Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi Region
August 5, 2024
Flooding in Southeastern Burma Adds to Daily Challenges for Locals
HURFOM: Now, more than halfway through the year, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) continues to report worrying increases in the widespread crimes being perpetrated against innocent civilians by the junta. By the end of July, HURFOM’s June monthly overview numbers had doubled. The reported figures are as follows: 107 people were arbitrarily arrested, 52 were injured, 110 were mistreated, and nearly 60 were killed. In addition, 75,000 people were forced to leave their homes due to violence by the junta as they intensified their offensives in local areas, with 120 homes damaged in July alone.
Read moreAfter being armed by junta, local militia group extorts money from villagers
August 2, 2024
HURFOM: On July 24th, 2024, the Mawlamyine based Southeast Military Command armed a local militia group led by Nine Lin Oo. The group is based in R Yu Taung village, Ye Township, and claimed it needed weapons and ammunition to maintain security in the area.
The R Yu Taung militia group has been active in R Yu Taung, Hnin Zone, Kwan Du, Sone Nat Thar, Hman Sein and Set Twelve villages.
Read moreAid to flood victims prevented due to presence of military regiment
August 2, 2024
HURFOM: Flooding has occurred in the community of Kaw Bane and nearby villages, in Kaw Ka Rate Township, Karen State. Emergency and aid groups cannot reach the area due to the presence of the military regiments.
“All houses in Bell Zu Ward, Kaw Bane village are flooded. But the military regiment stationed themselves in the area so no aid group dares come to provide support. There are no individual donors or aid organizations in the area,” said a Kaw Bane resident.
Read moreLocal man injured by junta’s artillery attack in Ye
August 1, 2024
HURFOM: On July 29th, 2024, there was a battle between the military junta and the joint resistance forces near Lane Maw Chan village, Ye Township, Mon State. A 49-year-old man from the village was injured by the junta’s artillery attack.
More than 300 junta troops have attempted to regain control of the Ye – Dawei Highway Road. They clashed with the local resistance forces. The 317th artillery regiment based in Maw Ka Nin launched the artillery attack that injured the local man.
Read moreLong Lone PDF extorts money from local vehicle owners
August 1, 2024
HURFOM: According to local sources, since the fourth week of July, 2024, the Long Lone People’s Defense Force has been extorting money from local vehicle owners from a village in Long Lone Township, Dawei District, Tenasserim Division.
On June 3rd, the Long Lone PDF held two meetings with villagers demanding 100,000 MMK to 500,000 MMK from local vehicle owners depending on the type of vehicles they own.
Read moreJuly 2024: Monthly Overview of the Human Rights Situation
August 1, 2024
Attacks on Information Threaten Civilian Right to Safety, Security, and Protection in Southeastern Burma
The military junta is fueling a war on all fronts. Attacks against civilians include the suppression of information flows and the right to access life-saving channels of knowledge through social media and other media platforms on the Internet. Their attempted censorship is because the junta knows the injustices they are committing and fears the circulation of their widespread crimes against innocent people.
For many years, Burma’s human rights issues were largely hidden from the world. Taking advantage of limited internet access, the regime committed numerous violations in continuous defiance of the law. The younger generation has rejected military rule and is actively fighting for their rights through protests and other methods. The Burma Army relies on weapons, not ethics.
Burma was placed 176th out of 180 countries for press freedom in 2023 by Reporters Without Borders. This alarming rank reflects the junta’s severe actions against the media, targeting even citizen journalists who now encounter increased violence. Numerous journalists are still held captive, with fatalities while exposing the junta’s crimes.
Read moreOutbreak of diarrhea and insufficient medicine in Pu Law IDP camps
July 31, 2024
HURFOM: Since July, 2024, there has been an outbreak of diarrhea in three internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Pu Law Township, Tenasserim Division. Patients are urgently in need of medicine, according to local organizations who help displaced persons.
Read moreKNU arrests two drug abusers and extorts 40 million
July 31, 2024
HURFOM: On July 18th, 2024, the Karen National Union arrested two young drug abusers from 60 Mile village, Yar Phu village track, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division. According to local sources, the KNU extorted 40 million MMK from them.
Read moreMilitary Junta Burns Homes and Forces Entire Village to Flee in Dawei Township
July 30, 2024
HURFOM: At approximately 3 pm on July 27, 2024, the 405th Light Infantry Battalion set fire to three houses in Maung Mell Shaung village, Dawei Township, Tenasserim Division, compelling the entire village to flee.
The regiment arrived in Maung Mell Shaung on July 24 and occupied residential houses.
“We all fled our homes as soon as the regiment arrived. Now they have burned down three houses and looted valuables from the houses they occupied,” said a Maung Mell Shaung resident.
Read moreCyclone Devastates Ah Nin Village, Destroying 150 Houses and Injuring Three Villagers
July 30, 2024
HURFOM: At approximately 3 pm on July 26, 2024, a devastating cyclone swept through Ah Nin village in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, destroying 150 houses and injuring three villagers.
“Many houses in the highland were damaged. Some lost their roofs, while others completely collapsed. According to our records, there have been 149 damaged houses,” said a resident of Ah Nin.
Three villagers sustained injuries during the cyclone, including an adult man who suffered a severe leg fracture.
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