The following Situation Update was received by KHRG in February 2018. It was written by a community member in Tanintharyi District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions.[1]
Tatmadaw Military Activity
In Beh Khoh Paw Plaw village, Tatmadaw Battalion 53 is extorting money from villagers who depend on rubber cultivation for their livelihoods. They intimidate workers into paying 20,000 kyat (US $12.61) as a monthly tax for each rubber processing machine.
Tatmadaw Battalion 53 has also confiscated wood from local villagers. They forced them to hand over planks of wood that they had logged in a neighbouring forest. Tatmadaw Battalion 53 subsequently used the wood to build their army camp.
Livelihood Challenges and Land Confiscations
The villages in K’Ta Kloh area depend on subsistence agriculture, betel nut and coconut plantations, logging and fishing. Because of difficult economic conditions, many people are migrating to Thailand to find jobs.
The Pyi Pyoe Htun Company has forced local community members to sell coastal lands. They are privatising the lands for the farming of prawns, crabs and fish.
Education
There are many barriers to education in Tanintharyi Township. Because many households depend on subsistence agriculture and small-scale fishing, they cannot afford to send their children to school.
Many villages only have primary schools. The schools in Blah Loh, K’Beh Chaw and T’Pa villages can accommodate students up to Eight Standard. There are no high schools that reach Tenth Standard in Tanaw Th’ree Township. Rural children in Southeast Myanmar face difficulties graduating from high school because of a lack of access to education.
Teaching Karen language is restricted in many villages in Tanintharyi Township. In some villages, Karen language is only taught outside of the normal school hours: from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM in the morning, and from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the afternoon. In other villages, Karen language classes are only held on Saturday. Many students find it difficult to learn Karen language because it is not taught during normal school hours.
Drugs
Drugs are present in almost all villages in K’Ta Kloh area. The main drugs being sold are opium, crystal methamphetamine, and ya ba.[2] Local community members believe that the Karen National Union and the Myanmar government should do more to handle the increase of drug trafficking.