Type of Incident

Sexual violence

Date of Incident(s)

September 26th 2020

Incident Location

(Village, Township and District)

D--- village, Noh Tar Hkaw village tract,[5] Noh T'Kaw Township, Dooplaya District

Victim Information

Name

Naw G---

Age

21

Sex

Female

Nationality

Karen

Family   

Married

Occupation

Plantation

Religion

Christian

Position

Villager

Village

D---

Perpetrator Information (Civilians)

Name(s)                   

Occupation

Village

U Maung Nyein

-

D---

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

I was informed by a villager in Noh Tar Khaw about this incident. Once I knew about it, I went to meet with village leaders in Noh Tar Khaw village and with the survivor.

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

Those who gave me information and those who knew about this case are local village leaders and committee members. After the incident happened, the survivor, Naw G--- herself, reported to local village leaders what happened to her.

Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail.

The details of the incident were explained by Naw G--- as follows: On September 26th 2020 at 6:30 pm, Naw G--- went to the toilet [there is no toilet, so she just went to relieve herself in the bushes]. When she arrived at a tree near her house, she heard the sound of a branch crack behind her [while she was relieving herself]. When she turned around, she saw that U Maung Nyein was approaching her. He then pushed her against the tree. When she was about to cry out for help, U Maung Nyein pressed her neck tightly, and told her: “Don’t cry out, if you do so, I will kill you”. Since there was barbed-wire fence next to the tree, Naw G--- was afraid of being killed, so she did not cry out. [According to Naw G---], U Maung Nyein raped her but did not let her go yet. He then tried to find some object to hurt her. During that time, Naw G--- pushed him away and ran back to her house.

When Naw G--- told her husband about the incident, he got angry and punched her twice [in the face]. Later that evening, Naw G--- reported the case to local village leaders who then arrested U Muang Nyein. However, U Maung Nyein would not admit that he had done anything wrong. The next day, U Maung Nyein was sent to the KNPF station in Noh T’Kaw Township. On October 2nd 2020, police officers investigated the case with the survivor [by interviewing her] and continued the investigation again on October 15th 2020 [due to conflicting information]. During the investigation process, U Maung Nyein did not admit that he raped Naw G---. Instead he said that Naw G--- agreed to it [sexual relations with him] and that they already have some form of relationship, which is why she agreed to have sex with him and to meet him [that evening]. He said that he has slept [had sex] with her three times already and that she allowed him to do so.

Regarding this matter, Naw G--- said, “I have never had a relationship with you [sexual intercourse], this was the only time and you raped me.” Due to these complications [the conflicting statements by the perpetrator and the survivor], the case has not yet been decided. On October 16th 2020, the village leader and local Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO) staff sent Naw G--- to a KWO safe house elsewhere in the district because she said that she is feeling uncomfortable due to criticism and discrimination [by local villagers]. This case has not yet been resolved. According to the KNPF, a decision will be made at a later stage [after they conduct further investigations].

Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided.

The victim gave permission to use the information as necessary.