Situation Update | Kyainseikgyi Township, Dooplaya District (July to August 2017) 

The following Situation Update was received by KHRG in August 2017. It was written by a community member in Dooplaya District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions. It is presented below translated exactly as originally written, save for minor edits for clarity and security.[1] This report was received along with other information from Dooplaya District, including one other situation update, one incident report, 27 interviews, 68 photographs and one video clip.[2]

Introduction

This Noh T’Kaw [Kyainseikgyi] Township, Dooplaya District situation update describes the period between July 24th 2017 and August 4th 2017. The report describes an incident in which a Karen National Union [KNU] forestry administrator threatened a villager, a land dispute, school construction, road construction, villager livelihoods and healthcare.

KNU forestry administrator threatens villager

On July 24th 2017, I [KHRG researcher] received information regarding an incident between a villager and a KNU forestry administrator on July 14th 2017 in B--- village, Noh Ta Khaw village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District. The incident started when a drunken Karen National Union area forestry administrator (of an unknown area) in Noh T’Kaw Township and his sober forestry administrator colleague entered into B--- village and asked the villagers to take [drive] them to his [the KNU forestry administrator’s] village. Along the route, the drunken KNU forestry administrator fell off the motorcycle and hit the ground so he accused the villager driving him to his village, Maung[3] A---, of making him fall. The KNU forestry administrator then attempted to point his pistol at Maung A---’s head and shoot him. Fortunately his bullet and pistol barrel unexpectedly fell to the ground and his colleague then stopped him from shooting the villager. The perpetrator’s name is Saw[4] Nay Htaw. Villagers fear him as a result of this incident and because his position as a forest administrator gives him power. The victim, Maung A---, is a mature 17 year old non-ethnic Karen. Instead of heavily punishing the forest administrator, he [Maung A---] requests instead that people [authorities] teach him [the forest administrator] to learn from his mistakes so that he will not abuse his power again.

Land dispute

On July 24th 2017, I [KHRG researcher] received information about a land dispute in D--- village, Noh Ta Khaw village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District. On February 12th 2017, Naw[5] Eh La Htoo sold land to Saw E--- for 1,800,000 kyat [US$1,318.89].[6] However, this land was sold illegally because Naw Eh La Htoo did not possess a land title for the land. Naw Eh Lah Htoo has sold land illegally like this multiple times; however, as her son is a Karen National Liberation Army [KNLA] soldier, villagers have not previously attempted to stop her. [On February 12th 2017], she told Saw E---, “I will sell this land to you for 1,800,000 kyat [US$1,318.89].” Saw E-- replied, “I don’t feel confident about buying your land because it is in the village [the land is community land].” She replied, “You don’t have to worry about anything; I will be responsible for any problems that might arise. So just buy this land”. Therefore, Saw E--- paid her 1,800,000 kyat [US$1,318.89] for the land and then paid 200,000 kyat [US$146.54] to workers to clear the vegetation from this land. In total, the amount of the money that he spent was 2,000,000 kyat [US$1,465.38]. The villagers and village leaders reported this case to the KNU Township level leaders because the land that was being sold is community land. As Naw Eh Lah Htoo couldn’t solve this problem [did not have enough money to repay Saw E--- after KNU Township level leaders decided that the land sale was illegal] Saw E--- seized Naw Eh Lah Paw’s motorcycle and tractor as debt [with the support of the village community].