Type of Incident

Forced labour and violent abuse

Date of Incident(s)

Incident Location

(Village, Township and District)

B--- village, C--- village tract, Bu Tho Township, Hpapun District

Victim Information

Name

M---

Age

50

Sex

Female 

Nationality

Karen

Family   

Married

Occupation

KWO [Karen Women Organisation]

Religion

Buddhist

Position

KWO secretary

Village

B--- village

Perpetrator Information

Name(s)              

Rank

Unit

Base

Commander’s Name

Saw Tha Beh

2nd Lieutenant

Border Guard Force Battalion #1014

Weh Gyi village

Lieutenant Colonel Maung Chit

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

I went to A--- village and interviewed Naw M--- about the abuses that were committed by officer Tha Beh. Naw M--- suffered the abuse that was committed by officer Tha Beh, and escaped [fled] to A--- village, where I met with her and interviewed her. What she says is the truth. 

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

We can say that this information is true based on what Naw B--- has said. She said, “He [Saw Tha Beh] always brings two or three cane sticks whenever he calls a meeting. He beats the villagers with the cane sticks even if the villagers make a small mistake.”

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.

The human rights abuses that I am going to report happened in B--- village, C--- village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw [Hpapun] District on January 15th 2014. The abuses that happened were forced labour, bullying, beating [with cane sticks] and punching. The perpetrator was 2nd Lieutenant Saw Tha Beh, from BGF Battalion #1014.

            The victim was Naw M---, who is 50 years old and from B--- village. The incident happened as follows: Officer Tha Beh from BGF Battalion #1014 was going around the jungle near B--- village, Z--- village and D--- village, setting up camps and logging. He asked the villagers [including Naw M---] from that area to transport his wood with their ox-carts and cars. He forced the villagers [to transport his wood] and did not pay them.

            Without any reason, he swore, punched and beat [with cane sticks] the villagers who could not do it for him because they were not free [available to work]. Therefore many villagers were afraid and fled from their villages [including Naw M---]. They went to A--- village and other villages. Some of the villagers who fled from their village have gone back, but some of them dare not go back yet, and are still hiding [living in the other villages].[3] The village administrator has not done anything yet to solve the problem.

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

I received permission from Naw M--- to use this information.