CHRO

Indefinite power of a Burmese army officer

Human rights violations in Chinland, and Burma as a whole, is increasing year after year. In 1988 the military took state power after a nationwide pro-democracy uprising in Burma. When the military took power,( by force,) they promise to held a free and fair election and transfer power to elected representative of the peoples. Even though the National League for Democracy NLD party and its allied won more than 85% of contested seats in 1990 election, the military still refuse to transfer power to elected representatives.

Instead of honoring the will of the people by transferring power to elected representatives, the military regime intensify human rights violations up on the opposition parties and the citizens to consolidate its power.

There was only one army battalion in Chin State before the military took power in 1988. At present as many as ten battalions are operating in Chin State. As a result of the increasing military operations in Chin State, Chin peoples have faced all kinds of human rights violations. Torture, rape, pottering, force labors, extortion of money, killings and long term imprisonment without a fair trial are frequently taking place in Chinland under the rule of military regime called State Peace and Development Council SPDC. The following incidents indicate how the military rule effects the life of the civilians in an ethnic inhabitant area like Chin State in Burma. These incidents are the result of a patrolling troop led by Major Khin Maung Ye. There are several major military operations performed by the SPDC regime in Chinland every year and as consequences, thousands of Chins people are seeking refuge in neighboring countries Bangladesh and India. Major Khin Maung Ye of Burmese army Light Infantry Battalion LIB 266 Haka, Chin State of Burma, took position as temporary commander of Lungler army camp.

Leading company 3 of the battalion, he started patrolling the areas in July 1999. On the 25th of August they captured Van Peng, Chin National Army and two other villagers at Pu Than Rawl’s house, Bungkhua Village, Thantlang township. At the same time Za Mang , chairman of Village Peace and Development Council of Fungkah village and two other villagers were also arrested, alleging them as supporters of Chin National Front CNF. All the captives are tightly chained and took them to Lungler army camp. They were tortured day and night in the camp. An eyewitness said, “Their condition in the camp is very bad. They could died or would certainly become disable persons”.

The patrolling troop arrested some other 32 villagers in Tlangpi village.

They are also accused of supporting Chin National Front and sent to force labor camp. These 32 captives are not allow going out side the camp, they are constantly forced to work in the road construction between Thantlang and Lungler army camp. The Soldiers tightly guarded them and they are beaten up every night by the army for not obeying their orders properly. The commander, Major Khin Maung Yee of Burmese army, demanded a bribe in exchange of their release. However, the villagers could not effort such a big amount of money because they are just a poor slash and burn farmers. Thang Zawl 52 and Van Peng 45 are the oldest men among these captives.

Villagers are not paid for their labour instead they were kicked, punched and beaten up by the Burmese army while working. Moreover, they had to bring their own tools and food to work for the army. As Chin people are mostly depend on slash and burn, shifting cultivation, it is the most important time(moon soon season in Burma from June to September ) to work on farm for the next crops. Even though the Burmese army knows very well the fact that it is the crucial period for the farmers to work in the farm, they still forcing villagers to work for the army. If they could not work in the most needed time, starving would certainly ahead in the near future.

A frustrated soldier defected

Frustrating of his superiors’ course of action on civilians, in July of 1999 Aung Thu, a Burmese soldier, defected his unit with a G-3 riffle to Chin National Army when a troop led by Major Khin Maung Ye marched from Lungler army camp to Tlangpi village.Village elders and some other villagers were held responsible for the defected soldiers and beaten up by the Burmese army.

All the arrested elders were taken to Haka (the capital of Chin State) police lockup and the rest 30 villagers were taken to Lungler army camp. All of them were forced to work in the farm (owned by army) and in road reconstruction. Among the arrested villagers Ngun Chawng 29 was taken to Thantlang army camp and kept in lockup. Any of Tlangpi villager dare to embody in village council members because they afraid of the military injustice treatment on the village elders. However, when Major Khin Maung Ye ordered Tlangpi villagers to form a new village council, the villagers have to obey the order in fear of his brutality. Thus, the village council was formed with four persons. Right after the village council was formed, the four elected members were summoned to Lungler army camp and detain for no reason.

(This kind of actions by the army is to create fear among the civilians in order to cut off the contact between the opposition groups and the people. This kind of unjust treatment on the civilians is practiced by the Burmese army in many parts of ethnic areas in Burma)

Kyat 80,000 Bribe saves a life

On 10th August a patrolling troop led by Major Khin Maung Ye arrived in Bungkhua village. As soon as they arrived to Bungkhua, they arrested Thawng Cung, (VPDC) president, and took him with his arms tied on his back to Lungler army base.

He was tortured for 9- days. When he could not bear his torment, he asked his family to arrange 80,000 Kyats. He was released from the army camp only after the money is bribed to Major Khin Maung Ye. He was hospitalized but had no money to buy medicine. As a farmer like Thawng Cung, his life is in full of adversities for the money that he borrowed and for his family living as he could not work anymore in the farm.(Note : In Burma, especially in the rural areas, the sick one has to buy the medicine from pharmacy by themselves. Nursing aid only is provided in most hospital but no medicine at all).

Forced labour

Major Khin Maung Ye, LIB 266, ordered the three villages: Saikah, Ruakhua and Ruabuk to present one person per family with their own tools and food in reconstructing road between Sopum and Sihhmuh village. The villagers have started reconstructing the road since 23rd September because they did not dare to resist the order. As most the Chin people are farmers they have no time to work in the fields.Escape in fear of arrest: Hre Ling and Sui Ceu had escaped to Bualpi village, Mizoram State of India when a troop led by Major Khin Maung Ye came to arrested them. The army accused them to be supporters of CNF. Later on, friends and relatives send their families to them on September 8. Sui Ceu has 4 children and Hre Ling has 5 children. They said ” It is not easy for us to depend on friends for our living in Bualpi”.

Shot on Sight (Innocent Chin civilian Killed By Burmese army)

Pa Mawng (28) was shot death by a troop of 30 soldiers led by Capt. Maung Zaw of Burmese army. Pa Mawng’s death resulted his younger brother arrest, alleging as member of Chin National Front (CNF) on groundless proof. The incident occurred on 12 August 1999.

A troop of Burmese army marching from Vanzang village to Thantlang town deliberately shot death Pa Mawng between Vanzang and Sopum village while he was coming back from visiting his relatives in Vanzang village. The dead body was left on the roadside. The villagers took the dead body and buried it. Capt. Maung Zaw ordered Sopum village headman to bring all Pa Mawng’s belongings to Lungler army camp. The Captain found out Pa Mawng’s green shirt missing. The headman explained him that his younger brother kept it as a remembrance.

Capt. Maung Zaw immediately summoned Pa Mawng’s brother to present himself at Lungler army camp. And the Captain alleged him to be a member of CNF and arrested him. It is said that no villager dares to travel alone.

CHRO’s Interview (Tragedy of village president )

Name : Thakulh Age : 28

Occupation : Chairman, Village PDC Cawnpi village, Falam Township

Nationality : Chin Religion : Christian

Marital status : married, 5 children

Date of interview : 29 September

Q. Why did you flee your village?

A. Van Siang Mang, a villager of Zawlte, and Cung Cung, a villager of Rulbu came to our village to request us to cook some food for 5 Chin National Army who would arrive to our village and Ngaltli village. Believing that we cooked for them, the two informers then reported to the SPDC army in Tuibual camp. On June 23, 1999, 8 soldiers led by Sergeant Major came to our village to arrest me. I escaped before they arrived to our village. I later came to know that they were SPDC informers and were paid money for it.

Q. How and where did you escape?

A. I desperately fled towards Tiphei village where a Police out post is stationed and after evading the post, I walked down towards Tio River, India border until I met some CNA who were on duty there. After spending three nights with them, I headed to Farkawn of Mizoram State, India..

Q. Do you have relatives at Farkawn?

A. Yes, my sister in law is staying there. I was sick for two-and-a-half months as the result of fear and had to be looked after by her. However, she also had difficulty of affording for my treatment as days went long.

Q. Do your wife and children suffer any kind of harassment for your escape?

A. My wife was threatened to arrest if she failed to find me and bring back. But she was excused after she, with the help of my relatives, gave a bribe Kyats 40,000 to the soldiers. However, it didn’t last long. The soldiers again asked her more money, which she refused them by denying that we have been divorced. They didn’t believe her and kept on demand money from her. She will also has to flee after all since she has no more money to give to the soldiers.

Q. How did you come to know about your family?

A. After a slight recovery from my illness, I secretly went back to my village at night a acompanied with my younger brother.

Q. How was your family situation during your absence?

A. They had no money at all. Since they could no longer work in the farm, they had nothing to eat. Moreover, the soldiers stole my wife’s sarong worth about Kyats 800 during the search in my house.

Q. How do you plan to do now?

A. If I return to my village again, I will definitely be arrested because the soldiers got my photo with them. I won’t dare to return because I have no money to give to the soldiers. I am thinking to settle in a safe place in Mizoram when I can take my wife and children. I am also aware that our subsistence will be too difficult in Mizoram since I usually fell ill of Malaria. The soldiers said that I would be killed if they caught me.

Q. Are there any other who suffer like you?

A. At present, each of the 40 villages in Falam Township are demanded Kyats 5000 for allegedly harboring and showing sympathy to CNA members.

Q. How do you think why the soldiers acted like this and how do you see this kind of attitude towards the villagers?

A. What appeared to be the main reason is that, the soldiers are so much afraid of the possible out break of mass revolt and that was why they used various kind of intimidation including arrest, assault and torture as a precaution. Moreover, the soldiers are now well aware that they have no support from the Chins and are jealous of Chin National Front CNF, who they know we sympathize. Having no sufficient ration and money has also compelled them to do everything to get money. Intimidation is a single means left for them, as they are very well aware that they have no public support.

Two Pastors arrested in Thantlang, Chin State

Chin Human Rights Organization CHRO received the following report on 20th September 1999 from reliable source. On 26 June, 1999, a soldier of the 266 Light Infantry Battalion led by 2nd Lieutenant Myo Kyaw, deserted his unit, near Tlangpi village.

The villagers of Tlangpi and of Farrawn, which is one of its neighboring villages, were in no way responsible for his defection, but the chairmen of these villages and other neighboring villages were arrested, taken to Haka, and severely tortured, for it. The chairman of Tlangpi village was given a twelve-year sentence with rigorous imprisonment and the others also two to three-year sentences, with rigorous imprisonment All the chairmen of the villages in Zahnak Tlang area of the Thantlang Township, Chin State viz. of Lungler, Bungkhua, Dawn, Ralpel, Saikah, Fungkah, Thangzang, Sihhmuh, Ruabuk, Ruakhua, have also been arrested by the same Battalion. Also all the chairmen of the “yatkwets” ( block ) in Thantlang Town, viz Pu No Lal Ling of School “Yatkwet”, Pu Van Hnun of Market “Yatkwet”, and Pu Ceu Hnin of TABC “Yatkwet”, have been arrested and tortured, and one of them, viz Pu Ceu Hnin of TABC “Yatkwet”was so severely tortured that all his front teeth were knocked out. A good civilian in Thantlang town, by the name of Al Bik, was also arrested, taken to the Camp of the Military Intelligence at Rung Tlang in Hakha, and has been kept in isolation, allowing nobody to see him. All these arrests were allegedly made on the flimsy evidence that they were in sympathy with the Chin National Front CNF.

When all these arrests and atrocities were taking place, the senior pastor of the Thantlang Baptist Church, the Rev. Biak Kam, who is over 60years of age, and the General Secretary of the Thantlang Association of Baptist Churches, the Rev. Thawng Kam, called a meeting as to how to negotiate with the military authorities in charge of the area and to make a request for their release. But before they could meet with the military authority, the military authority have them also arrested at night on September 7,1999, accusing them of calling a meeting without their knowledge or permission. They were sent away hastily and secretly by night the same night, onfoot,30 miles away, to the Military Out Post in Lungler village. They have been kept there. Nothing has been heard about them, as no one was allowed to see them; hopefully they were not tortured. These two Baptist pastors were almost arrested once at the time of the problem which arose out of matters related to erecting a cross on a hill west of Thantlang in January 1999 and it could very well be that they were secretly observed and shadowed.

Thantlang Baptist Church is the biggest church in Thantlang Township with a membership of over 3000 and Thantlang Association of Baptist Churches(TABC) is a full fledge association, with a membership of 44 village churches, under the Zomi Baptist Convention, which in turn is a full fledge convention under the Myanmar Baptist Convention, which is a national convention of all the Baptist Churches in Burma. There is a great fear that all of them would be tortured and their lives be in danger of death. All the men in Thantlang town have evacuated for fear of being arrested by the military.

INNOCENT CHIN VILLAGER SHOT DEAD BY BURMESE TROOP

Cin Khua Sei was shot dead by six soldiers of Burmese Light Infantry Battalion 269 Company 2, on September 1, 1999. The troop led by a sergeant ordered Cin Khua Sei and Thang Lian Thawng of Cauleng village to deliver a letter to a nearby village Darkhai. The soldiers ambushed the two villagers on their return to Cauleng.Thang Lian Thawng escaped the ambush unharmed, but Cin Khua Sei was shot at the waist and he died on the spot.

