Tatmadaw soldiers’ activities

The KNU [Karen National Union][3] authorised Tatmadaw soldiers to transport rations by truck, but only to the Paw Khay Hkoh army camp. Tatmadaw soldiers were not authorised to transport rations by truck to other army camps located further along the road. They were only allowed to transport rations to their other army camps by horse and on foot. However, after constructing a vehicle road on January 18th 2019 from Paw Khay Hkoh and Kuh Hkoh army camps to Hpla Hkoh army camp, Tatmadaw soldiers used the constructed road to transport rations by truck to their other army camps. The [Tatmadaw soldiers serving as] road security guards trespassed into KNU-controlled areas. Because of that, the KNLA [Karen National Liberation Army][4] fired at the Tatmadaw trucks transporting rations to their army camps. In retaliation, the Tatmadaw soldiers fired large amounts of artillery into villagers’ farms close to Kuh Day and Ta Koo Der villages.

Displacement caused by Tatmadaw soldiers’ shelling

On January 25th 2019, the Tatmadaw soldiers transported rations to Paw Khay Hkoh, Hpah Ghaw Loh, Keh Deh Kyoh, Kuh Hkoh, and Hpla Hkoh army camps by [military] truck. The Tatmadaw road security guards fired large amounts of artillery that fell close to where Ta Koo Der villagers live in Htee Daw Hta village tract. To escape the artillery, 29 people from 4 households fled to Boo Day Forest. They returned on February 18th 2019.

On February 19th 2019, the Tatmadaw soldiers again fired artillery into villagers’ farms, this time close to where Kuh Day villagers live in Maw Hsah Hta [Place].[5] 341 people from 44 households fled to Theh Loh Kloh Nee [a local river] in Htee Kleh Htah Forest. They returned on February 22nd, 2019.

Other consequences of the Tatmadaw artillery shelling

In early 2019, heavy artillery shelling took place from January 18th to 20th, January 25th to 26th, and then again on February 19th 2019. The mortars that fell into villagers’ lands on February 19th resulted in the death of five buffaloes and the injury of two buffaloes. The five buffaloes that were killed belonged to five different villagers from Ta Koo Der, Tah Paw Der, and Tee Thoo Der villages.  Only one of the injured buffaloes was found; the other injured buffalo is still lost. No one knows to whom the injured buffalo [who is still lost] belonged. Villagers were also afraid to look for their buffaloes since the Tatmadaw have still not retreated from the area.

Impact on education

When the Tatmadaw soldiers in Hpla Hkoh and Kuh Day fired artillery on February 19th 2019, forcing villagers to flee to Theh Loh Kloh Nee [river] in Htee Hkleh Htah Forest, students were unable to return to their village for their exams so had to sit [take] their final exams in the forest.

Conclusion [Background information from the researcher]

Since 1975, the Tatmadaw soldiers have been based in Hpyah Ghaw, which caused some villagers who lived nearby in Hpla Hkoh village tract to flee from their village. At that time, they left their work and farms behind. In 1999, the Tatmadaw soldiers occupied more places and built army camps, which again caused villagers to flee from their homes. Villagers fled because they were afraid of the Tatmadaw activities. Even though the NCA [Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement][6] was signed between the Myanmar government and the KNU, the villagers do not dare return to their primary lands. Therefore, the villagers living there want the Tatmadaw soldiers’ army camps to move out of the area.