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ကညီကျိာ်
မြန်မာThis document gives descriptions for Photo Set 97-A, including Dooplaya District before the current offensive, Karenni forced relocations, attacks on Karen and Karenni refugee camps in Thailand, free-fire zones in Tenasserim Division, attacks on Karen villages in the far south, refugees from the current Dooplaya and Tenasserim offensives, and some others.
Peoples’ names given here correspond to those used in the reports; names which have been changed to protect people are enclosed in quotes. Some details have been omitted from the photo descriptions to protect the people involved. These photos may be used in any way to help the people of Burma.
Some abbreviations used in the photo descriptions:
SLORC = State Law & Order Restoration Council, Burma’s military junta
DKBA = Democratic Kayin (Karen) Buddhist Army, Karen group allied to SLORC
KNU = Karen National Union, main Karen opposition organization
KNLA = Karen National Liberation Army, army of the KNU
KNPP = Karenni National Progressive Party, Karenni organization which is still fighting SLORC.
Photos #1,2,3: Church in Tee Ghu Thaw village, Kyone Doh Township, central Karen State, burned and destroyed by SLORC troops of LIB 546 commanded by Maj. Tin Aye and DKBA troops commanded by Pa Day on 22 November 1996 for no apparent reason other than to show the villagers who is in control. The troops also beat up the church pastor, Saw Hsah Muh, aged over 50, and burned down his house. The school was also burned (see below). [Photos: KORD]
Photo #4: Middle school in Tee Ghu Thaw village, Kyone Doh Township, burned and destroyed by SLORC troops of LIB 546 and DKBA troops commanded by Pa Day on 22 November 1996. [Photo: KORD]
Photo #5: On 21 November 1996 at 7:30 p.m., Maj. Tin Aye of LIB #546 and DKBA troops commanded by Pa Day entered Win Kat village, Kyone Doh Township, and opened fire. This woman, age 22, was wounded in her left calf. [Photo: KORD]
Photo #6: House in Kya Yoh Gone village, Kyone Doh Township, burned and destroyed by SLORC troops from LIB #546 on 20 November 1996. [Photo: KORD]
Photo #7: Yaw Doh village, Kya In Township, Dooplaya District, central Karen State (just north of Kyaikdon). On 27 October 1996 a column of SLORC troops from IB #31 attacked the village in order to loot it, but were driven out by KNLA troops who arrived after they had begun. They took the village headman and many others with them as porters, and led away 2 villagers on ropes to be executed at their camp. This woman’s husband was tied up, led away and executed several days later at the IB #31 camp, leaving her and their 2 children. This photo was taken 2 weeks later. [Photo: KHRG]
Photo #8: On 27 October 1996 a column of SLORC troops attacked and looted Kwih Kaneh Khoh village, Kya In Township, Dooplaya District (southwest of Kyaikdon). The village was completely undefended and the troops marched into all 30 houses and looted everything, leaving the villagers with nothing. Just afterwards this woman’s son fell sick, and when this photo was taken 3 weeks later he could no longer move. SLORC does not allow medical supplies to enter this area. [Photo: KHRG]
Photo #9: "Htun Win", 28, a Muslim villager from Myawaddy Township, Karen State, who was taken as a frontline porter in 1996 even though he was already sick with malaria. Two weeks later he collapsed under his 40-kilo load of mortar shells, so he was kicked and beaten unconscious by the commander and kicked down a slope to die. Other porters escaped later and returned to find him and carry him to Thailand. Doctors operated 3 times, drained 1.5 litres of pus from his arm and thigh, and found he had a permanent corneal scar, a broken rib, serious damage to his arm, and the muscles of his thigh were so badly beaten that he will never walk properly again, all from the beatings. He was not even strong enough to be interviewed until one month later. [See ‘Porters’] [Photo: KHRG]
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