The incidence occurred at 2 km away from Cauleng at a bout 2 p.m. The body of Cin Khua Sei was taken by the villagers and buried at Cauleng, Tiddim Township, Chin State, Burma. The soldiers said that they mistaken them with the CNA activists, but the villagers believed that the soldiers shot the two deliberately. They did not find any reason that the soldiers would mistake the persons whom they must have recognized well when they assigned. The villagers had to keep silent about the death of Cin Khua Sei for their own safety. Cin Khua Sei, 40, was the sole person to feed his family.The eldest of his eight children is too young to work. The be reaved family is now in dilemma as to how they will survive.

The soldiers paid no heed to the demand of compensation for the death of Cin Khua Sei. Panicked by fear,Cauleng villagers no longer dare to go out of the village-even to their farms.

( Date of receiving report: 11 September 1999 )

A BUDDHIST MONK KIILED IN CHIN STATE

A Buddhist monk U Thunanda ( 41 ) was killed by a group of unidentified gun men near Tlangrua village, Thantlang township, Chin State on 9 October 1999. On 11 October 1999, Myanmar Information Committee ( the military government agency ) reported that Chin National Front CNF (CNF is underground armed Group fighting for restoration of democracy in Burma) was responsible for the killing of the monk.

However, Chin National Front denied the accusation saying that “it is a dirty trick of Military Intelligence Service” in apress release made on October 12, 1999. There are only two armed groups actively operating in Chinland; SPDC’s Burmese military and the other one is the opposition Chin National Front. Following the killing of the monk, 40 civilian have been arrested by the authority in Thantlang area. All Churches and a Monastery in Thantlang area are strictly guarded by the Burmese army.Chin community around the world strongly condemned the brutal killing of the Buddhist monk.

SPDC USED FORCED LABOR TO REPAIR ROAD
(Date of receiving report: 30th September 1999)

On 25/9/1999, Burmese army Company 3 Commander of 268 Battalion stationed at Tibual Camp, Falam Township ordered 20 villages along Falam-Rihkhawdar road to repair the road (which extends up to the Indian border). (See attached order)The number of laborers from each village ranges from 15to 30 depending on the size and the population of the village. They had to bring their own tools and ration for three days. They were not paid for their labor. The soldiers warned them that any village that failed to contribute “unpaid laborers” will be considered supporters of CNF, and that severe action will be taken against them. No village dare nor defy the order.

( Order Translation )

Impression of round seal of the 268 Light Infantry Battalion Company 3
Date 24/9/99
To
Chairman
Village Peace and Development Council
Hnathial village (Old)

Subject: Invitation for ” voluntary labor”

Regarding the above subject, you are hereby informed that you organize 15 adult men from your village to volunteer for the reconstruction of the motor road between Falam and Rihkhawdar, which was damaged as a result of erosion and heavy landslide during the monsoon. The heavy downpour had also caused flood that damaged bridges. Led by yourself, 15 volunteers from your village have to bring hoes, shovels,saws, harrows and other tools, which will be required for the road construction. You also have to bring rations for three days during your work. You have to reach Hmunthar village to notify yourselves by 28 September 1999. Defaulter village will be considered as active supporters of CNF and severe action will be taken for defiance of order.

Sd/-Company Commander

A new army camp in Lentlang

The villagers around Lentlang are now facing problems, as they do not have 800 kyats to give Myo Kyaw, the commander of Battalion 268, Company 2,based in Falam, Chin State. He made an order throughout the area that one person from each family must see him or pay the fine in his camp which he ordered the villagers to build on September 1, 1999. Many of the villagers were too busy to see him timely, as it was the crucial period for their farm works.

A STRANGE MONK AT RIHKHUADAR
(Place: Rihkhuadar, Falam Township, Chin State, Burma.)

Rihkhuadar, founded in 1942, is 70 miles west of Falam and 2 miles from Tio River (the border river between India and Burma), is by the beautiful heart-shaped lake Rih (3 square miles wide and 60 ft deep).Rihkhuadar is on the trade route of Burma and India. There is 150 acres of productive paddy field nearby the lake, which annually produces 15,000 tins of rice.There is a government High school at Rihkhuadar. The population of the twin village is about 1,400. All the villagers are Christians.

The Burmese Military Regime sent a Buddhist monk Baddandah Tan Wa Yah (43years) to Rihkhuadar in August 1997, for the project of building a pagoda which was started that year. The military regime sanctioned 5,000,000 kyats for the projects of two pagodas, Aungdawmu and Naga-yung Pagodas. Aungdawmu literally means”the Pagoda of Victory,” and “Naga Yung Pagoda” could be closely translatedas “the Mythical Serpent Pagoda or Pagoda of Dragon. “Aungdawmu Pagoda was built at a place where the Christians villagers worship God for many years. Naga-yung Pagoda also was built nearby Lake Rih, which also was intentionally built at an important traditional religious place of the native Chins.

Even though the building of the pagodas was projected and sanctioned by the military regimes, the army officials and the monk forced the villagers of Rihkhuadar and the nearby villages to build the pagodas continuously for months, without paying wages for their labors. The authorities provided nothing for the villagers, but the villagers had to supply themselves with their own food, tools and medicines. Some parts of Aungdawmu pagoda fell down in July 1999. The military regimes sanctioned another 1,000,000 kyats for the repair. However, the Buddhist monk, Baddandah Ta Wa Yah and the authorities forced the villagers again, for reconstruction of the landslide without paying any wages for their labors. The army officials and the monk shared the money.As the villagers were forced to spend months of their time and their labor for the repair of the pagodas, they don’t have time to work on their farms. The hope nothing for the harvest.

A Brief Biography of Baddandah Ta Wa Yah
His service in the religionis 4 Wa, according to the Buddhist naming of the service of the Sanga(Buddhist monk).

He was born at Hintaya (Henzada) township. He is believed to be a powerful officers from the Military Intelligence Service ( MIS) of the Burmese military regime. The villagers were in fear of him. His realname is hidden. In fact, the military regime frequently uses the armies as monks for intelligence service. That has been being the military tradition for many years. Baddandah behaves as if he is superior to Christian pastors. He would rebuke the pastors whenever he is not in a good mood. He be haves superior not only to the pastors and the villagers, but also to the Burmese soldiers, based at Rihkhuadar. The villagers are required to take permits from him to collect firewood and for cultivation. He has the priority and favor of higher authorities is such a measure that the authorities order private cars to stand by at the camp of the monk. The authorities never paid money or oil for using the car. This is the practice of the military regimes in Burma for more than 35 years. The monk, Baddandah, also involves even in case of forced labors and porters. He plays a role in religious leader as well as the military regime’s political (intelligent)leader.

He works with the armies and does whatever he wishes. He talks a lot like a comedian, but he has great powers in many places and influenced up on the armies. The villagers as well as the soldiers hate him for his filthy behaviors, actions and wrong doings,but no one is dare to correct him. It is predictable that he will do more bad things to the Chin Christians as long as the SPDC have powers in Myanmar and as long as he is in the Chinland. On his request the monk is sometimes supplied with young women by villagers and traders in exchange with some privileges. Some familiesare exempted forced labors and porters, for instance.(His practice indicates that he is not a true monk).

Traditionally,there has never been prostitution among the Chins. However, the prostitution,which the SPDC promoted in major cities like Rangoon and Mandalay, has spread also to the Chin people after the army officers lure young Chin women for something. The career of many young ladies is destroyed in this way.)

MEETING FOR VARIOUS KINDS OF WORKS

Captain Min Zaw, Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 55 (Ngapali battalion), No.3 company commander, based in Arakan State, took a position as camp commander of Shinletwa, Paletwa Township, Chin State on July 25 1999. On Sunday of 1st August 1999 he summoned a meeting of 9-village tracts in the area. Knowing the fact that Chin people are Christian and observe the Sundays, the army personnel intentionally summoned a meeting and forced the villagers to serve as porters on Sundays. In the meeting, they ordered villagers to build a house for the army at the center of every village around Shinletwa. The 9-village tracts to be completed within one month. In addition, they ordered villagers to deliver(4′ by 2′) mat and 8-pieces (18′ by 6′) of woods to build woodenboxes to the army camp before the end of September without fail. The commander fixed the price of chicken at 300 kyats per viss (about1.5 kg, actual price for one viss of chicken is Kyat 750). They ordered the villagers to deliver only hens since those are tastier than cocks.Capt. Zaw Min also restricted the villagers not to sell rice anywhere except to Sinbowah and Sinletwa villages where there are army camps. Rice is the sole commodity of the farmers for their earnings. He also made a restriction that no household in the village should sell rice more than three times ayear. The soldiers depend freely on the rice of the villages whenever they go for patrolling. Capt. Min Zaw made an order that 18 people, two each from the 9villages, must be reserved to serve the soldiers. Six villages have to serve, in a routine-wise, in the army camp for 7-days a week for emergency needs and to serve as porters. The villagers who serve in the camp have to bring their own food. The commander announced that anyone missing in the camp would cause a fine of 1500 kyats. Since the villagers were busy with their farm work they had to arrange the money by selling rice or cattle and pay the money to the commander. Now it is said that the commander is in full pocket with the money he took from the villagers. The commander also ordered the villagers to reconstruct the roads and clean even dried leaves and branches on the roads between villages. All the VPDC’s Presidents are forced to attend the meeting everymonth. The place of the meetings is 5-day walk (to and fro) from their own villageand all the expenses(including foods) are also incurred by themselves.

VILLAGES HEADMEN ARRESTED

Burmese soldiers arrested Salai Van Peng (25) and another member of Chin National Army, on August 25, 1999. It was after the two activists crossed the village of Bungkhua, Thantlang Township, Chin State that the Infantry No.226 of Burmese army, Lungler Post, made the arrest.The village council members of the nearby villages were also arrested on the same day in suspicion to have helped the CNA activists. Among those whowere arrested, Pu Zamang, 46, Pu Chum Ling, 55, Pu Lawm Ceu, 35, and Pu Lengkam, 40 were detained in Thantlang. They were the chairmen of the village of Fungkah, Bungkhua, Saikah and Ruakhua respectively. The Burmese soldiers also shot down two cows as the owner Pu Than Rawl escaped the arrest. Six families of Bungkhua and two of Saikah had to flee to Thingsai, Mizoram State of India, as they were informed that the soldiers were searching them in suspicion to help the activists.

EXTORT MONEY FROM VILLAGERS

A troop led by Capt. Myo Kyaw and Corporal Tin Ohn of company 2, LIB 268 regularly patrol in and around Khaikhan, Thuklai and Nginte villages in Tonzang Township, Chin State. Paupi said: Hoping to solve our hard living life I borrowed an amount of money with a high rate of interest and went down with friends to Khaikhan village to buy cattle (for reselling). On our half way of journey we met a patrolling troop led by Corp. Tin Ohn, the commander. There was a dump person among our group. He did not know how to answer in Burmese language the questions that the soldiers asked him. The soldier alleged a member of CNF and started beating him with their gun (G-3) butt, and took 10,000 kyats from him. Pu Suan was unable to walkor eat due to the beating. He was treated at home since they were too poor totake him to the hospital. He used to feed his family by a small amount of money he made by buying and selling cattle. Now he is unable to work or eat.Pa pau, a farmer, is 50 years old, and a father of 5 children and live in Kabalah village, Tonzang township.

Civilians held responsible for disappearance of army personnel
( Burmese soldiers tortured villages’ headmen in Chin State).

On 26/6/1999 a company of Burmese Army comprising of 34 soldiers ledby 2nd Lieutenant Myo Kyaw from LIB 266 stationed at Lungler Camp set off forLung Ding village from Lungler. On their way to Tlangpi village on 27/6/1999, one army personeldisappeared half way. Stunned by the sudden disappearance, the 2nd BattalionCommander Major Khin Maung Ye, then, led the search for the lost soldier.

According to a villager of Tlangpi, Pu LianMang (name changed), the Major heldTlangpi villagers responsible for the soldier’s disappearance, since the placewhere the soldier was believed to be disappeared was in Tlangpi area. Moreover, villagers from Dawn, Bung Khua, Zang Tlang and Tlangpi were forcibly taken to Lungler to construct road between Lungler and FungKah village without payment. The villagers had to give a total of Kyats300000 to the Major as a ransom for their release, with Dawn and Bung Khua contributing Kyats 120000 each and Zang Tlang village Kyats 80000. Unable to afford for the ransom, Tlangpi villagers are still beingheld at Lungler army camp and are being engaged in the forced labor. The Majoralso took control of the entire rations that the villagers had brought for themselves and gave them on a limited scale. The villagers had to stay hungry as they were given only 34 cups (small milk can) of rice for aday. Heavily guarded by the soldiers, the villagers are threatened that the entire villagers will be punished if anyone attempted to escape. All males in the village have been held and are now in the forced labor camp, as the soldiers are suspicious that some villagers might ran away whenever they arrived in the village. ” The villagers could have been released if they could pay the ransom. But the village is facing financial problems and still had to work”, said Pu Lian Mang. The work started from 5 a.m. in the morning till 5 p.m. in theevening. In a bid to block the soldier who was believed to be defected, from sneaking into India, ferrymen in two major routes to Farkawn and their ferries were confiscated.

