-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
A semi-permanent settlement near Tee Thu Kee[Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Ler Wah villagers; they have lived in homes like this in the forest for over 10 years already. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Villagers in Tee Thu Kee; though they have been based here for years, the house is still temporary[Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
This was taken on October 1, with the SPDC in occupation of the former KNLA camp on the low hill to the right. In the centre beside the river are the abandoned houses of Kwih Lah village; to the west behind the village are some of their ricefields. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Defensive trenches dug by SPDC soldiers; they destroyed their bunkers (foreground) before withdrawing.[Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
A destroyed house in Kwih Lah village. SPDC soldiers stripped the walls and roof, and partly smashed the bamboo floor. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
The house of these Kwih Lah children was damaged by a mortar shell fired by the advancing SPDC troops, but they had already fled. Now back in their house, they run a daily risk of stepping on landmines left by the SPDC troops and not yet cleared. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Winnowing trays and a water tin belonging to Kwih Lah villagers which were deliberately slashed and punctured with knives by SPDC troops on their arrival. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
One of the forward shelters set up on a steep hillside by the village men so they could watch for SPDC movements. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
A family taking refuge in one of the shelters built higher in the hills, October 2005. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Though they had rice, the villagers had to live on the ground and the rains continued until November, making them more vulnerable to malaria, diarrhoea and other illnesses. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Weaving thatch for a shelter. Villagers in this area are used to setting up quickly in the forest. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
A group of school students from the villages returns to their families' hiding place after retrieving rice supplies from their hidden paddy storage barns.[Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Naw W--- is probably in her 70s but has no surviving children to care for her. Here she brings some of her rice and a small pig to the hiding site after managing to retrieve them from her house. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
KNLA landmines distributed to villagers in case the SPDC forces pursued them across the Shwegyin River. The mines contain explosive, pellets and a small battery encased in bamboo; the raised splint of bamboo is the trigger. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Note left by withdrawing SPDC troops: "Let peace prevail throughout this greater area. The Whole Tatmadaw." [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
A foxhole and defensive firing position dug by SPDC troops, who carved in this tree: "23-9-05 / TOC[Tactical Operations Command] 332 / La [Infantry Battalion] 4 / Ma [Light Infantry Battalion] 12".[Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Papers and equipment left behind by the withdrawing SPDC force, including a Lance Corporal's uniform shirt from Infantry Battalion #4, Division 33, and a Burmese-made MA-3 assault rifle.[Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Kwih Lah villagers who have returned from the hills but not to their homes; in mid-November they were staying in these shelters just east of the Shwegyin River because their homes, which lie on the western bank, may still be mined. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
More Kwih Lah villagers who cannot return home for fear of mines. Their parents are out in the fields, rushing to bring in the harvest. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
A Tee Thu Kee villager brings in her harvest after returning. Note the bushes and weeds among the crop. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
The harvest must also be dried and threshed for storage as quickly as possible, particularly as no one is sure if the SPDC columns will return. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Though in school uniform, this Ler Wah schoolgirl cannot go back to school yet because she has to watch over her younger siblings while her parents complete the harvest. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Schoolchildren back from their temporary displacement gather in front of the dorm for orphans and children from distant villages, ready to begin school again. [Photo: KHRG]
-
Nyaunglebin district: SPDC operations along the Shwegyin River, and the villagers' response
27th April 2017
Location:
Nyaunglebin (Kler Lwee Htoo) District
Ler Wah primary school, which the SPDC forces were unable to destroy as it lies east of the Shwegyin River. [Photo: KHRG]