Politics
110: RCSS Statement on the Burmese Regime’s Latest Four Cuts Campaign in Shan State, Union of Burma
August 21, 2009
The Restoration Council of the Shan State (RCSS) today calls on ASEAN and the UN to investigate and help in solving the problems caused by the Burmese military regime’s latest four cuts campaign in central and southern Shan State. Over 10,000 villagers have recently been driven out from their homes in Laikha, Kaesi and Murng Kerng townships, in central Shan State, Union of Burma.
Data has been compiled by the RCSS’ local authorities.
1. On July 27, 2009, civilians were attacked, and over 300 houses, 61 granaries, 5 rice mills, other household supplies were destroyed by burning. Additionally 188 houses in Laikha, Kaesi and Murng Kerng township were forcibly relocated by 6 separate Burmese army’s battalions.
62 houses, 12 granaries, 4152 buckets of paddy, 1 tractor, 2 shops and other household supplies from Wan Ho Lome village (position-93 G/14 465068), Taad Mwak tract, Laikha township were burned by 88 soldiers from Infantry Battalion 12 led by Col. Kyaw Thu Hla and Maj. Zaw Myo while other households were forced to relocate to Lai Kha. The cost of the belongings that the villagers lost was kyat 186
million.
70 soldiers from IB 513 led by Maj. Myint Nai and Maj. Aung That Nai torched 84 houses, 49 granaries, 2000 buckets of paddy, 2 rice mills, 1 oil mill and 2 carts from Wan Kun Hung and Wan Mwak Zamm village (position-93G/14 460068), Taad Mwak tract, Laikha tonship, which cost kyat 250 million.
160 houses from Wan Long, Wan Kong, Wan Loi Mawm, Wan Pan Kat village (position-93 G/9 240615), Ho Khaai tract, Murng Keung township were also burned by 75 soldiers from IB 6 led by Maj. Nai Lin and Maj. Tun Oo. One man Long La, son of Long Kham and Pa Sway was shot while he was begging the soldiers not to burn down his house, and his body thrown into a bit latrine. The villagers not only
lost their belongings which cost kyat 500 million but were forced to relocate to Namlan sub-township.
95 soldiers from IB 515 led by Maj. Kyaw Kyaw Sein and Maj. Aung Myint Oo forced 36 households from Murng Yaai tract (position- 93 G/ 14 603146), Murng Nawng sub-township, Kaesi township to relocate to Wan Pan Fong, Murng Nawng.
35 villagers, both men and women were beaten and tortured.
5 villagers from Wan Zi Zaw( position-93 G/15 703783), Paang Saang tract, Laikha township were arrested, beaten and taken to Laikha in the custody of 80 soldiers from IB 64 led by Maj. Nay Htut Oo and Maj. Pye Suun Tun.
85 soldiers from IB 248 led by Maj. Moe Zaw Tun and Maj. Aung Myint Zaw arrested and tortured all Lahu-villagers from Murng Luem village (position- 93 K/3 007964), Murng Nawng sub-township without any hearing or discussion with the village-headman or villagers.
2. Since it took power in 1962, the Burmese military regime has been committing atrocities repeatedly against the civilian population of Burma, such as beating, illegitimately arresting, raping and killing them, relocating and torching their villages.
After the Murng Tai Army (MTA) led by Khun Sa surrendered to it, the regime has committed many brutal cases of human rights abuses during the previous four cuts campaign in southern and central Shan State since1996:
- 1996-1998, the regime troops burned down 77,950 houses, raped 248 women and killed 1767 villagers.
- 1999-2002, 371 women were raped by the Burmese soldiers.
- 2002-2005, 142 villagers were killed, 77 women were raped, and 12 women were raped and killed by the Burmese troops.
The actions of the Burmese military regime are surely acts of pure terrorism. The patriotic ethnic resistance groups in Shan State, Karen State, Chin State, Kachin State, Karenni State and Arakan State have never killed Burmese civilians because they respect them as human beings. Only the Burmese military regime continues to commit human rights abuses repeatedly over its people, without sympathy, as it cares only for its own benefits.
Therefore, the RCSS is strongly calling on ASEAN, in spite of its non interference policy on internal affairs of another member state, and the UN to investigate these events and help in solving the problems of the Union of Burma. We plead with you, please do not let the Burmese military regime cruelly kill its own people and engage in ethnic cleansing of its population like this, otherwise refugees will continue to flee to Thailand more and more. We strongly appeal to ASEAN and to the UN to consider these events and turn to help our oppressed people.
Central Executive Committee
Restoration Council of the Shan State (RCSS)
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