Pu Biak Lawm, Pu Van Thleng and Pu Leng Ling were among the detainees who were taken to Hakha Army Headquarters and put in jail. They are yet to be released, as they have no money to bribe. The blockade of Tio river andabsence of ferry service had led to the drowning of Salai Tluang Sawmand Mai Siang Zi (school girls) who attempted to cross the flooded river on19/7/1999. The Chairman and members of Village PDC, all of them 8, are also arrested and jailed in Hakha prison on account of being responsible for the disappearance of the soldier. The members are Pu Tial Awr, Village PDC chairman, Pu Ral Lian Kap, Pu Hnok Kio, Pu Lian Kham, Pu Kap Lian, Salai Peng Thang and two other villagers. They were subjected to several beatings with baton on their feet. Because of these severe torture, they are now unable to walk. During the torture, the Chairman’s calf was pierced with a-4-inchheated nail at least 20 times that his feet were completely maimed. He had to be carried by other people with his hands tied up in the back whenever he was summoned to the Army camp in the hilltop. The fates of the eight victims are unpredictable. Other 7 members apartfrom the Chairman are likely to be able to release on giving bribes to the army authorities. None of them, however, cannot afford it and has to remain in jail .Tlangpi villagers are in dilemma as to how to deal with the 34 villagers being detained in Lungler camp, as well as the 8 village council members being jailed in Hakha and the two villagers drowned while crossing Tio River. They are still busy trying to collect the ransom money for the release of the Village Council members. There is still another major problem for civilians, landmines are being planted by the SPDC troops in areas like Leilet village in Falam Township and along the Mizoram borders of Thantlang areas. According to disclosure of residents of Thantlang township areas, a landmine was found during the month of February1999. Although the primary purpose of planting landmines in these areas is to prohibit the movement of Chin National Army, civilians are rather being impacted. It is estimated that as many as 30 landmines have been laid in the area.

Date of receiving report :23 July 1999.

Soldiers Extorted Domestic Animals in Falam Township

Name : Hrelian
Occupation : Farmer
Place : Lungpi, Falam township

A troop of 10 soldiers from LIB (268) Falam Battalion led by 2nd Lt. Khin Than was posted in Lungpi village of Falam township to collect fire woods for brick kiln. The soldiers ordered nearby villages Mangkheng, Rialti, Lungpi, Lungrang and Thlanrawn to provide two chickens per week to the soldiers without fail. Since the villagers can not afford to provide the requested chickens, they went to Falam and complained to the Battalion Commander. As soon as the Battalion commander received the complain, he sent a group of soldiers to the said villages. The soldiers entered village by village and took all the chickens ( no matter big or small ) by force. The villagers were pointed with guns when they tried to prevent them. Besides, the villagers were ordered to weave baskets to keep the chickens. After that the soldiers collected porters to carry the chickens that they had looted. PDCs chairmen from Lungpi, Mangkheng, Thlanrawn, Rialti and Lungrang villages went to the commander of LIB 268 and report the incident. However, the Battalion commander threatened them that the civilians have responsibility to feed the army and have no rights to complain or take any action on the army. If any body create trouble to the army, the whole village or town has to suffer.

Burmese troops terrorized Indian villagers

12 Burmese soldiers led by Sergeant Tin Oong (Ration Supply Unit) under company 2 commander, Lt. Myo Kyaw from Light Infantry Battalion(LIB)268 based at Falam, Chin State made their way to patrolling the Indo-Burma borders on 15 July 1999. During such operations the soldiers usually carried out brutal acts against the civilains. Pu Suan Do (name changed) and 5 other traders from Kui Thang village of Tiddim Township (Chin State) were at that time setting off for Mizoram State of India to sell 10 pigs and 18 chickens. These pigs and chickens were sold to Zote villagers of Mizoram State who received them at Tio River, which borders India and Burma. On hearing this news, the Sergeant immediately chased the Indian villagers who just bought the pigs and chickens up to one mile inside the Indian Territory and forcibly took one pig worth 20000 kyats, one chicken worth 1000 kyats in Burmese currency, and Rs.500 in Indian currency in cash from them. According to the Nu Biaki(one of the traders), the soldiers killed and ate a pig at FarTlang village in Tidim Township. The Mizoram public was enraged over the conduct of the Burmese troops looting and extorting money inside their territory. Making an excuse to clear suspected Chin National Army’s bases around the areas, the sergeant-led company had been carrying out extortion and confiscation. Such brutalities in the border have prompted the Indian Army and Mizoram armed police to carry out fresh operation against the Chin National Army, which has been leading armed resistant movement against the Rangoon government for democracy and self-determination for the Chins. It is being observed with great concern that the Chin peoples in these areas, who solely depend on selling livestock to Mizoram, will face severe hardship if the Burmese troops continue to commit intrusion and brutalities in the Indian side.

Date of receiving report : 23 July 1999

Civilians engaged in road construction as forced laborers

Date of interview : 4.7.99
Name : Ngun Hmung (Village tract chairman)
Age : 40
Gender : Male
Occupation : Farmer
Village : Khua Bung (A), Thantlang Township, Chin State
Nationality : Chin
Religion : Christian
Family member : 8 including 6 Children

By using the name of ” Border Trade between India and Burma” the military government of Burma, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), constructed roads merely for better links between army camps in the border areas. The junta forced the people to construct road between Hriphi army camp and newly constructed Vuangtu camp, which is 13 miles in distance. One thousands villagers from the surrounding 30 villages were working for this construction as forced laborers. Moreover, these laborers had to carry their own tools, equipment and ration supplies during the road construction, which lasted from 1st February to the first week of June. The soldiers guarded the laborers and threatened that the entire concerned villages will be punished if anyone from any village ran away from the work site. The laborers were forced to work from dawn to dusk and were allowed to sleep only by their respective work sites where the soldiers assigned them. No medical treatment was given to the sick during the construction. The army allotted the work to each village and the villagers were forced to finish their allotted work before the first week of June that started from March 23. Major Khin Maung Ye, from Company 2 of Hriphi Camp and 2nd Battalion Commander of LIB 268 stationed in Falam, was directed to supervise the construction. Known among his inferiors who helped supervise the construction were Sergeant Nyo Win, Corporal Win Kyiang and Corp. SoeMyint. Firing 5 or 6 shots in the air the Major would often threaten the tired laborers with dire consequences if they did not follow his instruction. Therefore no one dare to complain their tiredness and had to stay calm. Sometimes the laborers were even robbed of their rations such as rice, dried meats that they brought from the village. The soldiers also stole five hoes from the laborers, which were brought from ZaBung village. Moreover, 4 persons from each village along Thantlang and Hriphi were forced to carry an empty diesel tank (50 gallons-capacity) from one village to another – any group that could not carry the tank were punched and beaten. The age of the laborers from each village ranged from 67 years to 15 years, including school children. Among the laborers who worked in the road construction were 3 elderly men, over 65 years, 3 widows and 5 school children from ZaBung village; 4elderly men (around age 50) from Zephai village; 1 elderly man and 4 middle school students from Nga Lang village and people from different age group even children and some Christian religious teachers from Hriphi village. While working on the construction, Ni Awi, a 23-year-old youth, son of Nun Hei from Hriphi village fell off the wall of the road and broke his right arms. Ram Cung, a 17-year-old youth, son of Hei Mang received serious chest and back injuries from the same incident. No medical treatment whatsoever was given to the victims. The newly constructed road had crossed private farms owned by HramThang, Sui Mang, Lian Te and Hre Cem of Hriphi (B) village were destroyed. The farmers received no compensation so far. These farmers are likely to face serious difficulties in the coming year, as their farms were destroyed without compensation. According to a reliable information, despite reportedly sanctioning Kyats 500000 and 140000 worth diesel for bulldozer. However, nothing was spent for the construction, instead forced labor was used. After completing the construction the laborers were forced to work on the army farms.

Myanmar Christians flee to India alleging persecution

(Source : Rangoon Post)
GUWAHATI, India, Aug 20 (AFP)

More than 1,000 Christian tribal in Myanmar have fled across the border into India this month, alleging persecution by the military junta and Buddhist monks, church leaders said Friday. The Naga tribals, mostly from eight villages in the Sagaing district of northern Myanmar, crossed into the far northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, according to Reverend Zhabu Terhuja, general secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council. “Buddhist monks aided by Myanmar soldiers have been forcing the Christian Nagas residing in that country to convert to Buddhism,” Terhuja told AFP by telephone from the Naga capital Kohima. There are an estimated 20,000 Naga tribals in Myanmar. “Some Myanmarese Nagas are taking shelter in a border village called Pangsa following alleged persecution by the army,” said local police chief L.T. Lotha. “But there is no law and order as such due to the exodus,” Lothi said, Church leaders said the Naga Christians were being forced to close down their churches, which had then been desecrated or used as kitchens by the Myanmar army. Reverend Bonny Resu, secretary general of the Asian Baptist Federation said the issue had been taken up with the Myanmar Baptist Convention “so that they can apprise the government about the reports of persecution.” However, Buddhist leaders here questioned the validity of the reports. “Even if your father or mother accepts another religion, being a son you cannot force them to reconvert to Buddhism. So the question of converting Christians to Buddhism by force does not arise,” said Gyanpal Bhiku, a Buddhist monk and member of the Northeast Buddhist Federation.

Force to construct police station and army camp

Name : Zamulaage : 35
Gender : Male
Occupation : Farmer ( presently Chairman of Shiao village tract )
Religion : Christian
Family members : 6-Children

The police station in charge and army/company commander of Shinletwa, Paletwa township, jointly, forced the villagers to construct police station and army camp. The villagers were divided into two groups. One group was assigned to build police station and the other was assigned to construct army camp. Para village, Shewlike village, Yayitaung village, Gonepin village, Pondmao village, Kyupyahtin village, Pyiwa village and Khone village were assigned to build army camp. Under a watchful eyes of the guards the villagers were forced to work from morning 6:00 until 5: pm without taking rest. No medicine was provided for the sick from the authorities. At night the villagers had to sleep at the place where the authority had specified. The villagers were warned that anyone who escape from the work field would be severely punished. The villagers had no time even for bathing. “The two constructions simultaneously started in February of 1999. As our group could not complete the construction in February they told us to come back in March. However, I could not go back to the construction because I was busy with my farm works. So when I went for the meeting in the beginning of May, the commander questioned me why I did not show up in the construction work and I was kept under arrest ( kept in the army camp). I requested the commander to allow me to stay in the village because I was so uncomfortable to stay in the army camp” said Zamula. He also added, “even though the commander allowed me to stay in the village, I had to give my signature twice a day at the camp. Moreover, the authority asked me to pay Kyats 500 for the cost of papers and pens”.

100 Civilian men detained in the Church

On 26 June 1999 a Burmese soldier disappeared from a patrolling army unit enroute to Tlangpi village from Lung Ding village of Thantlang Township, Chin State.

The disappeared soldier was among the 34 soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 266 led by 2nd Lieutenant Kyaw Soe, based at Lungler army camp located north of Thantlang town near the Indian border.The soldier who was extremely exhausted due to hunger was left behind half way during the patrolling.

Upon noticing the disappearance on arrival at the destination village, the commander 2nd Lt. Kyaw Soe ordered a section of army to search for the lost soldier overnight. However, instead of searching for the soldier, the assigned soldiers met on the way with smugglers who herded cattle to be sold in Mizoram State of India and extorted Kyats 50000 from them.

On the next day the commander with his soldiers vainly headed for Farrawn village to find the soldier. They returned to Tlangpi and ordered the villagers to find the soldier. However, the attempt too proved to be futile. They returned to Lungler camp to report the matter to Captain Phyu Win, 266 Second Battalion Commander & temporary camp Commander who just arrived to the camp ahead of him.

Under the Command of Captain Phyu Win the soldiers again immediately went back to Tlangpi village.On 1 July 1999, the Captain forcibly ordered a total of more than 100 villagers, 40 villagers each from Lung Ding and Tlangpi villages, members of Village PDC of Tahtlang village and another 15 villagers from the same village to search for the lost soldier. Some villagers who were afraid of being forced to find the soldier had to go on hiding in the farm. Worried that those already taken to search the soldier will escape, the soldier kept them in a Church in Tlangpi and strictly guarded them outside.

The arrested villagers had to sleep without blankets and had to be fed by Tlangpi villagers. Despair of the search, the Captain finally ordered his inferiors to arrest every male in the village indiscriminately at midnight to clear trees and bushes around the cart way linking Lungding-Tlangpi-Farrawn. The villagers however dared not defy the order.

The lost soldier is still yet to be found and the villagers are facing immense difficulty as the incident coincided with the cultivation season by which they make their living. This forced labors by the army had badly affected the farm work of the villagers and they(villagers) are likely to face a new wave of crop shortage within the next years. The 100 arrested villagers are still in the army detention.

Village Life in Rural Chinland

The following interview is conducted in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh by a human rights monitor from Images Asia in February 1999 Name : Ral Lian ( not his real name) Sex : Male Age : 64 Ethnicity : Chin Relegion : Christian Occupation : slash-and-burn farmer From : Tahai village, then Rkhan village, Paletwa township Marital status : widow and remarried, 1 child from first marriage Interview date : 7.2.1999

Q : When did you arrive in Bangladesh? A : On 10.1.1998. We could not bear the Burmese Army. They always make troubles to us. We always had to go for forced labour. They always ordered us to give money, food, animals, whatever we had. And we always had to go as porters all the time.

Q : Is your village near an army camp? A : Shinletwa camp is about 6 miles away. The soldiers often came to our village. At least once a week, sometimes even twice or three times.

Q : Have they ever arrested or beaten anyone? A : No.

