Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
March 13, 2023
Second Week of March 2023
HURFOM: International Women’s Day was marked on 8 March 2023. The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) called for an end to military impunity, and condemned the junta’s ongoing crimes of gendered violence. Since the failed coup on 1 February 2021, HURFOM has documented the murders of over 65 women, 190 injuries and 700 arbitrary arrests. In addition, out of 125 total enforced disappearances since the coup in Southeastern Burma, 30 have been women in HURFOM target areas of Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.
Read moreCurfew and martial law forces villagers to abandon their plantations
March 10, 2023
HURFOM: The military junta imposed martial law in Ye Township, Mon State on February 2, 2023 followed by the Township General Administration Department declaring a curfew, banning villagers from going outside from 6 pm to 6 am.
As a result, rubber plantation workers are either unable to go to work at their plantations, or are stranded there until the daily curfew period ends.
Read moreUse of landmines re-emerge in Mon State
March 10, 2023
HURFOM: The use of landmines had stopped since 2020, but in early 2023, two years after the coup, a landmine explosion happened again in Mon State.
According to a local source, at least 10 innocent civilians have been injured by landmine explosions within two years of the coup.
Read moreVillagers do not report crimes: No trust in authorities
March 8, 2023
HURFOM: Since martial law has been imposed in Ye Township, Mon State, villagers have been threatened with knives or guns and they are routinely robbed of their motorbikes and jewelry.
In Kaw Dut village, at least 10 motorbikes were recently stolen.
Despite the frequency of these criminal acts, villagers are not reporting these crimes to the authorities, because there is a loss of trust in the rule of law under the military junta.
Read moreArmed Mon splinter group abuses villagers
March 8, 2023
HURFOM: The Mon Peace and Defense Front (MPDF) is an armed splinter group that divided from the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and is led by Nai Shaung. The group, which is based near Taung Pyin village, in Ye Township, surrendered to the Burmese military and later transformed into a local militia group.
Read moreOn International Women’s Day, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland Calls for the Protection and Security of Women and Condemns Ongoing Gendered Violence
March 8, 2023
HURFOM: Women in Burma today face many threats to their safety and well-being. On this International Women’s Day, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) calls for an end to military impunity, which has emboldened the junta to commit crimes of conflict-related sexual violence. Rape continues to be used as a weapon of war to traumatize and intimidate young women and girls. In Southeastern Burma, HURFOM has documented 5 women killed, 9 injured, 32 arrested, and 6 detained since the beginning of 2023. In addition, seventeen female teachers from the Civil Disobedience Movement arrested in February 2023 are still missing.
Read moreThe Human Rights Foundation of Monland Releases a New Report, “We Dare Not Return,” Displacement and the Denial of Human Rights in Southeastern Burma
March 7, 2023
For Immediate Release
7 March 2023: Today, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) releases a new report, “We Dare Not Return,” Displacement and the Denial of Human Rights in Southeastern Burma. The report includes an analysis of the current situation in our respective target areas of Southeastern Burma throughout 2022. The findings draw on interviews with emergency response teams, survivors, and witnesses of the attacks. The Burma Army committed all the crimes documented in the report with complete and total impunity. They are widespread, systematic and indicative of a worsening pattern of violence.
Read moreWeekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
March 6, 2023
First Week of March 2023
The Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN) released a new report this week, which estimated the total of internally displaced people in Karen State at over 500,000. Documentation by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) supports their findings as increased violence by the junta across Southeastern Burma continues to threaten the lives of civilians.
Read moreJunta provides arms to ward and village administrators in Mon State
March 2, 2023
HURFOM: According to sources close to the General Administration Department, the military junta has provided arms to ‘trusted’ ward and village Administrators.
“The military has given guns (to village/ward Administrators) even before the law to bear/keep arms was announced. Local battalions gave guns to Administrators to protect themselves. Only those whom they trust were given guns,” said a village Administrator from Mudon Township.
Read moreNearly 15 arrested in Kaw Ka Rate since martial law
March 2, 2023
HURFOM: Kaw Ka Rate Township, in Karen State is one of the townships where the military junta has imposed martial law. The junta has tightened security in the township and local sources told HURFOM, that nearly 15 residents have been arrested since February 2, 2023.
“We’re not allowed to go outside from 7 pm to 6 am. If someone is found outside during that period, he/she is immediately arrested and sentenced to 6-month imprisonment. Now, no one in Kaw Ka Rate goes outside after 7 pm,” said a Kaw Ka Rate resident.
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