Thousands flee their homes as military targets villages with heavy weapons
April 26, 2022
HURFOM: Tensions between the Burmese army and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) are growing near Kale Tagon Tie village, Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State.
The Burmese army has been using heavy weapons targeting villages in the area. To date at least one person has been killed and two injured. Residents from nearby villages have fled the area, report local sources.
“I didn’t know where the heavy weapons came from but the explosions were really big. A woman died and her two friends got injured. Villagers are frightened to remain, so they fled to Taung Dee and Phar Pya,” said a villager from Kale Tagon Tie.
Read moreWeekly Update in HURFOM Targeted Areas [Week Four: April 2022]
April 25, 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. Between 900 and 1200 #IDPs were forced to flee their homes across all target areas in the last week as junta violence wreaked terror.
Full Analysis:
The worsening military offensives in HURFOM target areas claimed more lives over the last week. On April 22, at 7:30PM, an innocent villager, Ko Sai Maung was shot dead by junta soldiers in a military truck. His body was taken away by the junta soldiers, according to local witnesses. He was murdered in Yan Taung village, Thayet Chaung Township. One truck stopped and parked at the Yan Taung village monastery. The other two military trucks went outside the village and parked outside. They shot and killed Sai Maung and then put his body on the truck, recalled a village witness to HURFOM. A Karen fieldworker commenting on the situation noted that the junta’s continued and illegal use of the ‘4 cuts’ strategy continues to isolate, target and terrorize innocent civilians: “They must end these systematic attacks on our people.”
Read moreAn armed group led by Nai Chan’s Ramanya Army extorting villagers in Southern Ye
April 24, 2022
HURFOM: An armed group led by an individual known as Nai Chan, and the “Ramanya Army” is active in Southern Ye Township, of Mon State. This group has been extorting money from villagers in a number of townships including Southern Ye Township, Mon State and Yebyu Township located in the Tenasserim Division.
On April 7, the armed group sent letters to the Ham Gam village Administrator and to the Kaw Hline Abbot in Southern Ye Township demanding millions of Kyat. The group stated the money must be paid within seven days. Contact details for the leader and the deputy leader were included in the letters.
Read moreMilitary Council claims state supported electricity for Ye Township is coming: Locals don’t believe it.
April 22, 2022
HURFOM: The Ye Military Council and the Mon State military council have both stated at numerous public consultation meetings held in the township, that people would soon have access to the State supported electricity grid. However, local people have little trust in these statements.
“Even the (previous) democratic government said Ye would have State sponsored electricity. Now, the military council says they are starting to work on it. But Mawlamyine, Mudon and Thanbyuzayat haven’t had enough electricity. So simply saying “Ye will have State sponsored electricity soon” is just “pouring honey into the people’s ear”. Practically speaking it is impossible,” said a local source who is close to the Ye Military Council.
Read moreCovid, the military coup, and economic hardship sees rise in child labour
April 22, 2022
HURFOM: Due to the global pandemic and the military coup, Burma has had to close schools for nearly two years. The result has been a rise in the drop out rates. Not unrelated, there has also been an increase in the number of cases of child labour.
Economic hardships on families has led to children leaving their homes at an early age to work on rubber plantations, plywood factories, restaurants, tea shops and grocery stores.
Read moreJunta control on foreign currency leading to Burma running out of gasoline
April 20, 2022
HURFOM: The military junta has controlled the trade of US dollars resulting in significant impacts on importation of gasoline. Gasoline imports have currently halted. Critics point out that Burma is running out of gasoline.
In Mon State the fuel shortages have forced gasoline stations in Mawlamyine to sell only within limited times.
“We can’t sell gasoline for the whole day. We’ll operate the shop only from 6 am to 11 am. The sale amount will depend on the quota of gasoline available. When we get the usual quota of gasoline, we’ll run our shop normally,” said an official from one station in Mawlamyine.
Read moreArmed group demands 70 million Kyat from two villages in Southern Ye
April 19, 2022
HURFOM: An armed group known as “Rehmonnya Army” led by an individual known as Nai Chan, has demanded 70 million Kyat from Ham Gam and Kaw Hline villages, located in Southern Ye Township, Mon State.
The armed group entered Ham Gam on April 12, 2022 and occupied the village Administration office. They exploded a bomb, tore down the office flag pole and stomped on the Burmese flag.
Read moreWeekly Update in HURFOM Targeted Areas [Week Three: April 2022]
April 18, 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 moreWeekly Update in HURFOM Targeted Areas [Week Two: April 2022]
April 11, 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
The violence by the military junta is fueling a refugee crisis. In Karen State, airstrikes and heavy artillery fire has led to over more than 600 internally displaced people in Kawkareik township, Karen State. Those fleeing are in desperate need of food, shelter, medicine and life-saving materials. However, the situation is worsened by the fact that the Thai authorities are blocking pathways to aid and turning back displaced people directly back into a conflict zone.
Read moreAttacks Against Burma’s Health Workers Must Cease Immediately; Protection Must be Granted to Those in Hiding and Facing Unjust Charges
April 7, 2022
On World Health Day, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) strongly condemns ongoing violence which targets health workers in Burma by the military junta. Frontline medics, including nurses, doctors and first responders have taken exceptional risks to treat injured protesters, civilians and armed resistance soldiers who have been harmed by the Burma Army. Their courage is being tested on a daily basis as the junta cracks down on those involved with pro-democracy activities. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, some 600 medics have been forced into evading arrest warrants issued for them by the junta. Over 200 medical students have been arrested since 1 February 2021.
Read more
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