Q : What forced labour did you have to do? A : Portering and working in their camp. Wherever they went, we had to go along with them. We also had to work at the Shinletwa camp. If we could not go, we had to pay a fine of 300 Kyats.

Q : Have you been a porter yourself? A : Yes, of course. But because of my bad health, I didn’t have to carry any heavy load but I was always sent as a messenger to carry letters from the army to other villages, and to bring messages to people.

Q : What about your wife? A : In our village, the women, do not have to work in the army camp.

Q : How do they collect people for portering? A : First they sent an order to the village headman. If we do not go, they come themselves to collect us. When they demanded one person per family, we usually provided them with less people. There were 40 families in our village, so we provided 30 porters, and the other 10 people stayed at home. We could not send every family every time! But those who did not go had to pay for that.

Q : How long were the portering duties? A : Generally for 3 or 4 days. When they called us to work at their camp, they ordered us to build one house. If our villagers could complete the house within one day, then they could go home.

Q : How often were the people called? A : I cannot count how many times we had to go. If needed, we had to go twice a week. If they get information that some opposition groups are operating into the border area, then we must go along with them as far as the Bangladesh or the India border. It is difficult to say how often. It really depends.

Q : Were you often called as a messenger? A : Yes, all the time. I had to go twice or 3 times a week to the army camp. Back and forth between the camp and our village.

Q : When did these problems start? A : Since 1988.

Q : What did the Burmese Army do in your village? A : They demanded us chickens, pigs. We have to give them according to their demand. They usually requested a fixed amount. We had to provide them with 6 kg of meat per month. If we could not provide 6kg of chicken, then we had to give them pork meat. And if we couldn’t, they even demanded cattle meat. They never paid for that. But we had to pay money as labour fees when we could not go to work for them.

Q : Do the opposition groups also collect taxes? A : Yes, of course. AA, the Khumi party and CNF were all collecting money in our village. A demanded 300 Kyats per year and per family. CNF, 100 or 200 Kyats, according to the situation. If we requested them to reduce the amount, they would agree. But the Khumi party always collected money at random. We cannot say per week, per month or per year. Every time they came to our village, they demanded money.

Q : Is it the combination of all these extortions that is so hard for you? A : In Tahai, our old village in upper Paletwa, every time the opposition collected money, the Burmese Army came and fought with them. In 1996, we left Tahai because of all these problems. We walked for 3 days and moved to Ra Khan [near the border], at least there was no fighting. There was a little more security because the CNF soldiers protected us.

Q : So, where did you have to do the portering and camp labour? A : The labour situation was the same in both places. The taxcollections were more in Tahai. The situation in Tahai was very serious. Tahai is empty now. We fled to Rakhan and other people went to stay in Anu Tlang.

Q : Did the army order to move? A : No. The army did not order, but we were afraid and we left.

Q : What happened to Rakhan now? A : Some people are remaining there. I fled again because the soldiers always ordered me to be messenger and my health is not good. I could not walk all the time. That is why we came here.

Q : Tell me about Tahai. Did you have a school and a clinic there? A : There were 25 houses, including Chin and Khumi. We had a school up to 4th Standard [Primary school]. It was a self-supported school, not a government school. There was no clinic. In Tahai, if someone was sick, we had to go to Turuai, 14 miles away, or about 6 hours’ walk. In Rakhan we had to go to Shinletwa, 6 miles away.

Q : Could you carry some of your belongings? His Wife : No, only one basket that I carried alone. [Ral Lian can hardly walk and is unable to work. His wife is supporting the couple by doing day labour]. The few things you see in our house have been given to us. We didn’t even have a tool to work in the field. I have nothing else to say. You can see by yourself!

The Plight of Burma’s Women Refugees in India
( Source: Rangoon Post )

Thousands of refugees from western and north-western Burma still remain in terribly poor conditions through-out the Chittagong Hills and in India. Many women are finding jobs as live-in maids, nanies etc. These jobs have no only found them income, but also beatings, rapes, and hundreds of un-wanted pregnancies.

Many can not report the rapes and beatings fearing both that they will loose their job, but many are illegal and would likely be deportedback to Burma where they could be put into slave labor, robbed or raped by the military SPDC forces. What do these people do? Who will help them. For now, no one can help … or will help in India.

100 Civilian men detained in the Church

On 26 June 1999 a Burmese soldier disappeared from a patrolling army unit enroute to Tlangpi village from Lung Ding village of Thantlang Township, Chin State.

The disappeared soldier was among the 34 soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 266 led by 2nd Lieutenant Kyaw Soe, based at Lungler army camp located north of Thantlang town near the Indian border.The soldier who was extremely exhausted due to hunger was left behind half way during the patrolling.

Upon noticing the disappearance on arrival at the destination village, the commander 2nd Lt. Kyaw Soe ordered a section of army to search for the lost soldier overnight. However, instead of searching for the soldier, the assigned soldiers met on the way with smugglers who herded cattle to be sold in Mizoram State of India and extorted Kyats 50000 from them.

On the next day the commander with his soldiers vainly headed for Farrawn village to find the soldier. They returned to Tlangpi and ordered the villagers to find the soldier. However, the attempt too proved to be futile. They returned to Lungler camp to report the matter to Captain Phyu Win, 266 Second Battalion Commander & temporary camp Commander who just arrived to the camp ahead of him.

Under the Command of Captain Phyu Win the soldiers again immediately went back to Tlangpi village.On 1 July 1999, the Captain forcibly ordered a total of more than 100 villagers, 40 villagers each from Lung Ding and Tlangpi villages, members of Village PDC of Tahtlang village and another 15 villagers from the same village to search for the lost soldier. Some villagers who were afraid of being forced to find the soldier had to go on hiding in the farm. Worried that those already taken to search the soldier will escape, the soldier kept them in a Church in Tlangpi and strictly guarded them outside.

The arrested villagers had to sleep without blankets and had to be fed by Tlangpi villagers. Despair of the search, the Captain finally ordered his inferiors to arrest every male in the village indiscriminately at midnight to clear trees and bushes around the cart way linking Lungding-Tlangpi-Farrawn. The villagers however dared not defy the order.

The lost soldier is still yet to be found and the villagers are facing immense difficulty as the incident coincided with the cultivation season by which they make their living. This forced labors by the army had badly affected the farm work of the villagers and they(villagers) are likely to face a new wave of crop shortage within the next years. The 100 arrested villagers are still in the army detention.

Land Confiscation

According to CHRO field monitor, 6000 acres cultivatable land in Chin State, managed by Haikhawl village (Haikhawl is a Chin Village in Sagaing Division and the land is inside Chin State) was confiscated by the Burmese military in 1997. And now the villagers are paying a very high price Kyats 50,000/- per house hold to get back their land. There are more than 200 house hold in Haikhawl village.

In 1992- 93, the then SLORC was logging in the junction of Chin State and Sagaing Division. Thus all the teak( forest ) reserves in the area were cleared, mostly inside Chin State. After the forest was cleared cut, the authority tried to re-plant trees in the area. However the plan was not successful due to corruption, and after making efforts for two three times they gave up the plan. So, the land was lying in vain.

Since the land have fertile soil and was lying in vain, the villagers asked permission from the authority to make the virgin land into cultivation land. They got permission from the authority. In this way the villagers turned 6000 acres of virgin land into cultivation land. When the transformation of the cleared land to cultivatable land was in progress, the Burmese military Battalion 228 based in Kalay Myo confiscated all the land in 1997 in the name of Land Reform Acts and made it their own. The military tried to cultivate by using convicts labourers and soldiers. But they were not successful due to malaria epidemic and many other hardship. Thus, the military had to give up the land for the second time.

The villagers were reluctant to see a vast expanse of land with fertile soil lying in vain. So that they approached the SPDC officer whether there is any possible way to get back the land which they had invested much of their labours. The officer replied them that if they could pay Kyats 50,000 /- per house hold, he will approach the case to the higher authority. Thus the villagers collected Kyats 50,000/- per house hold and gave it to Falam District Peace and Development Council chairman. There are more than 200 house holds in Haikhawl village which is about10 miles from Kaley Myo.

Collecting Cane Sticks From Villagers for Army
Name : Ngo Sa Age : 45 Gender : Male Religion : Christian Occupation : Farmer / vallage in charge of Tlaupi village Family members : 8 members(6 children, husband and wife)

Major Hla Ko Oo from LIB 740 ( Myaut Oo battalion ) of Arakan State was appointed as the company commander of Shinletwa army camp in Paletwa township, Chin State. He called the villages in the area to attend the meeting every month. In Shinletwa area there are 9 village tracts: Para tract, Shewlake, Ponemoo, Gonepyine, Shiao, Patheinplan, Maobin, Sineowa and Shinletwa.

In January of 1999 Major Hla Ko Oo, camp commander, summoned villages’ Chairmen and Secretaries of the 9 village tracts for a meeting. He ordered to bring 1,500 cane sticks from each village tract to the army camp in February. The total number of 13,500 cane sticks had to be sent by the 9 village tracts.

The canes were carried through riverine route to Akyap and sold them at 50 Kyats per cane.They were not paid for their labors at all.They just did it for the army’s profit. The forest where the cane plants are available is very far away from the village, and therefore they were not able to get them. Since the villagers are very poor, they had to sell their domestic animals and even rice which they kept for themselves to pay the army because they were not able to provide the canes which the army demanded. “That’s why I paid Kyats10,000 which I collected from the villagers for 500 cane at the rate of Kyat 20 per cane to company commander on 22 March 1999″ said Mr. Ngo Sa, the incharge of Tlaupi village . The consequence of such kind of inhuman treatment by the army, the villagers now have faced shortage of food for the year to come

In the end part of March 1999, Major Hla Ko Oo was transfered and Capt. Than Naing Oo from LIB 233 Bothitaung Battalion replaced him as company commander. Capt. Than Naing Oo followed the footsteps of the previous commander. He summoned for a meeting every month. “He ordered us to give Kyats 4,000 instead of 200 canes. So I went to the army camp and paid it. A total which I paid was Kyats 14,000” said Mr. Ngo Sa.

Village Life in Roral Chinland

The following interview is conducted in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh by a human rights monitor from Images Asia in February 1999 Name : Ral Lian ( not his real name) Sex : Male Age : 64 Ethnicity : Chin Relegion : Christian Occupation : slash-and-burn farmer From : Tahai village, then Rkhan village, Paletwa township Marital status : widow and remarried, 1 child from first marriage Interview date : 7.2.1999

Q : When did you arrive in Bangladesh? A : On 10.1.1998. We could not bear the Burmese Army. They always make troubles to us. We always had to go for forced labour. They always ordered us to give money, food, animals, whatever we had. And we always had to go as porters all the time.

Q : Is your village near an army camp? A : Shinletwa camp is about 6 miles away. The soldiers often came to our village. At least once a week, sometimes even twice or three times.

Q : Have they ever arrested or beaten anyone? A : No.

Q : What forced labour did you have to do? A : Portering and working in their camp. Wherever they went, we had to go along with them. We also had to work at the Shinletwa camp. If we could not go, we had to pay a fine of 300 Kyats.

Q : Have you been a porter yourself? A : Yes, of course. But because of my bad health, I didn’t have to carry any heavy load but I was always sent as a messenger to carry letters from the army to other villages, and to bring messages to people.

Q : What about your wife? A : In our village, the women, do not have to work in the army camp.

Q : How do they collect people for portering? A : First they sent an order to the village headman. If we do not go, they come themselves to collect us. When they demanded one person per family, we usually provided them with less people. There were 40 families in our village, so we provided 30 porters, and the other 10 people stayed at home. We could not send every family every time! But those who did not go had to pay for that.

Q : How long were the portering duties? A : Generally for 3 or 4 days. When they called us to work at their camp, they ordered us to build one house. If our villagers could complete the house within one day, then they could go home.

Q : How often were the people called? A : I cannot count how many times we had to go. If needed, we had to go twice a week. If they get information that some opposition groups are operating into the border area, then we must go along with them as far as the Bangladesh or the India border. It is difficult to say how often. It really depends.

Q : Were you often called as a messenger? A : Yes, all the time. I had to go twice or 3 times a week to the army camp. Back and forth between the camp and our village.

Q : When did these problems start? A : Since 1988.

Q : What did the Burmese Army do in your village? A : They demanded us chickens, pigs. We have to give them according to their demand. They usually requested a fixed amount. We had to provide them with 6 kg of meat per month. If we could not provide 6kg of chicken, then we had to give them pork meat. And if we couldn’t, they even demanded cattle meat. They never paid for that. But we had to pay money as labour fees when we could not go to work for them.

Q : Do the opposition groups also collect taxes? A : Yes, of course. AA, the Khumi party and CNF were all collecting money in our village. A demanded 300 Kyats per year and per family. CNF, 100 or 200 Kyats, according to the situation. If we requested them to reduce the amount, they would agree. But the Khumi party always collected money at random. We cannot say per week, per month or per year. Every time they came to our village, they demanded money.

Q : Is it the combination of all these extortions that is so hard for you? A : In Tahai, our old village in upper Paletwa, every time the opposition collected money, the Burmese Army came and fought with them. In 1996, we left Tahai because of all these problems. We walked for 3 days and moved to Ra Khan [near the border], at least there was no fighting. There was a little more security because the CNF soldiers protected us.

Q : So, where did you have to do the portering and camp labour? A : The labour situation was the same in both places. The taxcollections were more in Tahai. The situation in Tahai was very serious. Tahai is empty now. We fled to Rakhan and other people went to stay in Anu Tlang.

