Civilians in Dooplaya District continue to be impacted by conflict between the Tatmadaw and armed Karen groups, who have increased fighting since November 7th 2010. The situation remains highly unstable and civilians report a variety of human rights and security concerns related to ongoing conflict and conflict-related abuse. In order to provide as current information as possible on the fighting and related protection concerns, KHRG has developed this page as a 'Displacement Monitoring' section of the KHRG website. Immediate situation updates, news bulletins, field reports, maps and photo galleries regarding the situation for civilians in Dooplaya are accessible through links in the table at the bottom of this page.
Background
Civilians in Dooplaya District continue to be impacted by increased conflict since November 7th 2010, involving Burma's state army, the Tatmadaw, and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), as well as other armed Karen groups. Since larger battles occurred in Myawaddy and Three Pagodas Pass towns on November 8th and 9th, the conflict has been characterised by frequent skirmishes, shelling and guerrilla style attacks throughout areas opposite Tak and Kanchanaburi provinces, Thailand.
Civilians living in areas affected by fighting, including villages in which fighting is expected but has yet to occur, have described a range of physical security and livelihoods threats including: death, injury, or destruction of property as a result of skirmishes between armed groups and functionally indiscriminate use of weapons by soldiers in civilian areas;[1] looting of property by soldiers or other villagers;[2] arrest, detention or execution by soldiers that suspect civilians of supporting an adverse party to the conflict;[3] sexual violence;[4] arrest and forced portering;[5] movement restrictions impeding livelihoods activities and villagers' ability to escape fighting;[6] and the fear that prolonged fighting and associated abuses will disrupt the harvesting of corn and bean crops into which many villagers in the area have invested significant labour and financial resources.[7]
Most of these threats are markedly different from the human rights and security concerns associated with the low-intensity conflict that communities in eastern Dooplaya have confronted over the past decade. Villagers have told KHRG that they do not feel safe amid the unstable and increasingly dangerous military context created by the upheaval of military relationships and the re-emergence of open conflict;[8] many have opted to flee with their families temporarily to more secure locations from which they can monitor the security situation and check on their homes, property and crops.[9] Villagers attempting to access such temporary refuge in Thailand, however, have faced a number of obstacles that have caused incoming refugees to hide in dispersed, discreet locations or else cross back and forth between temporary sites established just across the border in Burma whenever fighting occurs.[10] Several sources, including within the DKBA, have told KHRG that they expect the fighting to continue, which suggests that the protection threats to villagers in eastern Dooplaya will remain urgent.[11]
Ongoing monitoring by KHRG
Title |
Type |
Tag(s) |
Location(s) |
Uploaded Date |
|
45
|
Thai Army sends 65 villagers back to Burma from temporary site at Mu Yoo Hta on Christmas Day |
Photo update |
Displacement; obstacles to refuge; forced portering |
Mu Yoo Hta, Mae Sariang District |
January 7th 2011 |
44
|
Palu villagers hiding in Thailand respond to interruptions in schooling |
Photo update |
Displacement; |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
January 6th 2011 |
43
|
Tatmadaw officers urge villagers seeking refuge in Thailand to return to Palu village as 400 additional Tatmadaw troops deployed to the area |
Update |
Displacement; |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
January 6th 2011 |
42
|
Arbitrary arrest, detention and confiscation of property in the Waw Lay village area |
Update |
Arrest/detention; |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
January 6th 2011 |
41
|
Palu villagers celebrate Christmas in H--- village due to ongoing conflict and human rights concerns |
Photo update |
Fighting; displacement |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
January 1st 2011 |
40
|
KHRG Photos document examples of damage to property caused by shelling in Waw Lay village |
Photo update |
Fighting; displacement; livelihoods; landmines/unexploded ordnances; threats against civilians |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
January 1st 2011 |
39
|
Body of unidentified naked woman found near Waw Lay village |
Photo update |
sexual violence; civilian deaths |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
January 1st 2011 |
38
|
KHRG photos document strategic displacement of villagers during Palu's harvest season |
Photo update |
Fighting; displacement |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
January 1st 2011 |
37
|
More shelling in Palu as villagers make plans to hold Christmas celebrations elsewhere |
Photo update |
