An Independent Report by the Karen Human Rights Group
Manerplaw, August 16, 1992

In the last week of April 1992, SLORC troops of 73 Regiment ordered all the following villages in Htan Ta Bin Township, Toungoo District to move to relocation sites. Those forced to move to Htaw Ma Aye had to move their rice to be stored in another place, Nat Ywa, which is 5 miles away from the relocation site. They can go and get their rice by cart in summer, but in rainy season they have to go on foot and carry back their rice. The villages relocated are:

At the same time, the following villages were ordered to move to the Toungoo-Mawchi car road and were ordered to go and build their houses there. They went and build their houses but they were certain that they wouldn’t be able to earn their living in the new place, so they went to the camp commander of Kler Lar army camp and paid him money to allow them to stay in their home villages. Thus far they have been successful in paying off the SLORC troops to allow them to stay, although they must keep up the payment. Kaw Thay Der village had already paid three times just to be able to stay in their village. The third payment alone was 20,000 Kyat. The number of times and amounts which other villages have paid is not yet available, although it is known that they have paid.

Villages which have paid the SLORC troops

* This was only one payment of 3 made by Kaw Thay Der village.