Q : Did the army order to move? A : No. The army did not order, but we were afraid and we left.

Q : What happened to Rakhan now? A : Some people are remaining there. I fled again because the soldiers always ordered me to be messenger and my health is not good. I could not walk all the time. That is why we came here.

Q : Tell me about Tahai. Did you have a school and a clinic there? A : There were 25 houses, including Chin and Khumi. We had a school up to 4th Standard [Primary school]. It was a self-supported school, not a government school. There was no clinic. In Tahai, if someone was sick, we had to go to Turuai, 14 miles away, or about 6 hours’ walk. In Rakhan we had to go to Shinletwa, 6 miles away.

Q : Could you carry some of your belongings? His Wife : No, only one basket that I carried alone. [Ral Lian can hardly walk and is unable to work. His wife is supporting the couple by doing day labour]. The few things you see in our house have been given to us. We didn’t even have a tool to work in the field. I have nothing else to say. You can see by yourself!

The Plight of Burma’s Women Refugees in India
(Source: Rangoon Post)

Thousands of refugees from western and north-western Burma still remain in terribly poor conditions through-out the Chittagong Hills and in India. Many women are finding jobs as live-in maids, nanies etc. These jobs have no only found them income, but also beatings, rapes, and hundreds of un-wanted pregnancies.

Many can not report the rapes and beatings fearing both that they will loose their job, but many are illegal and would likely be deportedback to Burma where they could be put into slave labor, robbed or raped by the military SPDC forces. What do these people do? Who will help them. For now, no one can help … or will help in India.

PASTORS ARRESTED IN CHINLAND

Christian persecution is on the rise in Burma .The Military authorities have pulled down a cross put up to commemorate 100 years of Christianity among the Chin people.

They also arrested and interogated 26 pastors ( and Church elders ). The gospel was brought to the area in 1899 by American Baptist missionaries.Since then, almost the entire Chin population have become believers.

To commemorate the centenary of Christianity in their homeland the people of Thantlang put up a cross on their hill. The Burmese Army ordered them to pull it down. When they refused, soldiers arrested six pastors and destroyed the cross.

The people then stage a 24hr-prayer vigil effectively a general strike in their homes. The army promptly cut the phone lines and arrested 20 more pastors ( Church Elders ) for interrogation.

Chin believers in America have stage protest outside the Myanmar Embassy in Washington. They called on the military regime to stop intimidating and arresting Christians and to replant the crosses they have pulled down.

It’s the latest in along line of acts a gainst the Chin people by the Buddhist military authorities. Churches have been turned into army camps, pastors have been beaten, and Christians have been forced to register as Buddhist in a census.

A police directive in 1992 demanded that the authorities oppose the spread of the Christian religion in every family, fight and oppose the preaching of Christian in every place, and “fight”the Christian religion by both soft and cruel methods. They have even taken Christian children and initiated them as Buddhist novices in a monastery. In some places the persecution and intimidation has been so intense that entire villages have fled to India to seek sanctuary.

Almost 90 percent of the Burmese people are Buddhist. Christians from the largest religious minority with 6.5 percent are professing faith in Jesus. Yet among the chin, 90 percent are Christians. Neither Buddhism nor Christianity is the natural religion of Burma. The success of the Christian faith among the Chin is due in part to the native religious belief in one God who is the guardian of the universe and an afterlife.

What is happening to the chin is an extension of the forced Burmanisation and ethnic cleansing taking place in the country. The Christian Karen and Karenni have also been targeted for persecution. Yet according to the Burmese constitution ”the State shall not make any discrimination on the ground of religious faith or belief'”. The Universal declaration of Human Rights guaranteeing freedom of religion is a significantinternational standard that one would hope all countries would aspire to. ChinChristian leaders in exile in America say junta is deliberately trying to provoke trouble to justify their military presence in Chin territory.They believe the army is trying to stoke up an insurgency to provide the excuse to hold on to power indefinitely.

Chin leaders say the way to combat oppressionis with tolerance and forgiveness. They are calling on the junta to withdraw their arm forces from the Chin State and stop murder, rape, and robbery of civilians, along with the practice of forced labor, which is a form of modern day slavery.

Forced labor In Thantlang, Chin State

The Burmese army in the Thangtlang area, Chin State, continuously forced the villagers including men and women, the old and young, the pastors, the teachers and students without attending school, to build the car road (50 miles long) between Vuangtu village and Thantlang town from dawn to 11:00 Pm without a rest, except the times of lunch and dinner. The army officers ordered them “to complete the road before the coming monsoon season that starts normally in the end of May.” Nothing is provided for the villagers.

A very tired man, Pa Za Kung, from Vomkua village, who took a rest in a moment, was beaten and killed on the spot by the army on 5/5/99, on account of taking rest without permits from the army. Another man, aschool teacher of Salen village, was beaten by the army and sent to the hospital for treatment who is in a serious condition.

On 11/5/99, the forced labors were ordered to explode (dynamite) the rocky road. After that they were forced to pick up the stones on the road while the stones have been being rolling down on the road from ( above ) the high rock. Villagers explained the army to pick up then stones when the stones are in normal condition but the army refused, beat and forced them again to pick up the stones. The rolling stones, therefore, hit and pressed one man from Vomkua villages, and each two perosons from Ze Phai and Hriphi villages. Their friends saw and went to rescue them but the army ordered not to rescue them, rather they said, ” Don’t help them, if they are killed by the stones it is for the country.” The army beat and forbid not to rescue the persons those who are under the pressure of the rocks. “All were seriously injured and sent to the hospital who are now in serious conditions,” said by our reporters.

Today, 28 families of Ze Phai village deserted their homes and villages, and went to India where they are living as refugees due to forced labors, human right violations and difficult living .

CHIN HUNGER STRIKERS SENT TO JAIL IN NEW DELHI
Source: MIZZIMA News Group

Nine Burmese refugees who went on a hunger strike on March 22nd in front of UNHCR offices in New Delhi were sent to Tihar Central Jail. The strikers were arrested by police a second time on March 25th when they returned to make their silent protest against the rejection of their claim to refugee status.

They appeared in court and were represented by Rajesh Talwar, the Legal Counsel of the South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre ( SAHRDC ). The refugees were formally charged under Section 14 of the Foreigners’ Act of 1946 with illegal entry into India and were sentenced to be held in legal custody. Under the act, they could be given a maximum 3 months in jail after which they would face deportation back to Burma.

The youthful refugees, between the ages of 16 and 27, mostly from Chin State in Burma, crossed the Indo-Burma border areas about a year ago to take refugee in India due to repressive measures of the military regime in Burma. They applied to the UNHCR office in New Delhi for refugee status but their cases were rejected.

The strikers were taken away by police on March 24 from a roadside platform where they were lying in front of the UNHCR office but were released later the same evening. They returned to their post the next morning.

In a letter to the Chief of Mission of the UNHCR, they said they preferred to die in front of UNHCR office in Delhi rather than go back to Burma where they would be imprisoned or killed by the military regime.

In reply, the UNHCR warned the refugees to call off their strike saying that police intervention would be called for, should they refuse to do so. It had examined their cases, the UNHCR said, and found no grounds to recognize them as refugees. Meanwhile, in a letter directed to the UNHCR, the General Secretary of India’s Samata Party, Ms. Jaya Jaitly, asked the UN refugee organization to review the cases of the nine. She said Samata had been providing sympathy and support on a purely humanitarian basis to refugees who had come to India to escape jail or death in Burma. Ravi Nair, Executive Director of the SAHRDC, said that his organization would challenge the case of the arrested Burmese refugees as well as the 1946 Foreigners’ Act in Supreme Court of India. He plans to organize an international campaign to question the UNHCR’s unwillingness to address the problems of the Burmese asylum seekers in India.

CAUGHT IN A CROSSFIRE – VILLAGE LIFE IN PALETWA TOWNSHIP

The following interviews were conducted in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh by a human rights monitor from Images Asia in February1999. These Chin villagers interviewed came from 3 villages in Paletwa township, Southern Chin State: Khan Tlang, Lung Phum and Tahai.

They all fled to Bangladesh during the first half of 1998.Several armed opposition groups are active in that area and as a result the Burmese Army is carrying out a brutal counter insurgency programme against the civilian population. Excessive forced labour, portering and extortions are systematically imposed on the villagers. At the same time, these villagers have to pay taxes to the opposition groups. In this region the tax burden is especially heavy as several ethnic opposition armies, Chin and Rakhine ( Arakanese ), are operating and they are all targetting the same villages for funds. Those villagers are caught in a crossfire. Ironically it is because they provide funds to the “insurgents” that the Burmese Army conduct such harsh retaliation campaigns. Their communities and livelihoods being destroyed, they have no choice but to abandon their villages. Many families seem to move first to the border area, becoming internally displaced. As the situation is not substantially better along the border, they gradually cross the international border and take shelter in the Mizoram State of India or the Chittagong Hill tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh. It is estimated that between 500 and 1,000 Chin refugees are scattered in the Hill tracts in Bangladesh and are surviving in difficult conditions. A larger number have chosen to escape to Mizoram where it is easier to mingle ethnically and linguistically.

Story-1
Name : “Zing Par” (not her real name)
Sex: Female
Age: 41
Ethnicity: Chin
Religion: Christian
Occupation: Slash-and-burn farmer
From: Khan Tlang village, Paletwa Township
Marital status: Married with 3 children (2 daughters and one son) Her husband is sick and cannot work, she supports the family alone
Interview date: 5.2.1999

Q : When did you arrive here?
Zing Par : We fled our village because we had to suffer too much. We were tortured by the Burmese Army! They forced us to work for them all the time. Even, we, the women and the girls, were forced to work in their camp, while they took our husbands and all the men as porters during their patrol. When our husbands went as porters, they didn’t receive any food. There is an army camp in Khan Tlang. We don’t know which battalion, but their headquarters are in Paletwa. We, the women and children, were called to cut grass in their camp for the whole day, everyday. They didn’t give us any food, nor any wages for our labour. We didn’t get anything from the army. Moreover, they collected rice and money from us. The Burmese soldiers are living off the people. We could no longer endure this unbearable situation, so we decided to leave Khan Tlang and flee to the border. We stayed in a village there for a while in 1997 [on the Burma side of the border]. One night in February 1998, we were informed that the army had surrounded our place. All the villagers decided to run away secretly. We couldn’t carry anything. We fled with only the clothes that we were wearing and with our children. It was night time. The army was chasing us and fired at us. The next morning we crossed the border just before the soldiers caught up with us. Here is my husband. He is a sick man. He is suffering from malnutrition because the army always called him as a porter and they never gave him any food [he is very thin and cannot walk properly].He was suffering so much. That is why he became like this. Because of the army!

Q : Did all the villagers from Khan Tlang flee?
Zing Par : There were about 150 families. Most of them fled. Only one family is left there because they have connection with the Army. Some fled to Bangladesh, but most went to Mizoram. Because in Mizoram, the people are Mizos [same ethnic group]. It is easier for us to get work and survive there.

Q : How often did your husband have to be a porter?
Zing Par : Two or three times a week! We couldn’t work for ourselves. Every time, he had to carry for one day, or two days each time. Sometimes they even called him at night.

Q : How many days could he work in a month?
The Husband : In a month, I could only stay about 5 days at home. Even in the rainy season, when there was flood, we could not sleep, and we were forced to cross rivers.

Q : What did you have to do at the army camp?
Zing Par : They ordered me to carry sand from the river bank to the road. Inside their camp, but also outside in the village. They were building a road. The men had to carry for them as porters and, at the same time, the women had to work in the army camp. Only the elderly people and the small children could stay at home. Fathers and mothers, as well as the elder brothers and sisters had to work. My youngest daughter here is now 12 years old. She had to carry water at the army camp too.

Q : How did the soldiers call the workers?
Zing Par : The soldiers came by themselves in our village, and grabbed anyone at random. Everyday like that!

Q : Did they ever beat anyone?

Another Villager : Even though we were working for them, they forced us to work very fast. When I was carrying, my head load was very heavy and I couldn’t walk fast. Then they kicked me with their boots and hit me with a bamboo stick. They hit my legs and my back quite badly. I also had to repair their barracks, fetch water from the river and build fences around their camp.

Q : When did that happen?
Zing Par : Since CNF started their activities. Since that time, we are suffering a lot.

A Villager : When we are going to our fields with a bag of rice, they accuse us that we are carrying it to CNF, and they beat us. In the past we had to do a little bit of labour for them, not much, but after CNF started operating, it became continuous and serious. More and more…

Zing Par : They ( the Burmese soldiers )come to check our rice. If we have 3 kg of rice, they take 2 kg for themselves. Moreover, every month, they collect 500 Kyats from each family. They also take from us whatever animals we had, our chickens, our pigs. They never pay for anything they take. Whenever they see that the animal is fat enough to eat, they demand it from us. When we go and ask for compensation, they beat us and answered to us: “This is what you have to do! You must give us!”

A Villager : They ( the Burmese soldiers ) even said: “This is not your country. This is our country! If you don’t want to give us, then go away from this country!”

Zing Par : Anything they see in our house they steal. They even take our own properties, our clothes. They stole my back-strap loom and my money. They robbed 1,000 Kyats from me. In front of me! They came into my house and pointed a gun at me, and then they robbed me.

