its condition. I’m worried that the soldiers will burn down my empty house now that I’ve moved to Mudon,” said a villager.

Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
First Week of July, 2022

A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.

Analysis

Across the last week in Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region, pro-democracy members and supporters of the Spring Revolution continued to be ruthlessly targeted by the Burma Army, and junta-backed armed groups.

Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »