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, one interview and two situation updates.[2]
Type of Incident |
Forced Labour |
Date of Incident(s) |
February 22nd 2012 |
Incident Location (Village, Township and District) |
W--- village, K'Ter Tee village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Papun District. |
Victim Information |
||||||||
Name |
Age |
Sex |
Nationality |
Family |
Occupation |
Religion |
Position |
Village |
Saw E--- |
40 |
Male |
Karen |
Married |
Farmer |
Buddhist |
Villager |
M--- village |
Perpetrator information |
||||
Name |
Rank |
Company/Battalion/Division |
Based at |
Commander's Name |
Saw Maung Chit |
Commander |
Border Guard #1014, W--- |
W--- camp, W--- |
W--- Operation Commander |
1. Explain the specific manner how you collected this information. |
A [Border Guard Force][3] Battalion, which is led by the Commander Saw Maung Chit,[4] came into W--- village. At first, they stayed beside the villagers' houses in the village, and they stayed wherever they wanted. Therefore, the W--- Operations Commander didn't approve this and he ordered Commander [Maung] Chit Thu[5] to build a camp. Therefore, on February 22nd 2012, they started building W--- camp and they asked M--- and Y--- villagers to go and build it for them. |
2. Explain how the source verified information accuracy. |
We got this information from E---, who is an M--- villager[6] and also had to go and build the camp. |
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. |
This forced labour happened on February 22nd 2012 in W--- village, K'Ter Tee village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Papun District. The forced labour occurred when the Border Guard Battalion #1014,[7] which is led by Commander Maung Chit, and his people came and stayed in W--- village; in the villagers' houses and beside the houses. Because they lived wherever they wanted, the Operations Commander who came to live in W--- camp didn't approve, and he gave an order to Commander Maung Chit. The order was: "The Border Guard has to have its' own camp in the correct place, and they must have dignity as Thein Sein Government's military, so they have to build a camp." As the Operations Commander gave the order, Commander Maung Chit and his group from the Border Guard #1014 had to build the camp. However, they needed bamboo, thatch and wood poles. Because they couldn't find [them], they asked the M---, Y---, Z--- and N--- villagers [to provide them]. The villagers brought their own bamboo, thatch, wood poles and their own tools as usual, and after that, they had to build a wooden hut and fence for them. They had to bring all the things that were needed, and they had to work with great effort, but they didn't get any wages. They had to work for the Border Guard for five days, but when they were sick or when they were injured, the Border Guard didn't take care of them. For meals, they were treated, but not with enough [food]. There were about 12 or 15 people who worked for them [at one time], so after the building was finished, there would have been 70 to 80 people who went and worked for the Border Guard. If we calculate the cost, it [unpaid wages] would be over 200,000 kyat (US $229.36).[8] Their leaders always talk about good things, but their subordinates on the front line are not following their leaders' words. If we consider forced labour and the words of Thein Sein,[9] they are not harmonious. Doesn't Thein Sein know what his people are really doing, or does he decide to pretend that he doesn't know about that? Forcing people to labour like that has not ended yet, but there is not as much forced labour anymore and the villagers do not need to take a lot of prevention [measures]; their living standard can continue as usual. |
Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
This information can be used where it is necessary. |