Ethnic Karen women are still subject to abuse and to feellngs of Insecurity, say human rights advocates. The Karen Human Rights Group yesterday officially
released Its report "Hidden Strengths, Hidden Struggles: Women’s Testimonies from Southeast Myanmar” at a press conference at Summit Parkview Hotel,
Yangon.

The report said that since the 2013 preliminary ceasefire between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the government, women in Karen areas of southeast
Myanmar have reported feelings of suspicion and mistrust toward govemment-led health and education initiatives and their staff.

The report quoted a 50-year-old Karen woman from K’Dee Poo village tract, Thaton township, Mon State, as saying, “I can’t entirely trust what the government said. They [the government and the KNU] were both armed. They were enemies before they made peace. I can’t believe it yet. I will believe it when they lay down their weapons.”

In south-eastem Myanmar, problems of drugs and crime seem to have eased under the new government, said KHRG field director Saw Albert. “The drugs are
controlled by armed groups in the Karen areas. If someone is killed, nobody will name the killer. Villagers are afraid even to report crimes,” he told journalists.

However, he added, where once narcotics could be bought as cheaply and easily as candy in snack shops everywhere, drugs had now largely disappeared from public view.

As Karen areas are mostly situated on the Thai border, human trafficking still represented a threat to people struggling to make a living and find jobs.

“Action against traffickers who took villagers into Thailand is still weak. Incomes failed to improve even after the ceasefire, while industries in Thailand paid more money. High-income job opportunities tured the villagers into both traffickers and victims,” said Saw Albert.

In 2013, the KNU signed an agreement not to abuse women in their areas, but enforcement action is inadequate, advocates say.

Landgrabs are also a problem. Some villagers have reported misconduct to KHRG and other human rights groups showing they suffered at the hands of both
government and ethnic armed groups, though the report said instances of extortion of money by both sides had declined since the ceasefire.

“Human rights groups are helping to create better conditions,’ said Naw Jasmin, a representative of the KHRG.

The report quotes several women as saying that last November’s election had made no difference to the lives of the Karen people. While some women showed cautious optimism regarding the results of the election, others were hesitant to make judgments regarding its potential impact.

“Usually, people blame the woman first if there is abuse, saying her dress or conduct was inappropriate. They also deny rape, saying that because it happens so often there must have been consent,” said one woman quoted in the report.

The KHRG was founded in 1992. More details of the report can be found on www.khrg.org.