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Print:This Photo Set presents 11 still photographs selected from images taken by KHRG community members in February 2012 in Than Daung Township, Toungoo District. The photos depict land confiscated by Tatmadaw forces for the construction of a LID #603 army camp, as well as run-down government schools that lack a sufficient number of teachers and have failed to satisfy village educational needs. This photo set was originally published in the appendix of KHRG's thematic report, Losing Ground: Land confiscation and collective action in eastern Myanmar
Photo Set | Than Daung Township, Toungoo District (February 2012)
The following photos were taken by a community member in Toungoo District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions. They are presented below, censored where necessary for security purposes.[1] The 11 photos below were received along with other information from Toungoo District, including 198 other photos and seven interviews.[2]
This photo, taken in February 2012, shows P--- villager S---, whose lands in Hlaing Thoh village were confiscated by the Burma government in 2004, including his father’s land. According to the community member, he is originally from T--- village, but now resides with his wife in P--- village. [Photo: KHRG]
These photos were taken in February 2012 in Hlaing Thoh village, Than Daung Township, Toungoo District, and show villagers’ land and plantation fields that were confiscated in 2004 for Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #603 to build an army camp. According to the community member who spoke with S---, the villagers who lost their land have not received any compensation and suffered financial hardship as a result. [Photos: KHRG]
These photos were taken in February 2012 in Than Daung Township, Toungoo District. The left-hand photo shows the Peh Leh Wah River where a Burma government-built dam is slated for construction. The right-hand photo shows a road from Hsah Soh Hkoh village to Hlaing Thoh village, built by villagers for them to trade freely with each other. [Photos: KHRG]
These photos, taken in February 2012, show two Burma government-built schools in Than Daung Township, Toungoo District. The structures have largely fallen into disrepair following Government neglect. According to one villager, teachers failed to come and provide educational services to children despite having salaries set aside for such. As a result, children in this area of Than Daung Township lack access to educational opportunities. [Photos: KHRG]
These photos, taken in February 2012 in L--- village Than Daung Township, Toungoo District, show school-aged children passing time at home. Although the Government built schools to serve this population, the lack of teachers and continued support means that area children spend their time helping with chores at home. According to the community member who took these photos, such an absence of educational opportunity could spell trouble for the growing generation. [Photos: KHRG]
Footnotes:
[1] KHRG trains villagers in eastern Burma to document individual human rights abuses using a standardised reporting format; conduct interviews with other villagers; and write general updates on the situation in areas with which they are familiar. When writing situation updates, villagers are encouraged to summarise recent events, raise issues that they consider to be important, and present their opinions or perspective on abuse and other local dynamics in their area.
[2] This Photo Set was compiled by KHRG office staff and is based on information from a community member from Toungoo District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions. In order to increase the transparency of KHRG methodology and more directly communicate the experiences and perspectives of villagers in eastern Burma, KHRG aims to make all field information received available on the KHRG website once it has been processed and translated, subject only to security considerations. For additional reports categorized by Type, Issue, Location and Year, please see the Related Readings component following each report on KHRG’s redesigned Website.
