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Many women in Mon State experience online sexual abuse: Support is limited.

HURFOM: Many women in remote villages in Mon State are experiencing sexual abuses on their  social media platforms such as Facebook and Messenger.  Most have very limited information or support on how  to handle this form of sexual abuse.

“My niece had a fight with her lover and they were apart but the boy wasn’t satisfied with the situation and released (private) photos on Facebook. We didn’t know what to do and how to solve the problem. As we knew nothing about laws, we had to stay in silence,” said the aunt of the victim.

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Attempted rape victim denied justice

HURFOM: On the last day of Burma Songkran (April 16), 2021, a 12-year-old girl from Han Gan village, Ye Township, Mon State on her way back from the festival of the Kyaik Mem Plog Pagoda suffered an attempted rape.

Separated from her mother, in the crowds, a man with tattoos had dragged her away from the festival, and tried to rape the child in a deserted spot. She shouted for help and the man hit her on the head with a stone and then ran away.

“After the incident, we went to the Administrator of Koe Mile village (the nearest village) and made a report. The Administrator said “Just treat the injury of the child first and we can discuss later.” It has been more than a year now since the incident and he has done nothing,” said the mother.

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Pu Law IDP Camp faces food supply shortage

HURFOM: Since late June 2022, there have been frequent armed clashes between the Burmese military and the alliances of Pu Law People’s Defense Forces.

These skirmishes have taken place in Pu Law Township, Myike District, Tenasserim Division, which has disrupted the food supply transportation system. Recently the Burmese military cut off the transportation corridor leaving the Pu Law Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp with a shortage of food.

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Locals abandoned plantations due to landmine explosions

HURFOM: Locals from Kyaung Shar Kwin area, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division have told HURFOM that they had to abandon their plantation due to landmines.

“A landmine exploded  near my plantation. After that, I have not gone back. Another explosion can take place any time,” said a local plantation owner from the Kyaung Shar Kwin area.

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 have been frightened to go to their lands due to frequent explosions.

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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.

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Military sponsored groups abuse and kill villagers

HURFOM: Armed groups supported by the military are working with local authorities in many villages in Yebyu Township in the Tenasserim Division.  Two groups, in particular called “Pyu Saw Htee” and “Black Kite Brotherhood” have been destroying homes, physically assaulting villagers and setting of bombs.

“On June 21, three vehicles filled with soldiers and military sponsored groups arrived at Zar De village at 11 pm.   They claimed they were there to  check for “visitors”. If people took too long to open their door they broke down the door. They slapped villagers, kicked and beat them using their  rifles” recounted a local source.

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Armed clashes shuts down emergency services transportation efforts

HURFOM: The Burmese military and the local People Defense Forces (PDF) have had  frequent armed clashes on the highway road between Ye and Thanbyuzayat Townships, in Mon State.

As a result local emergency response teams have been unable to use that part of the highway. 

On July 1, members of the PDF, known as the “Mon State Taung Nyo People Guerrilla Force” announced that  people would be barred from using the Ye-Thanbyuzayat highway from 9:30 pm to 4:00 am.

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No compensation for village houses destroyed by oil and gas project

HURFOM: In February, 2022, officials from the “Yadanar Natural Oil and Gas Project” conducted a survey in the village of Pauk Pin Kwin, located in Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division.

The survey destroyed 12 houses, and those who suffered property losses have not received any compensation.

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

HURFOM: Junta forces in southeastern Dooplaya, Karen State, have been deploying relentless attacks against local villages with heavy shelling and airstrikes.

Full Analysis:

As June 2022 came to an end, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) observed the ongoing volatile tactics and human rights violations continuing in target areas. An additional layer of worry is the growing presence of other armed and violent groups like the Pyu Saw Htee and Black Kite Brotherhood who are believed to be sponsored by the military junta. These militias have targeted innocent civilians, predominantly those affiliated with the pro-democracy movement.

Over the last week, the Burma Army increased their attacks particularly in Karen State, promoting calls for Karen rights groups to call for urgent action including sanctioned aviation fuel, and a global arms embargo. Airstrikes on 1 July, in Thay Baw Boe village and Dooplaya district wounded five civilians, with three in critical condition. HURFOM has documented the growing numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Karen State as the junta increases their presence, despite multiple orders from the Karen National Union (KNU) for the military to immediately retreat and withdraw all their forces.

The junta forces in southeastern Dooplaya have been deploying relentless attacks against local villages in the areas with heavy mortar shelling and with airstrikes. At least 7 airstrikes targeted 16 villages located in Dooplaya District. Throughout the month of June 2022 alone, HURFOM reported nearly 3,500 civilians newly displaced in Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.

Dawei has continued to be targeted by the junta as offensives worsen in the area. At 11:30 PM on 26 June 2022, joint troops of the junta sponsored militia forces and junta soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No.406 raided five houses in Kadak Gyi village, Long Lone Township. A 60-year-old couple was arrested and had tied their hands behind their backs. They were shot and killed at close-range. The victims were residents of Kadak Gyi village, U Thaung Win.

In a separate case, U San Win, a 50-year-old man from Goh-Inn village, Longlone, was also shot dead in front of his house. The Dawei District Strike Committee announced that the junta troops also looted a motorcycle with some gold jewelry. Homes in Kadagyi village were destroyed, and some valuables and banknotes were stolen. The military junta has been committing violence in LongLone Township actively between June 16 – 26, killing six in total.

In Mon State, homes are being scorched. Junta forces’ Light Infantry Battalion No. 9 continued to burn remaining houses in the village since the morning of June 26, destroying more than 60 houses in 4 villages in Thaton township. More than 110 civilians’ houses in 7 villages in Thaton township have been burned to the ground since June 26, 2022.

In addition, between June 25 and 26, villagers from Hpa-Paing, Kyauk-Taung, Kyauk-Taung-Kalay, Inn-Ywa, Saw-Ei-Poe, and Naught-Kadote (upper village) were attacked by indiscriminate shots fired by artillery (120 mm) from the 9th Battalion. Hundreds of locals have been fleeing their homes and seeking refuge in safer areas of the Karen National Liberation Army-controlled parts. “We have more than 150 houses in my native village. The junta opened fire with heavy artillery, forcing approximately 1,400 villagers to flee their residences,” a villager originally from Kaw-Kyar-Tae village described. “We’ve received six cases of injuries and two deaths during the junta’s invasion since the first week of June 2022,” an emergency response team member told the HURFOM reporter.

The situation in Burma continues to unravel, the safety and security of civilians must take precedent. The grave human rights violations committed are ongoing, yet the military evades accountability. There must be concrete actions and steps forward which make clear that the military is not free to violate international laws.

Ministry of Education doesn’t support ethnic language course materials

HURFOM: In the 2022-23 academic year, the Ministry of Education will not support “Ethnic Language Curriculum Books” for Non-Burmese students attending government schools in Mon State.

As a result there are difficulties  teaching ethnic language courses. 

“We haven’t had (ethnic language) curriculum books since the opening of school. We don’t know whom we can report this too. The headmaster/mistress claims it isn’t their duty. When talking with the Mon Literature and Culture Committee, the committee said the Ministry of Education is responsible,” said an ethnic language schoolteacher from Mudon Township.

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