Fighting; displacement |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
December 31st 2010 |
36
|
Arbitrary arrest in Waw Lay village and execution in Meh K'Ner village |
Update |
arbitrary arrest/detention; execution |
Waw Lay; Meh K'Ner villages, Kawkareik Township |
December 23rd 2010 |
35
|
Long-term consequences for villagers' livelihoods as conflict and displacement in the Palu area continue |
Interview transcript |
Fighting; shelling; displacement; livelihoods; forced portering |
Palu Poe village, Kawkareik Township |
December 22nd 2010 |
34
|
Fighting, displacement and human rights concerns in Pa'an District |
Interview transcript |
Fighting; shelling; displacement; land mines |
Hlaing Bweh Township, Pa'an District |
December 22nd 2010 |
33
|
Shelling and fears of portering prolong displacement, disrupt the harvest in Palu village |
Update |
Fighting; shelling; displacement; livelihoods; forced portering |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
December 20th 2010 |
32
|
Night time shelling and displacement in Maw Poe Gkloh village |
Update |
Fighting; shelling; displacement |
Maw Poe Gkloh, Kawkareik Township |
December 20th 2010 |
31
|
Shelling in Palu continues to displace villagers |
Update |
Fighting; displacement; shelling |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
December 19th 2010 |
30
|
Updated map of affected areas of Dooplaya district |
Map |
|
Dooplaya district |
December 17th 2010 |
29
|
Forced portering in Min Let Bpaing village |
Update |
Forced portering |
Min Let Bpaing village, Kawkareik Township |
December 17th 2010 |
28
|
Shelling in Palu displaces villagers, disrupts agriculture |
Update |
Fighting; displacement; shelling; livelihoods |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
December 17th 2010 |
27
|
Providing education amidst conflict and displacement in Thay Baw Boh |
interview transcript |
Fighting; displacement; school closures |
Thay Baw Boh village, Kawkareik Township |
December 17th 2010 |
26
|
Villagers at risk from landmines, shelling and portering in Gk'Neh Lay village |
Update |
Fighting; shelling; displacement; forced portering; landmines/unexploded ordnance |
Gk'Neh Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
December 16th 2010 |
25
|
Threats and displacement continue to disrupt the harvest in Waw Lay |
Update |
Fighting; displacement; livelihoods |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
December 16th 2010 |
24
|
More fighting reported in Waw Lay area |
Update |
Fighting; displacement; shelling; livelihoods |
Waw Lay; Mae Klaw Kee; Htee Ther Leh villages, Kawkareik Township |
December 14th 2010 |
23
|
Fighting and displacement in the Waw Lay and Palu areas |
Update |
Fighting; displacement; shelling; livelihoods |
Palu; Waw Lay; Oo Kreh Htah; Oo Hoo Htah; Kyo G'Lee villages, Kawkareik Township |
December 14th 2010 |
22
|
School closure in Thay Baw Boh continues |
Update |
Displacement; school closures |
Thay Baw Boh village, Kawkareik Township |
December 13th 2010 |
21
|
Fears of portering prolong displacement, disrupt harvest in Palu village |
Update |
Displacement; forced portering; livelihoods |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
December 10th 2010 |
20
|
Repeated flight and obstacles to refuge in Waw Lay village |
Update |
Fighting; displacement; obstacles to refuge |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
December 9th 2010 |
19
|
Repeated flight and obstacles to refuge in Palu village |
Update and interviews |
Fighting; displacement; obstacles to refuge; livelihoods; forced portering |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
December 9th 2010 |
18
|
Tatmadaw soldiers obstruct returning refugees |
Update |
Fighting; displacement; obstacles to refuge |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
December 9th 2010 |
17
|
Night time shelling and displacement in Waw Lay |
Update |
Shelling; displacement |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
December 9th 2010 |
16
|
School Closures in Thay Baw Boh village |
Update |
Displacement; school closure |
Thay Baw Boh village, Kawkareik Township |
December 8th 2010 |
15
|
Shelling reported in Kyaw Keh village |
Update |
Fighting; displacement |
Kyaw Keh and Palu villages, Kawkareik Township |
December 8th 2010 |
14
|
Daily forced labour in G'Neh Lay |
Update |
Forced labour; displacement |
Gk'Neh Lay village, Kawkareik township |
December 6th 2010 |
13
|
Fighting and threats in Waw Lay |
Update |
Fighting; displacement; threats against civilians |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik township |
December 6th 2010 |
12
|
House burning in Waw Lay |
Update |
Fighting |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik township |
December 6th 2010 |
11
|
Portering and landmine concerns in Waw Lay |
Update |
Forced portering; landmines/unexploded ordnance |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik township |
December 5th 2010 |
10
|
Early morning displacement in Palu |
Update |
Fighting; displacement |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik township |
December 4th 2010 |
9
|
Villagers flee to avoid fighting and portering: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District |
