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Thai government forces migrant workers to make temporary passports while Burmese officials cash in

WCRP: On July 15th, the Thai-Burmese governments agreed to implement a new temporary passport system. The temporary passports were designed to legalize Burmese migrant workers however SPDC troops in Mon State have been demanding additional funds and threatening imprisonment to those who can not afford to pay. Read more

Students pay excess maintenance fees in Ye Town

WCRP: About 20 primary, middle and high schools in Ye town, Mon State, are requiring excessive school maintenance fees from each student. According to sources, the fees will be collected a few times a year based on the school’s needs, as determined by the school’s principle. Read more

Villagers in Thaton and Pa-an Townships Struggle After DKBA invasion

HURFOM: Villagers in Thaton and Pa-an townships are encountering difficulties after fleeing their home villages in favor of the area’s larger township tracts. Many villagers in Pa-an township chose to relocate following the invasion of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) in August. Read more

DKBA soldiers beat and rob villagers in Thaton district

HURFOM, Thaton: Four soldiers from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Brigade No. 333 led by Captain Hpa Khe Nyo entered Talaikayin village Pa –an township, Thaton district, Karen State, and committed several abuses against villagers, beating them and making demands for money, cooking materials, chickens and rice. Read more

Profits dwindle under cane and cattle tax

HURFOM: Burmese army soldiers have been extorting money from northern Tenasserin Division residents trade efforts. As a result, residents have collected less profit from trading their products throughout the area.

A local resident from Kaleingaung sub-township, northern Tenasserin Division, described how Burmese army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 273, have demanded payment of arbitrary taxes from the residents and are fining residents who run businesses in the area. Read more

Arbitrary taxation increasing in Mudon Township

HURFOM: Mudon township authorities have been forced by Burmese army battalions to demand large and arbitrary taxes to cover military expenses, village security costs and VIP travel expenses in the area.

On September 5th, at about 9:30 am, 150 soldiers from Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 62 arrived into Taungkalay village, led by lieutenant colonel Myint Naing. Myint Naing commanded the village headman to collect 5,000 kyat from each household in the village. Read more

LIB no. 273, forced resident to serve portering into their operation

HURFOM, Yebyu: On August 13th, the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) no. 273 led by Captain Thein Sein, forced two villagers into service as porters for the column Kyauktalin to Natkyizin. The two Kyauktalin villagers were forced to carry bullets, food supplies, a cooking port, an a communication machine for two days.     Read more

TPDC arbitrary tax demands in Mudon Township balloon

HURFOM, Mudon Township: During the 1st week of July, the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) issued a command that the General Administration Department would collect a new “tax” in teashops, karaoke bars, music entertainment shops and restaurants where TV’s and audio systems are widely used. The tax is currently being collected in Mudon town and other 30 villages throughout Mudon Township, Mon State.   Read more

Fracturing Ceasefires and Regional Security Threats

Burma’s ruling junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has moved forward with its 7-points roadmap towards ‘Disciplined Democracy’ by pressuring ethnic armed opposition groups to participate in this political process without guarantee of any rights for their people.   Read more

“Our Village Will Not Last:” Analysis of Abuses Conducted Against Civilians in Mon State and Tennaserim Division

INTRODUCTION

It is not easy to make any claim that Burma is a nation free of violence and armed conflict.  However the Burmese military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), often cites the successful brokering of 15 ceasefires with armed insurgent groups, who have been brought ‘back into the legal fold’ throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s, as proof that it has brought peace to Burma. These ceasefires have radically altered the landscape of the civil war in Burma by bringing the direct conflict with most of the ethnic armed groups to a close.  However what has resulted is not peace, but a quieter violence, between smaller insurgent groups that did not sign ceasefires, and the Burmese army.  This supposed peace has been characterized by continued violence and abuse conducted against civilians in parts of Karen State, Mon State, and Tennaserim Division who have been trapped between insurgent groups, and the Burmese policy of total destruction of its opposition. During August, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland-Burma (HURFOM) has focused its concern on the continuing abuses and serious human rights violations in Southern Burma and would like to highlight ongoing rights abuses faced by the local inhabitants and the consequences these have on the livelihoods of these residents.  HURFOM field reporters have been documenting instances of forced relocation, land and property confiscation, arbitrary extortion and sexual violence through the testimonies of these individual victims, since March 2009.

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