The following Short Update was received by KHRG in March 2014. It was written by a community member in Hpapun District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions. It is presented below translated exactly as originally written, save for minor edits for clarity and security.[1] This report was received along with other information from Hpapun District, including five incident reports, four interviews, one situation update, 86 photographs and three video clips.[2]
On December 22nd 2013, I met with B--- village head, Saw D---, and vice village head, Saw F---, at the displacement area C---. They mentioned that B--- village is separated into two parts because of the Tatmadaw vehicle road. On the other side of the road, there are [number censored for security] households and there are about 50 people [who still live there]. Villagers [in the displacement area] do not have enough [rice] paddies, as there are not enough hill fields in the displacement area for them to grow crops. The ones [paddies] they do have are not in good production. This year, KORD [Karen Office for Relief and Development] has helped them with food for three months for each person, which is a relief for them. This aid is only to assist people because of insufficient food [supplies], not as emergency aid. If we have to look at the situation, there are many people [here] who face insufficient food problems. However, villagers themselves have to find ways and hire themselves out as daily wage labourers for their daily food. They dare not to go back and stay in their own place [B--- village] yet. Tatmadaw are still based in the area and are improving their camp and sending more rations and food supplies.
The villagers who provided this information know about ongoing displacement because they have suffered it, as they were there when it happened. The villagers gave us permission to use this information so that the leaders from both the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burma government will know of their situation, and that other places [in the country] and foreign countries will also know and find ways in order for them to be able to go back and live in their own places peacefully.