News bulletin |
Fighting; displacement; obstacles to refuge; forced portering; |
Palu; Mae Gk'La Kee; T'Naw Hta; Maw Gk'Noe Kee; Kyo G'lee; Kwee Ta'Ho; G'Neh Thay Hta; and Bpaw Baw Hta villages, Kawkareik township |
December 4th 2010 |
8
|
Night time displacement in Waw Lay |
Update |
Fighting; displacement |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik township |
December 3rd 2010 |
7
|
More arrests and movement restrictions: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District |
News bulletin |
Fighting; displacement; obstacles to refuge; movement restrictions; arrest/detention |
Palu; Waw Lay; Kyo G'Lee villages, Kawkareik township |
Nov 30th 2010 |
6
|
Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand |
Field report; interview transcripts |
Fighting; displacement; obstacles to refuge; livelihoods |
Myawaddy Town; Palu and Waw Lay villages, Kawkareik township. |
Nov 30th 2010 |
5
|
Villager injured, community flees: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District |
News bulletin |
Fighting; displacement; obstacles to refuge; civilian injuries |
Palu village, Kawkareik Township |
November 28th 2010 |
4
|
Arrest, looting and flight: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District |
News bulletin |
Fighting; displacement; obstacles to refuge; forced labour; looting; movement restrictions; arrest/detention |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik Township |
November 25th 2010 |
3
|
School closures and movement restrictions: conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District |
News bulletin |
Fighting; movement restrictions; livelihoods |
Myawaddy Town; Waw Lay village, Kakareik Township |
November 19th 2010 |
2
|
Protection concerns expressed by civilians amidst conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an districts |
Field report; interview transcripts |
Fighting; displacement; civilian injuries; civilian deaths; looting; arrest/detention; sexual violence; livelihoods; forced portering; livelihoods |
Myawaddy Town; T'Ka Kee; Noh T'Gkaw; Waw Lay villages, Kawkareik township; Three Pagodas Pass Town, Kya In township |
November 17th 2010 |
1
|
Civilians at risk from continued SPDC-DKBA conflict in Dooplaya District |
News bulletin |
Fighting; displacement; injury to civilian; obstacles to refuge |
Waw Lay village, Kawkareik township |
November 14th 2010 |
Footnotes:
[1] See: "Protection concerns expressed by civilians amdist conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an Districts," KHRG, Novmeber 2010; "Arrest, looting and flight: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Villager injured, community flees: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.
[2] See: "Protection concerns expressed by civilians amdist conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an Districts," KHRG, Novmeber 2010; "Arrest, looting and flight: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.
[3] See: "Protection concerns expressed by civilians amdist conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an Districts," KHRG, Novmeber 2010; "School closures and movement restrictions: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Arrest, looting and flight: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.
[4] See: "Protection concerns expressed by civilians amdist conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an Districts," KHRG, Novmeber 2010
[5] "Villagers flee to avoid fighting and portering: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Protection concerns expressed by civilians amdist conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an Districts," KHRG, Novmeber 2010; "More arrests and movement restrictions: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.
[6] See: "School closures and movement restrictions: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Villager injured, community flees: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "More arrests and movement restrictions: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010
[7] See: "Protection concerns expressed by civilians amdist conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an Districts," KHRG, Novmeber 2010; "School closures and movement restrictions: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.
[8] See: "Protection concerns expressed by civilians amdist conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an Districts," KHRG, Novmeber 2010; "Arrest, looting and flight: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "More arrests and movement restrictions: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.
[9] "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.
[10] See: "Arrest, looting and flight: Conflict continues to impact civilians in Dooplaya District," KHRG, November 2010; "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.
[11] See: "Protection concerns expressed by civilians amdist conflict in Dooplaya and Pa'an Districts," KHRG, Novmeber 2010; "Threats to human rights, obstacles to protection: Conditions for civilians seeking refuge in Phop Phra District, Thailand," KHRG, November 2010.