On November 24th 2023, a 36-year-old teacher from V--- village, Sa Tein village tract[2], Ler K’Saw Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, named Sayarma[3] P---, experienced domestic abuse committed by her 32-year-old husband, named Ko[4] G---. The survivor explained that her husband did not work, but he used to be a plantation worker until he started using drugs. He is addicted to drugs and the only thing he does is using drugs [opium and methamphetamines]. If he does not get to use drugs, he will find a problem [complaining and finding fault with Sayarma P---] to abuse and beat his wife. When she cannot give him money, he will kick her with his legs and punch her [, as it happened on November 24th 2023].
According to Sayarma P---: “My husband is not interested in working on anything for our livelihood. He is only crazy, addicted to drugs and asks for money from me to buy drugs. I have a 6-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter to feed so I cannot give him money every time he asks. So, he kicks me, punches me and beats me whenever I cannot give him money and he doesn’t have money to buy drugs. In our family, no one [else] is working so we don’t have money.” As they have two kids to take care of, Sayarma P--- cannot give money to her husband all the time and she needs to save money for her kids.
Ko G--- has abused her many times over the course of one year. [As the survivor explained,] she tried to endure this situation because she loves him and for her kids’ [benefit]. Every time her husband beat her, the people from neighbouring houses just watched: they did not come to stop him or help her.
She explained that she can no longer bear the domestic violence that her husband committed against her anymore. After the latest incident [on November 24th 2023], a KHRG researcher and [his] uncle helped Sayarma P--- by transporting her and her kids to her father’s house in Z--- Section of Myeik Town, Mergui-Tavoy District [which is under State Administration Council (SAC)[5] control].
Further background reading on the situation of gender-based violence in Southeast Burma/Myanmar can be found in the following KHRG reports: