The following Interview was conducted by a community member trained by KHRG to monitor local human rights conditions. It was conducted in Mergui-Tavoy District on February 16th 2018 and is presented below translated exactly as it was received, save for minor edits for clarity and security.[2] This interview was received along with other information from Mergui-Tavoy District, including eight other interviews and 81 photographs.[3]
Ethnicity: Karen
Religion: Christian
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Maid
Position: Civilian
What is your name?
My name is Naw H---.
How old are you?
I am 23 years old.
What is your ethnicity and your religion?
I am Karen, Christian.
Where do you live?
I live in B--- village, Tanintharyi Township, Mergui-Tavoy District.
What is your occupation?
I work on a plantation.
What is the name of the man who raped you?
Hpa Tee [uncle] Ng’Htun.
How old is he?
He is probably between 40 to 50 years old.
What is the ethnicity of Hpa Tee Ng’Htun?
He is Karen.
What is his religion?
He is a Catholic Christian.
Where does that man live?
He lives in M--- village, K’Tah Kloh village tract, Tanintharyi Township.
Is he married or single?
He is married, he has a family.
Where did that man rape you the first time?
He raped me in his house.
When did he rape you?
He raped me during the rainy season [between May to October], in 2017.
Was that man’s wife at home when he raped you?
No, his wife was in Mergui-Tavoy town because she was taking care of her sick child.
How did you come to work for him?
In the summer, his wife hired me to stay with her at home [to help with the housework].
Did the perpetrator take any steps to remedy the situation on you?
When my health is getting poor and when I felt sick after he raped me [several times], he threw money down in front of me.
Did you report or ask for help from anyone regarding this case?
I verbally reported this case to Saw Hpoh Kwa, the local village secretary.
Has this case been solved?
No, this case has not been solved yet.
What challenges have you faced after you experienced this horrible incident?
I feel insecure and afraid.
Did [the perpetrator] threaten you in any way?
He threatened to kill me.
Why did he want to kill you?
He wanted to kill me so that he would keep his shameful act a secret, so that I would not reveal what he did to me.
Would you like to share how you felt after this incident?
I have social anxiety and I am afraid because I was mocked by my neighbours and threatened by the perpetrator.
Would you like to share more information about this case?
[Silent…]
This lady was raped by a man [several times]. She is now pregnant but the perpetrator does not take responsibility for this situation. Instead, he threatened this lady. Therefore, this lady feels shy and afraid. In this case, the authorities should take action as soon as possible so that there will be fewer cases of rape and sexual violence in the K’Tah Kloh area.
Could you tell me why you did not go back home after he raped you the first time?
I could not go back because he threatened me. He did not allow me to go back. When he attempted to rape me, he pushed me and told me that “when you go to court and people ask you or talk to you about putting me in jail, just say that I will compensate you with money.”
Thank you so much for sharing this information.