26 stores destroyed as junta reclaims land
February 8, 2023
HURFOM: The military junta has reclaimed State-owned land plots on U Sit Maung Street, Myine Thar Yar Ward, Mawlamyine, in Mon State. Twenty six stores that were built on the land plots were recently removed and destroyed.
The store owners are facing difficulties in finding new space to rent or have anything rebuilt in another location.
Read moreKNLA warns Maw Ka Nin residents to move out within a week
February 8, 2023
HURFOM: The military junta has reinforced its troop presence at No 317 Artillery Battalion neary Maw Ka Nin new village, Ye Township, in Mon State.
The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) is expecting an armed clash will take place very soon. The KNLA warned villagers to move out within a week, local sources told HURFOM.
Read moreAnother man injured from landmine in Lamine
February 6, 2023
HURFOM: Another person has been injured from a landmine in Lamine.
At approximately 6:00 pm on February 2, 2023, a man from Maw Ka Nin village returned from his plantation by motorbike, and stepped on a landmine near Joe Ta Dar stream. He suffered a leg injury and was taken to the Lamine Hospital for treatment.
Read moreMonk repeatedly rapes 11-year-old girl and makes her pregnant
February 6, 2023
HURFOM: In Ma Yin Ngae village, Myeik Township, located in Tenasserim Division, a monk repeatedly raped an 11-year-old schoolgirl. The child is now four months pregnant.
“She didn’t menstruate last month and she got sick so we went to the clinic. At that time, the doctor said nothing special. He didn’t think (she got pregnant) as she is very young. But we went to the clinic again on January 1 and after a thorough check, the doctor said she was four months pregnant,” said her parents.
Read moreWeekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region
February 6, 2023
First Week of February 2023
This last week, the solemn two-year marking of the coup, was a reminder of the tyranny that continues in Burma due to the junta’s systematic violence. War crimes and crimes against humanity are being perpetrated with impunity and unending force. While the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom announced new sanctions to mark the anniversary, these actions came too little too late for the thousands of people killed by the Burma Army. A referral of the military to the International Criminal Court is needed to ensure that there is an end to military rule.
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The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) continues to document the severe violations against the rights and freedoms of civilians. In the over 730 days since 1 February 2021, HURFOM has reported that nearly 25,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Southeastern Burma due to conflict between the junta and armed revolution organizations. After they’ve left, their villages are often scorched, belongings looted, and livestock shot and killed. In addition, more than 3000 innocent civilians have been arrested and detained. The numbers of those killed are likely much higher than HURFOM, and other documentation organizations can report safely.
We condemn the ongoing human rights violations and call for immediate international intervention and for global actors to pursue accountability mechanisms at the highest level, which put an end to military impunity at last. HURFOM also reported that military affairs observers said that the junta’s declaration of martial law in many townships across the country signalled more brutal oppression in pro-democracy groups, civilians, and local resistance armed forces strongholds.
This week, the junta targeted a 71-year-old local villager who lost one of his legs when he stepped on a landmine while repairing a water pipe near the cable-stayed bridge in Baykalwe village, Ye Township in Southern Mon State. Junta troops lay landmines to prevent their opponents from accessing bridges close to their camps:
“In many cases, the soldiers put the landmines just outside their camp’s fence for protection. We must be cautious about these unseen dangers while working near the battalions,” said a source who wished to remain anonymous.
“It is speculated that mines are often planted near military bases. Three of our villagers had serious injuries in the past, and all became disabled because of the attacks by Light Infantry Battalion No. 586. No group or authorities ever confess these crimes,” said another.
This latest incident happened on January 30 at about 10 AM. The local social support team cooperated and helped transfer the victim from Lamai Hospital to the 300-bed hospital in Mawlamyine City.
The fighting continues to kill innocent people caught in the crossfire of the violence. The network human rights documentation teams in the region estimated that at least two residents were killed, 17 people were injured, and more than 4,000 people fled the indiscriminate shells launched by four junta bases in Tanintharyi Township:
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“From January 24 to January 31, the junta perpetrated war crimes against local civilians. The fighting led to at least five injuries from my village [Banlamut] and four victims from our neighboring village, BawDeekam, three from Mawtone, another three from Uyinkam and at least two from Thamoke Chone village.”
The junta-backed soldiers based in areas such as Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 556, LIB 557, LIB 558, and Artillery Regiments Command No. 306 are the main perpetrators, according to the team receiving the military information from the local armed forces.
Plumber steps on landmine, loses left leg in Lamine
February 3, 2023
HURFOM: At about 10:00 am on January 30, 2023, a 70-year-old plumber stepped on a landmine near Joe Ta Dar stream, which is close to Bay Ka Hwelve village, Lamine Sub-township, Ye Township, in Mon State. When the mine exploded, the victim lost his left leg.
Read moreMonthly Overview: Airstrikes in Southeastern Burma Kill and Injure Civilians While Forcing Thousands to Flee as the Burma Army Prepares for their Sham 2023 Elections | January 2023
February 2, 2023
HURFOM: The first month of the year in Southeastern Burma and country-wide proved equally disastrous. Despite the multiple calls to the international community for action as the junta commits endless atrocities, they seemed to fall upon deaf ears. Across January 2023, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) documented dozens more malicious attacks against civilians. While these crimes are occurring, the regime is shamelessly continuing with their plans to hold ‘elections’ later this year. HURFOM fieldworkers reported on early cases of civilians already being bribed to vote for the military.
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The Mon State Junta Administration General Administration Department (GAD) has been conducting several meetings in each township in Mon State for all levels of Administrators to operate an accurate census and prepare for the upcoming junta-run election:
“They seem like they are preparing for the election. The Mon State junta is conducting election-related activities such as instructing each level of GAD staff to collect the numbers of the population in the whole state and training the polling station officers to hold the General Election,” said a source close to HURFOM.
On the other hand, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party members are tasked by the junta to obtain the entire population of households in each ward, village, and township. The people know these elections are not credible, yet they are threatened with their lives if they do not comply with military orders. The election plans are another malicious attempt by the junta to make Burma appear like a country that has returned to normalcy in the days since the coup. The junta has targeted opposition forces and pro-democracy proponents and, once in junta custody, are tortured and killed. Defacto Head of State, Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint has been detained on baseless charges since 1 February 2021. Each faces up to several decades in prison – effectively life sentences.
Read more20 rubber plantations set on fire in Lamine: No suspects
February 1, 2023
HURFOM: At approximately 10:00 am on January 29, 2023, at least 20 rubber plantations near Lamine Town, Ye Township, in Mon State were set on fire by unknown person(s).
No one knows what the motive was, but a young social worker commented the incident might be related to political issues.
Read moreThanbyuzayat-Ye Road site of frequent armed attacks and travel restrictions
January 31, 2023
HURFOM: Columns of the junta’s military vehicles are subject to frequent ambushes or attacks by landmines on the Thanbyuzayat-Ye Road.
In response the junta has imposed restrictions on using the road.
These restrictions are impacting businesses and peoples access to healthcare.
Read moreNMSP urges Burmese army, the KNLA and PDF not to harm villagers
January 31, 2023
HURFOM: On January 29, 2023, the Thaton District New Mon State Party (NMSP) released a statement urging the Burmese army, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) not to harm civilians or villages during their confrontations.
According to the statement, the NMSP has formed a team to assist internally displaced persons get to safe shelter. The party had also donated ten millions Kyat for IDPs.
Read more