Q : What do you think about CNF?
Zing Par : They never entered into our village. Whether they are good or bad, we don’t know. CNF collected funds in our village through the——. We had to pay anyway. But we feel much worse that we had to support the Burmese Army. The Burmese Army extorted a lot of money from us, and they also tortured people. They always inquired about the taxes for CNF but we never told them. Those who are suffering the most are the traders who are going to Bangladesh from time to time. They grabbed them, beat them and accused them: “Of course, you are helping CNF and you are carrying their letters!”

Q : What about landmines?
Zing Par : There were many landmines around our villages. I never heard of any people stepping on them, but so many animals blew up, especially at night. We had to be careful for landmines since 1988. The Burmese army usually warned us not to walk here and there, especially along the small footpaths, not the main paths that the army and the civilians are using for traveling [small footpaths are used by opposition armies].

Q : What was the situation in the border village where you stayed in1997?
Zing Par : The situation was not good there either. Several [opposition] armies were active around there, and they all demanded money from us. But the Burmese Army was especially bad. One day, the troops stayed overnight in the village and ordered the people to organise a cultural night. For that, they called all the villagers to gather at one place. One woman did not join to attend the programme. The commander of their group, a Lieutenant, saw a light in her house. He got angry and just fired at the house. She got killed.

Q : What do you hope for the future?
Zing Par : For the future, I hope that we can stay here, and that we could improve our life like other people. There is a high school here [2 hours walk away], a market to sell some of our production and some communication with the outside world. My children can now go to school. My daughter is now in 2nd Standard and my son in 1st Standard.

Story-2
Name : “Tin Er” (not his real name)
Sex: MaleAge: Around 45 (not sure himself)
Ethnicity: Pual Nam (Chin sub-group)
Religion: Animist, now Christian
Occupation: Slash-and-burn farmer
From: Khan Tlang village, Paletwa Township
Marital status: Married with 3 children
Interview date: 5.2.1999

Q : When did you arrive in Bangladesh?
A : In February 1998. The Burmese Army was treating us like dogs, not like human beings. Their troops always took us as porters. I was a porter so often. We even had to bring our own food along with us. They ordered to carry for 3 days and then we were forced to stay for one month if they did not find anyone to replace us. Just before fleeing to Bangladesh I was a porter for 10 days for four times consecutively. In between, I had only 4 or 5 days for myself. We had no time to work.

Q : Have you ever been beaten?
A : When we were porters or when we worked at their rest camp, they beat us if we were too slow. They beat me when I worked at the rest camp. Also, once, in 1997, I slid on the way because my load was very heavy. I fell down and they beat me with a bamboo stick on my legs and in the lower back. They even hit me on the head. 30 families fled in 1997.

Q : Did they ever kill anyone?
A : They did kill a Khumi Chin. Many Khumi Chin [ one of the Chin tribes in Southern Chin State] are forced to be porters. One of them was sick and couldn’t walk anymore. He fell down with his load. The soldiers ordered him to get up and continue walking. But he couldn’t. Then the soldiers killed him with a knife. They cut his belly open and threw his organs in the Kaladan river. After that, the army charged all the porters 50 Kyats each to pay compensation to the father of the killed porter. The compensation was not even paid by the army.

Q : Did you see the killing?
A : I didn’t see the killing but it happened near our village in 1996. Our villagers had to organize the burial of the dead body.

Another man : I saw the dead body. After they killed him on the path just outside our village, they called us and ordered us to bury him. After the burial, the soldiers came again to our village and demanded10,000 Kyats from the villagers to give compensation to his family. This Khumi porter came from Pa Kang Wa village [Paletwa Township], a Khumi village.

Q : Did you hear about any other killings?
A : They are especially bad with the Rakhine and the Khumis.

Another Man : Around 1989, they caught me on the way back from the market with other people. They took us all as porters. They were searching for CNF and Rakhine rebels. Day and night we had to walk without any sleep and without food. One day, they grabbed a Rakhine in Turuai market to show them the way. When he missed one junction, they became angry and they cut his neck. I saw his dead body. They threw it beside the road. We also heard about 6 killings done by the soldiers of Khan Tlang camp. Six people got killed at the same time near our village: 4 Khumi and 2 Rakhine. We don’t know why, but we saw the dead bodies and we had to bury them all. I don’t remember exactly when it happened but I was around the time when CNF started its activities.

Interview with a Chin villager in Sagain Division, Burma
Source:The Rangoon Post

I left because there were so many problems in Burma. I had problems with the army because when I was doing forced labor in January this year, I heard about the killing of a soldier on the railway construction so I was worried about my cousin’s sister. She was also working on the railway with her baby but she was working at a different place than me. I was so worried about her that during rest time I asked a soldier if I could go there but he wouldn’t allow it. When I had to start work again, I couldn’t do it and I just stood there. That soldier ordered me to work but as I didn’t do it, he beat me. Then I left the work.

My quarter is part of Kalemyo town. For workers, SLORC gave an order to the town council and the town council ordered the people. They tell how many people have to come from each quarter. The town council must get the quota of people they ask for. The people of Storm quarter were divided into 6 groups. Each of these groups was divided in two: A and B. At any one time, all 6 groups had to go. When they first started, everyone had to go. But later, they called only A and then B could rest. When A finished, then they called B and A could rest. About 160 people from our quarter had to go at a time, in all 6 groups. We had to work about 20 miles away from Storm, near Nat Chaung. It was according to their orders. The first time it was in Tang Go, near Nat Chaung, about 22 miles away, and then in Zing Gelin, near to Kalemyo. Different places each time. It was always according to their orders. I had to go with my own bicycle. At night we couldn’t go back home. We were kept near the river because we had to cook for ourselves. So that place was a little far from the worksite, about 2 falongs [1 falong = 220 yards, so the distance was 440 yards]. The women stayed together at another place. We had a large roof covered with a plastic for all of us. There were three elderly men among us and they arranged everything for us. For the women, they built some huts with bamboo and branches. There were no guards at night. For work, the men between 20 and 30 years old had to dig the ground. The teenagers, and there were many of them, had to carry the ground. It was hard work, especially digging. I had to carry the ground, but not only that. It depended on the situation. I also had to load the ground into baskets.

Most of the workers were young, mainly teenagers. One girl was only 10 years old. No one else from her family could go. There were old people about 50 years old. They were working as cooks for the other people. There were many women there, and most of them were old women. Some babies were brought along with their mothers. The women did the same work as the men, but everyone was always changing duties with each other. We had to bring our own food. The people had to bring their own tools. No salary. It was a must for each family to go. But the rich people hire someone else to go for them. So for them, there is no problem. But for those who cannot pay, they must go. That’s why sometimes young children and old women have to go. If you couldn’t go, some people had to pay 1,200 Kyats, some 1,500 Kyats. It depended on the villager. I think it depended on their family conditions. [These are fines paid to SLORC if a family cannot go or hire a replacement.]

At work, some groups had 20 people, others 30 people. It varied according to the group. There were soldiers around. They didn’t do anything. Just walking here and there to watch us. If people weren’t working, they hit them. Sometimes on the back, sometimes on the head. There was a boy who was very young. The soldier was also very young. About 20. They started quarrelling, the soldier called another soldier and they hit the boy badly. He was badly injured on his head and he was hospitalised in Kalemyo. The leader of the B group sent him to hospital. He was in hospital for about 1 week. Problems between soldiers and villagers happened all the time. Most of the workers were young and it was very hot. Many wanted to go and swim in the river after their work and also during the work time. That was not allowed. Some young soldiers had problems with those from B group who were swimming and they started quarrelling. Then, a senior officer came and called all of the young villagers to their camp. They never came back. Maybe they were killed.

As far as I know, 6 people died on this railroad while I was working there. Some died in the river. It was very hot and the river was very big. Two boys went to swim and drowned. The others died because of malaria. Most of the people got sick, but it was a must to keep working. Even in the rainy season, if the weather was fine, they were calling the people. It depended on the weather. Each group had to do a stretch of embankment: the height was 30 feet, the length 40 feet and the width about 15 feet. Also, my younger brothers and sisters had to crush gravel at home, in the town. They had to do this three times. The first time, they had to make 1 foot X 10 feet X 10 feet of gravel. The second time, SLORC demanded 60 cooking-oil tins of gravel [big tins, about 15 litres each]. They had to send the gravel to the railway by themselves.

The last time I worked on the railway was in March 1995. Some of the villagers were called after March, but mostly before March. By March, the construction was over. But afterwards, they were still calling villagers to pour water on the tracks to harden the ground. Now they also call people to guard the railway, not all the time, but it happens sometimes when an important person comes. Most of the troops on the railway were not from Kalemyo. They were from Gangaw [most likely Infantry Battalion #50]. There are many Battalions around Kalemyo, #87, #88, #89, also Military Intelligence. There is a quarter called San Piang very close to the army camp. Many soldiers are staying around Kalemyo. So there are many problems with the villagers. Mostly the junior soldiers are causing troubles to the villagers. Sometimes they take their bicycles. They don’t ask, they just use them. The women don’t dare go out in the streets, only in groups of two or three. They are so afraid of being raped by the soldiers. They call people to the army camps for cooking. They don’t call only the people, but also their vehicles. Whenever they need them, they order them to come to carry all the army things.

These camps have been there since 1989. The soldiers occupied the graveyard. They also called local people for loke-ar-pay [‘volunteer’, but actually forced] work. The graveyard was from the Roman Catholic Church. They announced that the tombs must be taken away within three days, otherwise they will be destroyed. So the people had to take their bones. But most of them couldn’t. Then the bulldozer came to destroy. This order was given by Major Aung Khin. While the bulldozer was destroying and crushing the tombs, one of the crosses stood up again after the bulldozer passed over it. The bulldozer passed again over that cross but again the cross stood back up. So the bulldozer driver was freaked out and did not dare pass over again. But Major Aung Khin ordered him to pass over again. The driver refused and wouldn’t dare destroy the cross. He was dismissed on the spot and Major Aung Khin drove the bulldozer himself and destroyed all the graveyard. The stronger people are called as porters. Not many from my quarter, but I know of two boys from Storm who had to go as porters for up to two months before they were released, in December 1994. There are so many taxes: house taxes, bicycle taxes 25 Kyats per year, TV taxes 150 Kyats a year, even if you have a tape recorder it is 60 Kyats per year.

There was a USDA rally held in February 1995 [Union Solidarity Development Association, SLORC’s attempt to establish a ‘mass support’ organisation – people nationwide are forced or threatened into joining and attending rallies, which are then shown in the media by SLORC as signs of popular support]. The government occupied one of the female high schools to organise it and it was attended by General Khin Nyunt himself [Secretary-1 of SLORC and head of Military Intelligence]. A group was formed in the school of each quarter of town, and the USDA members also went. [Note: those who fail to attend USDA rallies face possible expulsion from school, loss of their jobs, having their water or power cut off, or beatings and fines.] I left and arrived at Moreh, at the Manipur [India] border on 17 March 1995. I know nothing about how my family is doing now. [Note: Moreh is on the Manipur side opposite Tamu. Chin refugees get no assistance in Manipur, so some try to get to Delhi and register as ‘persons of concern’ with UNHCR to receive 1,200 rupees (US$35) per month – however, UNHCR is now rejecting many people who apply for this. India has never signed the international conventions on protection of refugees.]
Source: Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)

LAND CONFISCATION USING FOR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
(The following interview is conducted on Jan.9.1999 in New Delhi, India)

Name : Thangkhanpau ( name changed )
Age : 48
Sex : Male
Nationality : Chin
Religion : Christian
Marital Status : Married with 8 children aged between 23 and 6
Occupation : Farmer
Political affiliation : NLD organiser for Pyin GoneGyi Village Tract, Kaleymyo township

I am a farmer. I used to have some land in Pyin Gone Gyi village [near Kaleymyo], but I sold it in 1994, because it was too far from our house, about 8 miles, and also because all my children were at school, so they could not help in the farm work.

Then in December 1996, I left Pyin Gone Gyi because I no longer felt safe as an NLD organiser. I moved to Aung Chan Tha, a remote village along the road between Kalewa and Monywa. Aung Chan Tha is a Burman village in Kalewa township [Kalewa township is mostly Burman]. It has about 160 houses, and is located in a malaria-infested jungle about 24 miles from Kalewa. Back in 1995, my eldest son had stayed with the headman in that village, and found some land to clear for cultivation. I paid 50,000 Kyats for over 20 acres. This was quite cheap. Of course, the area had no irrigation system, and the harvest would depend on the rains. I moved in Aung Chan Tha with 8 other Chin families. We created a new ward in the village and cleared the land.

Q. To whom did you pay that money?
A. To the villagers who owned that land. In Burma the land belonged to the government, but people can registered it and used it. The previous owners had registered that land, and it was recognised by the village head, who is the Village Tract PDC Chairman. The transaction was signed in front of the headman [a perfectly legal transaction].

However, we could only get one harvest of paddy. On 2.8.1997, the SLORC Township Secretary, Major Khin Maung Than, came to the village for the school opening ceremony. Without inspection, he called the 9 Chin families, including mine. Immigration and Forestry officials came along with him. He requested us to sit in one line in front of him. He took photographs of us, and ordered: “You, Chin people, you must go back to your native land in the Chin Hills! This is not your land!” He ordered us to leave by the end of December 1997. I pleaded him: “We have already planted our paddy. Please let us harvest it, and allow us to stay until the month of March!” In the end, the Major forced us to sign a document that we agreed to leave the land before the end of February 1998. The Major then returned to Kalewa, and never reappeared after that. We went to Kaleymyo and left a letter of complaints to the District PDC [Kalewa Township is under Kaleymyo District].

