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Karen Human Rights Group

Hpa-an Incident Report: Villager accused of burning BGF rubber plantation in Paingkyon Township, April 2016

Incident Report | Paingkyon Township, Hpa-an District (April 2016)

The following Incident Report was written by a community member in Hpa-an District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor local 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 in May 2016 along with other information from Hpa-an District, including one other incident report, one situation update, and 185 photographs.[2]

Part 1 – Incident Details

Type of Incident

Type of Incident

BGF rubber plantation was set on fireBGF rubber plantation was set on fire

Type of Incident

Date of Incident(s)

BGF rubber plantation was set on fire

April 13th 2016

Type of Incident

Incident Location

(Village, Township and District)

BGF rubber plantation was set on fire

C--- village, Noh Hkwee village tract, Ta Kreh [Paingkyon] Township, Hpa-an District

Type of Incident

BGF rubber plantation was set on fire

Date of Incident(s)

April 13th 2016

Incident Location

(Village, Township and District)

C--- village, Noh Hkwee village tract, Ta Kreh [Paingkyon] Township, Hpa-an District

 

Victim Information

Victim Information

Victim Information

Name

Saw[3] A---

Victim Information

Age

65

Victim Information

Sex

Male

Victim Information

Ethnicity 

Karen

Victim Information

Family   

Yes

Victim Information

Occupation

Farmer

Victim Information

Religion

Buddhist

Victim Information

Position

Villager

Victim Information

Village

B---

Victim Information

Name

Saw[3] A---

Age

65

Sex

Male

Ethnicity 

Karen

Family   

Yes

Occupation

Farmer

Religion

Buddhist

Position

Villager

Village

B---

 

Perpetrator Information

Perpetrator Information

Perpetrator Information

Name(s)              

Rank

Unit

Base

Commander’s Name

Perpetrator Information

Dee Ter Ler also known as Bo[4] Kyaw Hein[5]

BGF Company Commander

[Battalion] #1015[6]

Beside Ya Tah village

Hpah[7] T’Kaw (also known as Kya Aye)[8]

Perpetrator Information

Name(s)              

Rank

Unit

Base

Commander’s Name

Dee Ter Ler also known as Bo[4] Kyaw Hein[5]

BGF Company Commander

[Battalion] #1015[6]

Beside Ya Tah village

Hpah[7] T’Kaw (also known as Kya Aye)[8]

Part 2 - Information Quality

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

On April 20th 2016 I travelled in Ta Kreh Township and went to B--- village. [I] met with a villager from Noh Hkwee village tract. [I asked him] whether there have been any incidents that have happened here. He told me that the BGF [Border Guard Force][9] fined a villager in B--- village, Noh Hkwee village tract. They accused the villager of burning down the rubber plantation [which belonged to the BGF]. [After] I talked to him and noted down the information, I went to another place.

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

On April 20th 2016 I travelled in Ta Kreh Township and went to B--- village. [I] met with a villager from Noh Hkwee village tract. [I asked him] whether there have been any incidents that have happened here. He told me that the BGF [Border Guard Force][9] fined a villager in B--- village, Noh Hkwee village tract. They accused the villager of burning down the rubber plantation [which belonged to the BGF]. [After] I talked to him and noted down the information, I went to another place.

 

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

The information was provided by a villager from Noh Hkwee village tract.  [Censored for security] and knows all the information [about this incident]. The rubber trees were set on fire in the afternoon [of April 13th 2016] at 1:00 pm. No one knows exactly who set fire to the rubber plantation. Later the BGF commander accused the B--- villager of burning down the rubber trees.

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

The information was provided by a villager from Noh Hkwee village tract.  [Censored for security] and knows all the information [about this incident]. The rubber trees were set on fire in the afternoon [of April 13th 2016] at 1:00 pm. No one knows exactly who set fire to the rubber plantation. Later the BGF commander accused the B--- villager of burning down the rubber trees.

Part 3 – Complete Description of the Incident

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.

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.

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 rubber plantation was set on fire on April 13th 2016. The owner is Officer [Company Commander] Dee Ter Ler from the BGF. He is 50 years old. His rubber plantation was situated between C--- village and B--- village, Noh Hkwee  village tract. The villager was accused of burning down the rubber plantation. He [Dee Ter Ler] later fined the B--- villager, named Saw A---, who is 65 years old and from Noh Hkwee  village tract, Ta Kreh Township.

He [Saw A---] had gone to find vegetables with one of his grandchildren at 10:00 am and went through the farm [the rubber plantation]. They came back [from the rubber plantation] at noon but the rubber plantation was set on fire at [about] 1:00 pm. [Therefore] It was not possible [for him to have set fire to the rubber plantation].

If the owner had sold the rubber plantation he would only have been able to sell it for four million kyat (US $3,372.04)[10] but he [Saw A---] was fined five million kyat (US $4,215.05). The villagers attempted to appeal to him [the company commander] and he finally reduced it to four million kyat (US $3,372.04). He forced him [Saw A---] to pay [four million kyat (US $3,372.04)] within a month. That uncle [Saw A--] is not rich [and so] he faced difficulties [to pay the fine]. I currently do not know how that uncle is looking for the money. I will wait and see how the villager will pay the fine and I will report it later.

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 rubber plantation was set on fire on April 13th 2016. The owner is Officer [Company Commander] Dee Ter Ler from the BGF. He is 50 years old. His rubber plantation was situated between C--- village and B--- village, Noh Hkwee  village tract. The villager was accused of burning down the rubber plantation. He [Dee Ter Ler] later fined the B--- villager, named Saw A---, who is 65 years old and from Noh Hkwee  village tract, Ta Kreh Township.

He [Saw A---] had gone to find vegetables with one of his grandchildren at 10:00 am and went through the farm [the rubber plantation]. They came back [from the rubber plantation] at noon but the rubber plantation was set on fire at [about] 1:00 pm. [Therefore] It was not possible [for him to have set fire to the rubber plantation].

If the owner had sold the rubber plantation he would only have been able to sell it for four million kyat (US $3,372.04)[10] but he [Saw A---] was fined five million kyat (US $4,215.05). The villagers attempted to appeal to him [the company commander] and he finally reduced it to four million kyat (US $3,372.04). He forced him [Saw A---] to pay [four million kyat (US $3,372.04)] within a month. That uncle [Saw A--] is not rich [and so] he faced difficulties [to pay the fine]. I currently do not know how that uncle is looking for the money. I will wait and see how the villager will pay the fine and I will report it later.

Part 4 - Permission for Using the Details

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

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

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

The victim wants us to publish this information in order to make some change and so that this sort of issue will no longer happen in the future.

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

The victim wants us to publish this information in order to make some change and so that this sort of issue will no longer happen in the future.