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Weekly update on Human Rights situation in Karen, Mon States & Tanintharyi Region since the attempted coup [Fourth week of January 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.

Weekly Overview

Karen State

• According to relief and health service providers on the ground, an estimated 27 villages in southern Kawkareik have been evacuated due to military offensives and airstrikes against the Karen National Union and local People’s Defense Forces leading to over 20,000 IDPs.
• Junta forces raided and eradicated a village called An-Pha-Gyi village in the southern part of Kawkareik Township on January 22 at 2:30 pm. Two men and four women native villagers were arrested and taken away by the troops.

Mon State

• Residents in Mon State, Bee Lin Township reported that the military junta has cut off food supplies to Win Maung and Mae Wai villages for seven months. They are facing serious food shortages.
• Family members confirmed three young villagers detained on January 24 are still missing. The men were driving when they stopped, beaten and arrested by soldiers near Taung Kalay Village Tract, Kyaikmaraw Township.

Dawei Region

• Seven youth from a free clinic located in Wae-Kyun-Nyaung-Yan Ward were abducted by the junta on 24 January 2022.
• On 27 January, junta sponsored armed forces, Pyu Saw Htee group shot and killed a former NLD member, a resident of Parada village, Nabule area, Yebyu Township.

Analysis

Arbitrary arrests took place with increasing frequency across the last week. Two youth, including an older man, were arrested by junta security forces on 19 January at a rubber plantation in Yele In village, Pakari village tract, Dawei. The family members of the victims have been unable to get in contact with them since they were arrested. A total of four detainees, including two Civil Disobedience Movement activists from Kanpauk, Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region, were sentenced to two years in prison by the Junta’s Dawei Prison Court on January 28, according to the Dawei Political Prisoners Network (DPPN). As of January 2022, more than 950 people had been arrested since the military coup and 69 had been killed in Tanintharyi Region. 

Civilians fleeing worsening violence in Karen State are being directly targeted by the Burmese junta. A 45-year-old woman is among the over 20 000 newly displaced people who said, “Even if I could go back to my home, I think nothing will be left. I heard the junta burnt our village. They stole our ox, and destroyed our livestock. We have to start from the beginning again.” Her sentiments speak to the feelings of many forced to abandon everything for their safety. 

Local villagers said they face difficulty living due to the military clearance operations against the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Brigade No.4 in areas controlled by the Karen National Union. On the morning of 25 January, approximately 200 junta troops entered Khaung Daing Pyin Village, Myin Mat Tat Village, Dawei Township to search for PDF soldiers. A villager who managed to escape said, “I was terrified of being shot. Some innocent people were fired at while working on their farms. That is why I do not dare to go to my farm,” said a 60-year-old villager whose plantation is located outside of the Myin Mat Tat village. Junta forces are continuing to build building bunkers on and surrounding the campus of the Basic Education High School No. 1 and 3 in Hpa-An, Karen State.

Amidst all of the brutality being waged by the junta, the Spring Revolution is succeeding. Evidence of the junta’s paranoia was made especially clear when the junta dispersed leaflets threatening civilians not to join planned Silent Strike on the anniversary of the attempted coup in Hpa-an, Karen State. According to locals, the General Administration Department and Army officers threatened that participants would be imprisoned and property confiscated if their shops closed. 

Military junta threatens consequences for anyone joining Feb 1 silent strike

HURFOM: In order to mark the anniversary of the military coup in Burma, there are plans for a silent strike.

To show opposition to the military coup, shops will be closed, people will stay at home, and the streets will be silent and empty from 10 am to 4 pm on February 1, 2022.

The initiative is becoming popular, triggering the military junta to attempt to stop the campaign.

Patrol cars equipped with loudspeakers are on the streets in all ten townships within Mon State, threatening consequences for those who participate.

Read more

Mon Youth Policy expected to adopt a “Selective Service System” (aka obligatory military service)

HURFOM: The second Mon Youth Conference will be held in Thaton District, from January 27 to 29, 2022, where a broad Mon Youth Policy will be discussed and likely approved.

The policy will include a  “Selective Service System” component, which refers to obligatory military service training with the New Mon State Party.

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Weekly Update in HURFOM Targeted Areas [Third Week of January 2022]

HURFOM: Over the last week, fighting in Karen State led to increased displacement as over 250 villagers were forced to flee to areas controlled by the Karen National Union. The indiscriminate firing targeted innocent villagers in the midst of uncontrolled attacks by the military junta.

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Junta installs CCTV system to monitor civilians 24 hours/day

HURFOM: The military junta has installed a CCTV system at every street intersection throughout Mawlamyine, Mon State and other big cities.  The system  monitors civilian’s movement 24 hours/day, every day.

The installation of the  CCTV system was first introduced by the civilian government NLD (National League for Democracy) government, but following the February 1, 2021 coup,  the military junta rushed to complete the project.

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Authority’s conduct regular night searches for PDF members and CDM activists, fueling community worries

HURFOM: Local authorities in the big cities of Mon state have been conducting night searches with the hopes of  catching the members of People Defense Force (PDF) and those involved with the  Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

Local people are increasingly worried about the authorities making false arrests.

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Weekly Update in HURFOM Targeted Areas [Second Week of January 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.

Read more

Mon politician calls out Military council’s promotion of festive events as a distraction to facing the political crisis

HURFOMP: In order to distract from the  current political crisis including the long lasting  anti coup movement, the military junta has been promoting festive events, suggests at least one Mon politician.

The critique points to the fact that permission has been granted to hold any events in Mon State despite the need for adherence to COVID-19 public health and safety measures. Furthermore the military wants to detract public attention from the rampant killing of anti-coup activists, prolonged detentions and growing number of armed clashes including the mass killing of civilians in some ethnic areas.

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Use of Kratom leaves on the rise in NMSP controlled area

HURFOM: According to an official from the Drug Control Department of the Thaton District New Mon State Party (NMSP), the use of drugs and Kratom leaves has increased dramatically.

Previously, only the use of methamphetamine(WY) was found in the area but now, Kratom leaves are widely available. The leaves are boiled and used as a drug in nearly all villages.

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Authority bans drones after military forces attacked

HURFOM: On January 2, 2022, a local People Defense Force  (PDF) unit used drones to attack military forces in Pearl Township, SaGaing Division, located in Northern Burma. The People Soldier’s Production Team announced on January 5 that they successfully modified drones to carry bombs and attack military targets.

Soon after, the junta’s authority banned the use of drone technology which is often used for video recording or photography in festive events.

Read more

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