We broke the agreement, and in April 1998, we were still using our land. Then, during the first week of May, the head of the Forestry Department from Kalewa Township, U Tun Than Oo, came to order us to vacate the land and leave the village immediately. He ordered the village head to call ‘volunteer labourers’ [forced labour] from each family, and plant teak seedlings on our land. Even in our house compound. They didn’t order us to demolish our house, but they ordered the villagers to destroy our vegetable garden and plant teak saplings in it. Even to put saplings under our house! My sugar canes besides my house were cut down, and left lying there. We were even ordered to participate in this labour on our own land, but we refused. They never took action for that. The other villagers had a lot of pity on us.

Q. Did the order come from the Forest Department?
A. Yes, but Tun Than Oo was given all authority by Major Khin Maung Than, the Secretary of the Kalewa Township PDC.

Q. What happened after they confiscated your land?
A. We had no money to move back to Pyin Gone Gyi. One family left for the Chin hills, and we finally managed to go back to Pyin Gone Gyi in September 1998. At that time, the political situation was very tense in Kaleymyo, and many NLD members were arrested. My party advised me not to go back to Pyin Gone Gyi village with my large family and no money, but rather leave the country. I borrowed money for the transportation costs and I arrived in Mizoram in October 1998 with my whole family.

Q. You said Aung Chan Tha is a Burman village. Was there any local tension when the 9 Chin families moved there?
A. Not at all. We had absolutely no problem with the Burman villagers. My son was even chosen as a Village PDC Chairman for a while. Our 9 Chin families being all Christian decided to build one church in our ward. The Burman villagers, all Buddhist, even helped us to build our Church and lend us their bullock cart to carry the building material. At the church opening ceremony, a pastor from Kalewa was invited, and all the Burman villagers came. We shared a meal together. We never had any problems with the Burman villagers. It was all created by the SPDC authorities. Tun Than Oo also complained about the Church because it was not registered at the Ministry, but our headman had recognised it.

INTERVIEW WITH A COLLEGE STUDENT
(Source: Chin Student Union, Delhi)
It was since during the Ne win’s regime that Burma had claimed total primary literacy in its 45 million population. However, its subsequent enlistment in the world’s least developed counry had proved totally different. Again in the areas of SLORC/SPDC which succeeded the Ne Win’s regime, it had claimed that Burma has been improved and developed in its every espects, the education system and prevailing closure of colleges and universities proved the same to what was decades ago. During the ten-years rule of SPDC, formerly SLORC, schools and colleges have been kept close most of the time in fear of unrests. In 1996 it was again closed after a massive crack down on students demonstrators demanding the right to reformation of Students Union and the end to military rule, which was known to be the largest students uprising next to the 1998 pro-democracy movement brutally suppressed by the same rulers.

In August 1998, after two years of continuous closing, the SPDC reopened the schools and forced the students to sit exams without learnings. Shortly afterwards, demonstrations broke out from engineering students amidsts government’s precaution. The best solution for the junta was exactly that of the 1998 and 96. Crackdown and arrest. College students have to take their exams at their nearest high schools.

The following interview was conducted by Chin Student Union on 29 October, 1998 at the Indo-Burma border with a Chin student who had sit the recent exams in Kalaymyo.
Name : Salai Thangliana(name changed)
Age : 23 yrs.
Address : Kalaymyo, Sagaing Division
Education : 2nd yr (Geog)
Nationality : Chin
Religion : Christian

Q. when did the college reopen and when did you take your exam after it was annouced?
A. We were informed one month prior to the exam about the possibility. But students who took ordinary subject like me did not get preparatory learning since we sat our exams on the day the schols were annouced reopened while engineering and medical students have two weeks before they did theirs.We also have to sign before we took our exams that we will not cause any unrest.
Q. Why the exams held at local high schools not at the college?
A. I think this is a precaution for the authorities that students might gather and cause unrest if we were allowed to sit at colleges. However, medical and engineering students were allowed to do at their previous colleges in Rangoon and Mandalay.
Q. Then, were high schools closed during your exams?
A. Yes! students from primary to high school had to rest for two weeks during the exam.
Q. Can you please brief us how the exam was about?
A. Classes were classified according to our subject and the exam just went on the basis of one subject per day through a fortnight.
Q. Since you sit the exam without learning, did you then haveanything to write or answer?
A. We scarcely used our brains. We just copy off what we had written during the two months period in 1996.
Q. How about the security condition during the exams hour?
A. It was quite well, we did not see any police nor soldiers wearing uniforms. But we beleived there were pretty numbers of Military Intelligence with civilian dress. We just saw some firemen roaming around the entrance of the gate. During the examination hour, the rector, Township Education Officers who were the rank of Major woud frequent us and would warn us that we ( the students ) are the one who would suffer if anything happens.
Q. So, was there anything happened during the exams?
A. No, there weren’t any. But on the the second day of the exams five students were arrested for allegedly sticking posters in support of the NLD’s movement. We also heard that 20 persons including students were arrested for the same incident on the following night.
Q. Do you know what were on the posters?
A. As far as I remember, it included about an appeal to the people to support the NLD’s call to convene Parliament and the SPDC to implement the NLD’s demands, failure of which would result in a massive unrest.
Q. How do you (students) think this education system, i.e sitting the exams without learning?
A. We did not regard it as examination but as a copy-off competition. There is no reason we took our exams without learning anyhting. There were even some who did not sit because they felt nothing about it. Some would sit in substitution.
Q. When is the result expected to be out?
A. There were rumors that it would likely happen the following month and schools will be reopened in November.

DEFORESTATION IN CHINLAND
Since 1990, the Burmese military junta has rapidly extended its control over Burma’s north-west region in Chinland and Sagaing Division. This expansion program has resulted in the establishment of over 20 new battalions of soldiers throughout this remote and mountainous areas. The principal outcomes of the increased military presence have been persecution and impoverishment of local population.

The North-Western command issued an order to its army battalions to collect food and anything they want from Chin civilians whenever they are in need. A villager said,” It is very difficult for us to feed thousands of these soldiers while we are beeing forced to be porters, laborers and treated like prisoners of war or slaves. We have no time to work for our own living. We have no reqular income or earning. Moreover the soldier frequently collect forced contribution money for building pagodas, porters fees, any kind of festivals etc., or impose a fine for making up reasons. In the past decades we never lock the door at night. We could leave our house without beeing locked. We never lost our possessions. But today our belongings disappear within our twingkling eyes. I think, people will do anything to make money. If you don’t have money to pay the soldiers, you would be punished. No one wants ill-treatment”. The Chin people who have no alternative to make money are doing hunting animals ( Tiger and Bear ) and seeking wild orchids in the forest which for them is the only and an easiest way to make money. The existance of wild orchids in the forest is beeing pushed to extinction and the forest itself is rapidly deteriorated. China’s demand of forest products and wild animals is threatening the Chin forest and wild life.

CHRO interviewed Pu Ralkap ( name changed ),aged 20, from Leitak village, Thantlang township on December 3, 1998 regarding forestry bleakness caused by seeking wild orchids.

Q. In Chinland people are saying deforestation in recent year has been increased because of seeking wild orchids. Is there such happening in your areas? If so, when did you begin seeking ?
A. Yes! it started since 1993, till today.

Q. How did you collect them?
A. We climb up in the tree and pull them off which we can reach. If there are some which we can not reach, we cut the tree down and trim the branches off and collect the orchids. Where there are plenty of orchids, all the trees are smashed like elephants went through.

Q. Do the forest department prohibit doing this?
A. Yes! They prohibit only cutting trees. But it is not a very serious prohibition. How could we get them without cutting the trees! Since there is no Forest Department in our village, no one gets trouble with this Forest Law and Regulation so far.

Q. How do you sell them?
A. There are people who buy these orchids in Thantlang and Haka. So we carry them there and sell them to those buyers. The buyers then transported them to the merchants (smugglers ) in Mandalay. And those merchants smuggled them to China. Probably, it is not useful in our own country. In 1993 it is worth Kyats 40 per 1-viss( about 1.5 kg ). and went up about kyats 600 per viss in 1995. And now it is worth kyats 2,000 per viss. Ofcourse the price vary depending on the color of the orchids. Generally there are two kinds: white orchids and red orchids. They pay kyats1,700 per viss for white orchids and kyats 2,000 for red orchids.

Q. How much money you could make in a day by collecting these orchids?
A. We could make from kyats 400 to kyats 3,000 in a day.

Q. Is there any one hurt or died from searching these orchids in the forest?
A. Yes! there are not only hurt but also died from falling the tree. We heard that many people from different villages get injury.

Q. Do you mean other villages also doing the same, seeking wild orchids?.
A. Yes! people from different villages are doing collecting wild orchids. Some people even take risk to go to Kalaymyo area in seeking wild orchids. Before the price went up, we could go anywhere and collect them. But after the price went up we are no longer allowed to go to another place. The village elders forbid us to go to another village areas . We can do only within our own village area.

Q. Why do the elders prohibit it?
A. They know that our forest is going to be destroyed.

Q. Of what seasons these wild orchids are obtainable?
A. They have a very short life. From November until the end of January. The buyers want to buy only those that are from this period of time.

Q. Do you have any concern about caused by seeking wild orchids?
A. Yes! I am really concerned about it because I have seen destroyed and smashed the forest in our area. The forest is now turned into desolation. Soil erosion has also taken place which causes frighteningly the decreased of crops production . And it also raises environmental concern. No rain. Rivers and streams have almost dried up.

Q. Do you see any advantage?
A. There is an advantage in some way for the poor people like us. We have no earning or earning access. We could pay for some of the forced contribution money to the army and escape from punishment. But not all the time. And also we could buy some salt, cooking oil and medicine ( basic necessities ) with the money we get from selling wild orchids.

CHIN PEOPLE HAVE TO SUPPLY ARMY PATION

Commander of Burma Army North Western Command Brig-Gen Sein Win issued an order to the battalions commanders in Chin State- Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 538, LIB 309, Infantry Battalion (IB) 274, IB 266, IB 268, IB 269 to collect ration from the Chin people whenever they need. A troop of a hundred soldiers from BI 307 (Katha battallion based) and BI 274 are stationed at Lungler army camp in Thantlang township. They have collected as much meat, rice and vegetables as they want from the villagers because the government could not provide them with any food. According to the troop, they were given permission to collect the food by higher authorities.

Major Myint Aung from BI 307 and Lungler army camp commander from 274 issued the order to the nearby 29 villages to deliver 4- big chickens, 2-viss of fish or pork, 2 legs of deer or any other wild animal and vegetables. The villagers have to deliver the orders to the army camp or where the patrolling troop is posted by fixed time. Sometimes the soldiers impose a fine of Kyats 1,000 to 1,500 for late delivery or if they claim the food is not fresh. They also demand the villagers buy alcohol from Thantlang which is a 3 day walk from the village. The villagers do not have time to work in their farms because the are busy hunting, fishing and buying alcohol for the soldiers. While they are struggling for their daily lives, they have to feed the army camp. Consequently, the villagers are extremely disappointed and are waiting for the opportunity to flee to Mizoram in India.

An ordinary soldier’s wages is Kyat 500 per month. However, these soldiers are getting Kyats 3,000 per month and therefore, are enjoying their lives with added food deliveries from the villagers. Because they are able to use the villagers as their slaves, they are happy with the SPDC government are extremely loyal to it. They are also given power to oppress the civilians by higher authorities to maintain a stable power base.

