The following incident report was written by a community member trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions. It is presented below translated exactly as originally written, save for minor edits for clarity and security.[1] This report was received along with other information from Papun District, including four other incident reports,[2] one interview and two situation updates.[3]
Type of Incident |
Forced Labour |
Date of Incident(s) |
May 18th 2012 |
Incident Location (Village, Township and District) |
H--- village, X--- village, Y--- village, Meh Pree village tract, Bu Tho Township, Papun District |
Victim Information |
||||||||
Name |
Age |
Sex |
Nationality |
Family |
Occupation |
Religion |
Position |
Village |
Saw M--- |
35 |
Male |
Karen |
Married |
Farmer |
Buddhist |
Villager |
H--- village |
Saw N--- |
40 |
Male |
Karen |
Married |
Farmer |
Buddhist |
Village Leader |
X--- village |
Saw L--- |
33 |
Male |
Karen |
Married |
Farmer |
Buddhist |
Second Village Leader |
Y--- village |
Perpetrator information |
||||
Name |
Rank |
Company/Battalion/Division |
Based at |
Commander's Name |
Saw Nyunt Thein |
Commander |
Border Guard[4] #1014 |
D--- village, the Border Guard Camp |
Battalion Commander Maung Chit |
1. Explain the specific manner how you collected this information. |
When we went to their villages [H---, X---, and Y---villages]; we asked them [about any incidents], so when this incident happened, they sent us the information. |
2. Explain how the source verified information accuracy. |
The information that I received, and [the information] that went to the district [KNU office], is the same information and the date is also similar, so we can represent that this is true information. |
Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. For each incident, be sure to include 1) when the incident happened, 2) where it happened, 3) what happened, 4) how it happened, 5) who was involved, and 6) why it happened. Also describe any villager response(s) to the incident, the aftermath and the current living situation of the victims. Please use the space prepared below and create an attachment if needed. |
Brigadier General Min Aung Laing and President Thein Sein stated that they will try hard to end forced labour.[5] Even though they said that, we can say that forced labour still happens in the ethnic areas. The information that we are going to report on is about forced labour.This incident happened on May 18th 2012, and the places where the incident took place are in H---, X--- and Y--- villages. These villages are in Meh Pree village tract, Bu Tho Township, Papun District. The ones who caused the forced labour in this report are Commander Nyunt Thein and his group; they are the subordinates of the Battalion Commander Saw Maung Chit[6] from NPD [Nay Pyi Daw] government's Border Guard military #1014.[7] It is very difficult for them to change the behaviour that they used to have, in order to be better. Therefore, it creates problems related with human rights violations, [especially] forced labour. Border Guard #1014 is based in W--- village and Commander Saw Nyunt Thein and his people frighten the civilians who are from H---, X--- and Y--- villages. They asked the villagers from the villages that we have mentioned, to do forced labour. On May 18th 2012, Commander Nyunt Thein asked three villagers from H--- village, two people from Y--- village and another villager from H--- village [to do forced labour]. These villagers always have to stay with the Border Guard, and they have to come and replace [other villagers] every three days. These villagers have to cook for them, cut wood for them and have to carry water for them. When they are travelling, the villagers have to porter their ammunition and their food. They asked those villagers, starting from May 18th 2012, up until the time that we are writing this information. Whatever President Thein Sein says to make himself look good, in the future, there would be more events like we have mentioned because it is not easy for them to eradicate the bad behaviour that they used to have for many years. |
Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
You can use wherever it is suitable for you to use. |