Type of Incident

Assault and attempted rape

Date of Incident(s)

April 23rd 2023

Incident Location

(Village, Township and District)

Kyeikdon Town (Section 1), Kaw T’Ree Township, Dooplaya District.

Victim Information

Name

Ma[2] A---

Age

19

Sex

Female

Nationality

Karen

Marital Status   

Married

Occupation

-

Religion

-

Position

Villager

Village

Kyeikdon Town (Section 1), Kaw T’Ree Township, Dooplaya District.

Perpetrator Information (Civilian)

Name(s)           

Occupation

Village

Maung[3] B---

Unknown

Kyeikdon Town (Section 1), Kaw T’Ree Township, Dooplaya District.

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

A KHRG field researcher interviewed the survivor and her mother.

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

The information was received from the survivor herself.

Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. For each incident, be sure to include 1) when the incident happened, 2) where it happened, 3) what happened, 4) how it happened, 5) who was involved, and 6) why it happened. Also describe any villager response(s) to the incident, the aftermath and the current living situation of the victims. Please use the space prepared below, and create an attachment if needed.

On the night of April 23rd 2023, Ma A---, a 19-year-old woman who lives in Section 1 in Kyeidon Town, Kaw T’Ree Township, Dooplaya District, and her seven-month-old baby were sleeping at home. Ma A---’s husband was not at home at the time. At around 1 am, Maung B---, her neighbour, came into her room with the intention to rape her. He opened the mosquito net where Ma A--- and her baby were sleeping and he gripped her tightly, grabbed her neck firmly and said that he would stab her to death if she tried to escape his grip. When Ma A--- managed to release herself from him, Maung B---’s hand pressed on the baby, making [him/her] cry loudly. Therefore, Maung B--- thought he may soon be discovered, so he ran away.

Since Ma A--- sleeps near her baby, she always leaves a candle light on when she goes to bed. As the room was brightly lit, it was easy for her to recognise her attacker’s face and identify him as Maung B---. Early the next morning, on April 24th 2023, Ma A--- went to the Section 1 leader’s[4] house and reported to him what had happened. After [informally] asking Maung B--- about the allegations, the Section leader refused to take action because Maung B--- denied he was guilty.

On May 2nd 2023, the Section leader called Ma A--- and her family members and told them to withdraw the case. Ma A--- did not want to, so she requested a permission letter from the Section leader to transfer the case to Karen National Union (KNU)[5] authorities [as her Township is outside of the KNU-controlled area and therefore beyond their judicial reach]. However, the Section leader did not provide her with the paper, wanting instead to refer the case to the local Border Guard Force (BGF)[6]. He threatened her, telling her [falsely; seeking to mislead her] that if she did not sign the referral letter to the BGF, she would lose the case. Therefore, she unwillingly signed and the documentation was sent to the BGF in May 2023. Since then [as of December 2023], the BGF has not acted on the information and the case remains unresolved.

Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided.

The survivor gave KHRG permission to use the information.