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The following Short Update was received by KHRG in June 2015. It 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 along with other information from Hpa-an District, including four incident reports and 23 photographs.[2]
Thein Sein’s troops [Tatmadaw], KNLA-PC [Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC)],[3] BGF [Border Guard Force],[4] DKBA [Democratic Karen Benevolent Army][5] and the KNU [Karen National Union] are based in T’Nay Hsah [Nabu] Township, Hpa-an District.
Thein Sein’s troops are based in T’Nay Hsah and Meh Pleh [villages] and Kaw T’Ree Town. The [Light Infantry Battalions (LIBs)],[6] which are [battalions] #548, #549 and #547 under the control of MOC [Military Operations Command][7] #12, are based in T’Nay Hsah army camp in Kaw T’Ree [Town]. The name of BGF [Battalion] #1016’s army camp is K’Lah Kon; it is based in Hser Boh Kon Loh Baw village tract. The BGF [Battalion] #1020 is based in Maw Naw Koo [village] and BGF [Battalion] #1019 is [based in] Hpah Kloo village tract. DKBA’s troops are based in Kaw T’Ree [Town] and Myawaddy areas.
Since the KNU and Thein Sein’s [Burma/Myanmar] government signed the ceasefire agreement,[8] the villagers are a bit freer to work on farms and cultivations and can travel a bit [more] freely. The forced labour [incidents] and the dangerous [planting of] landmines have been diminishing.
In terms of education in T’Nay Hsah [Nabu] Township, the situation of schools [is that they are] still running the same as before Thein Sein’s [Burma/Myanmar] government and the KNU [had signed the ceasefire agreement]. Some KNU schools, KNU-PC [KNU/KNLA-PC] schools, and many Thein Sein [Burma/Myanmar] government schools are located there. The KNU and Thein Sein [Burma/Myanmar government] have not finished their [nationwide ceasefire] discussions yet, therefore the situation of the schools is not stable. [In the past there were only KNU schools, but after the ceasefire has taken place, the schools which are funded by the Thein Sein’s government are also based in there],[9] therefore the situation of the schools is not stable because some teachers are from the KNU and some teachers are from the [Burma/Myanmar] government.
As for healthcare in T’Nay Hsah [Nabu Township], the sicknesses that the villagers [have experienced] there are only fever and malaria. If they get a serious disease they have to go to the hospital in Kaw T’Ree, Kruh Tu or Hpa-an [towns].
There are nine armed groups in T’Nay Hsah [Nabu] Township, Hpa-an District. They have no special activities. I will gradually let KHRG know if they [start] having special activities.