INTERVIEW WITH VPDC CHAIRMAN

(CHRO had interviewed a village chairman who is under Lungler army command in Thantlang township.)
Pu Lianthang (name changed) is 36-years old and has two children. He is a respected person in the village. Although he does not want to serve as the village chairman under the SPDC, upon requests by the villagers, he is serving as chairman of (ommitted) Village Peace and Development Council in Thantlang township.
Q. How is your relationship with the SPDC army? Could you tell us about it?
A. SPDC’s army and government give us the orders. And I, the chairman, and the villagers have to follow accordingly.Q. Could you tell us what kind of orders are given?
A. The most amoral man we ever met is Major Myint Aung from IB 372. One of his orders was that 15-villagers had to do sentry duty every day. Counting the number of the villagers, each person has to do sentry duty 3-days per week and so have no time to do our own work.
Q. Could you not explain these problems or make requests to the Major?
A. To make a request to military personnel, I need at least Kyats 20,000 and a pig. We have nothing right now. If I go without money, I will be accused of acting the army and be beaten. Therefore, at this time,I cannot make any request.
Q. Why do you think they give these kind of orders?
A. He knows that we can not carry out his order. He purposely gives us orders which we cannot carry out. Then, he expects us to bring him money, pigs, and /or liquor for his reconsideration. I think that’s why he gives us these kind of orders.
Q. Any other kind of orders?
A. There are a lot more. They order us to bring them 4- big chicken, 2- viss of fish or pork, 2-thighs of deer or wild pig ( or any wild animal) and fresh vegetable to the army camp ( Lungler village) every week, not later than the time they fixed.
Q. What do you think why they order like this?
A. I think, because the government could not provide them . That’s why we are being suffered.
Q. What will happen if you do not give them?
A. Do not mention the word ‘not giving’. If we bring them the orders an hour later than the time they fixed, we would be imposed a fine. Sometimes they even fine us, complaining the food we bring them were not fresh.
Q. How much you pay for a fine and to whom you pay it? And what they use it for?
A. It depends on how big the village and financial standing of the villages. They know the financial standing of the villages around this area. They frequently impose a fine the villages with a good financial standing. They put a fine on the poor villages when they do not have money to buy alcohol drinks. Usually they impose a fine from Kyats 1,000 upto 5,000. We have to pay it to Major Myint Aung. When his absence, we pay it to in charge of camp commander. When they get the money, they send two or tree villagers to Thantlang which is 3 days walk far from our village to buy alcohol drinks. They never pay anything for it . They have to incur travel expenses by themselves.
Q. Did you write a complaint to the higher authorities?
A. Major Myint Aung told us that he has the instruction from the higher authorities to get anything they want from remote villages where there is difficulty of transportation. That’s why I don’t want to make any complaint. I think that they are real beggars, they have no a shame to beg from others.
Q. Do you have anything more to say?
A. On 15 July, 1998, the Department of Land Taxation issued an order prohibiting us from doing our traditional cultivation. The order stated that every household has to complete 3 acres of terrace cultivation and give a Kyats 1,500 deposit to the Land Taxation Department. Whoever fails to pay a deposit will be faced with severe action.
Q. Is there anyone who has knowledge of how to do terrace cultivation and how did you start it?
A. No one know how to do it. According to the order each household had to complete 3-acres but we had no money for a deposit. For that reason, on 24 April, 1998, I went to Thantlnag Township Land Taxation Office and made a request to U Hoi Ling that we did not have the sufficient funds. This request meant paying them Kyats 30,000 which I collected from the villagers. Afterwards, we were allowed to continue with our traditional cultivation practices.
Q. Could you please share with us your feelings and thoughts?
A. I think, the soldiers have been begging in an unfair manner from the people because the government cannot provide them with sufficient resources. The more they can make begging, the more excess materials they can get, and therefore, the more the honor the government. I think the authorities are trying to build up their own power and maintain stability through these soldiers. I believe, if every country person selflessly acts against a group of authorities, this government will definitely be demolished. However we can not give up our ‘self’ easily because we must struggle for our daily lives. That is why people are being made to suffer.

MONEY FOR PAGODA FESTIVAL

In order to hold Utalin pagoda festival in1998, SPDC army battalion 538 commander Lt.Col. Saw Thun ordered Chin Christian villages such as Pathiantlang (A), Pathiantlang (B), Ramri, Arakan, Pinte, Hemate, Hemapi, Sia Oo, Para to pay Kyats 5000/- and 3- mats per each village before November 10, 1998.

Pastors and evangelists went to the area commander Maj. Zaw Tun Tin and beg him to reconsider the order because it is unusual for Christian to pay money for others’ religion activities. The Major replied them that the money is to hire a play for the festival and the Christians will also watch the play. If you don’t pay the money, action will be taken seriously upon the the villagers and will suffer. The villagers can’t do anything but to obey the army and pay the money.

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

Regime blocked centennial celebration of christianity in Chin State. Cross destroyed, pastors interrogated in acts of continuing Chistian persecution.

Burma’s military regime has stepped up its persecution of the Chin Christian community which is celebrating the Centennial of Christianity in Chin areas of Burma. Chin pastors are being interrogated and Centennial celebration in Haka, the capital of Chin State have been postponed by the regime at least until April. Chin Christian sought to celebrate their Christianity Centennial from January 1-3,1999 at Thantlang, another city in the Chin State of Burma. The Centennial marks the arrival of American missionaries Rev. Carson and his wife Laura Carson in 1899. On January 5,1999 when the celebration in Thantlang was over, citizen of the town posted a Centennial memorial cross at the top of Vuichip Hill near Thantlang. The Burmese military from Thantlang ordered the citizens of Thantlang to remove the cross they had erected atop the hill. After the citizen refused to removed the cross, soldiers pulled it down and destroyed it. Six Christian pastors from Thantlang, Rev. Thawng Kam, Rev. Biak Kam, Rev. Thantu, Rev. Tha Ceu, Rev. Cung Bik and Rev. Beauty Lily were then taken away from the town and interrogated.

In protest, the whole of Thantlang’s citizenry stage a general strike prayer service and fast at local churches or in their homes the following day (January 6,1999). In retaliation, the military cut all telephone lines to Thantlang and summoned 20 pastors and church leaders from various denominations for interrogation.

On January 9, 1999 churches around Haka joined the protest by holding prayer services. Military officers from Haka told church leaders that if they wanted to put the memorial cross again, they have to apply to the Home Minister in Rangoon. The Military has also ordered the postponement of Centenial celebrations in Haka until april.

The Burmese military is systematically persecuting Christians in Burma and seems intent on “cleansing” the country of its Chin population. Well over 90% of the Chin population in Burma is Christian.

UNCERTAINTY TO CELEBRATE CENTENRY

The uncertainty of celebrating the Chin Christian Centenary to be held in Haka, the capital of Chin State, is reported from inside Burma to CHRO as follows:

“It is likely that we are not going to have the Centenary Celebration” Rev. Tialkap said. The military personnel in Haka said, as Tialkap quoted, ” Your celebrating seems like it is going to be very elaborate. We cannot give you permission to have the celebration because some foreign guests are also invited. You have to seek the permission from the Ministry of Home and Internal Affairs”. Rev. Tialkap told CHRO yesterday (3rd of Feb’99) that a request is being made to the Ministry of Home and Internal Affairs. If the application is turned down, they will proceed by approaching the General Secretary-1(Khin Ngunt). If the General secrectary-1 persists in refusing them, there’s no prospect of celebrating the Centenary.

Although the Centennial Celebration Committee tried to negotiate with military personnel in Haka before approaching the Ministry of Home and Internal Affairs, to see if they would consider not inviting the foreign guests, their attempts were in vain.

VILLAGERS TREATENED WITH LAND MINES

CHRO has received a report that Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) from IB 274 Lungler camp, Thantlang town ship are roaming around villages, threatening to plant land mines on the main roads and surrounding areas. When the villagers plead against this, the army demands money from them. Soldiers from IB 274 are using this tactic to get money from the villagers.

ARMY OR BANDIT?

In Thantlang township,villagers from Bungkhua and surrounding villages used to go to Mizoram, India, which is a days walk, to sell their goods (domestic animals etc,.). On their return, they would buy their daily basic necessities instead of going to Thantlang town, which is 4-day walk from the area. In the rainy season, however the villagers have a diffculty to cross over the Tiao river. Therefore, for the travellers’convenience, the villagers requested Ngunding from Bungkhua village to provide the service of his paddle row-boat. Ngunding agreed to the arrangement and built a hut near the river which sold snacks and tea. The travellers used to rest at the hut. On 16 July 1998, a military troop led by Serg. Tun Lin from IB 307, came to the place and threatened the people by firing off their guns. When the hut dwellers ran away, the following items were stolen by the troops.
Rice 5- full baskets @ kyats 1,500 = kyats7,500
Blanket 2- pieces @ kyats 1,200 = kyats1,200
Pots 1- piece @ kyats 1,000 = kyats1,000
A knife 1- piece @ kyats 1,200 = kyats1,200
Chickens 2- birds @ kyats 700 = kyats 400
Seasoning 1- packet @ kyats 450 = kyats 450
Cooking oil 1/2-bottle @ kyats 175 = kyats 175
Milk 3- packet @ kyats 420 = kyats1,260
Sugar 3-kg @ kyats 210 = kyats 420

They forced a villager to buy some of the stolen rice for kyats 1,000. To date, the rest of the stolen items have not yet been sold.

MONKS AND SPDC’S SOLDIERS UNITE FOR ONE PURPOSE

Rev. Biakthang (name changed) is a missionary who was sent by the Lautu Christian Association of Thantlang township to Ann town in Arakan State. Rev. Biakthang’s wife unfortunately passed away in October 1996. In November,1998, he left the mission center for Thantlang to attend the Lautu association mass meeting. While he was away, his house was burgled jointly by monks and soldiers. They even dug out his wife’s gravestone and destroyed the stone inscription. In his letter to a friend in December, he wrote “Though I was called by the military office, after interrogations I was released without harm”. He also mentioned in his letter that some evangelists sent by Church of Jesus Christ who work in the area were beaten badly by Buddhist monks together with soldiers.

KYATS 20,000 PER VILLAGE TRACK FOR ARMY HQR SCHOOLS

In June 1998 SPDC issued the order to close down all self supported private schools in Chin State. While ordering to close down self supported private school in Chin State, the SPDC army forced Chin villagers to pay for construction of army Headquarters School. Lt. Col Saw Thun, the commander of LIB 538 ordered 18 villages that under the command of Sinletwa army camp in Paletwa township has to contribute 18-ft. long 400 poles of bambo and 100 cubic feet wood to construct Battalion 538 Headquarters School before November 15 1998. The army warned and threatened the villagers that they had to pay three times if they could not meet the requirement before the dead line. It was harvesting period and the villagers were busy with their farm works. When they pleaded to the army for forgiveness, the battalion commander told them to pay Kyat 20,000/- per each village tract. There are 6-village tracts.

VOL.II No.I JANUARY 1999 NO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

(Interview with two Chin students, conducted in New Delhi on 14.7.1998)

Since December 1996, throughout Burma, all colleges and universities were shut down by the military junta, in response to students’ demonstrations in Rangoon. Up to now, most of the colleges and universities remained closed, and most students cannot pursue their studies. This is the case of Kaley College, in Kaleymyo, Sagaing Division, near the border with Chin State. There is no university or College in Chin State, and Kaley College was primarily established to provide further higher education to students of Chin State and of the Kaley region.

Since 1997, for those who completed High School and passed the matriculation, there is no option for further studies. Many Chin students have started trickling into India looking for an opportunity to continue their education. However, opportunities are few for them in India. Being Christian, their only hope is to join a Christian College, where food and accommodation is sometimes provided. Those institutions are usually Bible School or Theological College, which do not provide them with an educational, vocational or professional background for their future. There is no other choice.

CHRO interviewed two Chin students, Muana and Ngheta (not their real names). These two young men have passed their Matriculation in 1997. Since they cannot continue their education in Burma, their parents sent them to New Delhi to do theological studies.

Ngheta, 19, and Muana, 20, are both young Chin Christian from the Kaley region in Sagaing Division, close to Chin State. Muana used to live in Tahan quarter of Kaley town, while Ngheta is from Let Pan Chaung, a large Chin inhabited village in Kaley township, about 10 miles away from Kaley. Although their present situation is similar, their past experiences are somewhat different. We have interviewed them separately.

Question : Is education freely available in your village or town?
Ngheta : Each household in Let Pan Chaung village had to pay 2,500 Kyats in February or March 1997 for school buildings. After collecting that money, they did construct some buildings to the Middle School and to the High School. However, they did not look so nice or big, and were not worth all the money collected from the villagers.

The high school teachers are all paid by the villagers who provided them with paddy. Every 9th Standard student has to provide 10 baskets per year and every 10th Standard student 12 baskets. Each teacher received thus 200 baskets per year, which is a lot [13/14 baskets is enough to feed one adult for one year]. They can sell the rest for 400 Kyats per basket. The high school has 450 students. This way they can collect a lot of rice. In fact, this arrangement has been set up by the School Committee, and the Village Tract PDC is part of the School Committee. Actually, the Chairman of the Village Tract PDC is also the Chairman of the School Committee. They are very corrupt. The School Committee keep half of the rice given from each student and the teachers only received the other half.

Let Pan Chaung has more than 2,000 houses. It is mostly Chin, only 10 houses are Burman. The language of education is only Burmese. [Note: In Chin State, Chin language is allowed up the 2nd Standard, but Let Pan Chaung is located in Sagaing Division where only Burmese language is recognised] Until 1992, our big village only had one Primary School. Then the government set up a Middle School, but there were not enough teachers. Then, our village create a High School with volunteer teachers who received paddy as their salary. The Primary and Middle School students also need to give rice to the extra teachers. If the parents are unable to provide the rice, the child cannot go to school.

Muana : I studied 9th Standard in the Tahan quarter of Kaley town and 10th Standard in Mandalay. At the High School in Mandalay, the admission fee was 750 Kyats which included registration, sports facilities, etc.. But other fees were constantly collected for festivals, pagodas, monasteries, furniture, computer, etc.. School books and exercise books had to be bought by the students themselves. The computer fee is 150 Kyats per year. The school bought one computer and only 10 students a year were selected to learn computer skills. There were so many rules and regulations in my school. If we ever mention anything political, we would be beaten and expelled from the school. Those who didn’t wear their school uniform were be expelled too. And, every week, every month, we have to give donations!

PRIVATE TUITION

Teachers in Burma are very badly paid by the government. In order to increase their income, they organised private tuition. However, many students complained that attending and paying for these private tuition is compulsory in order to pass their examinations.

Question : Did you take private tuition?
Ngheta : I had to attend 2 months of private tuition. The teacher did not explain the subject properly in the classroom, and he invited the students for private tuition. He was doing one hour per day and had to pay 250 Kyats for one month.
Muana : In Mandalay, I was doing one and half hour of private tuition threetimes a week for each subject. He had to get tuition for five subjects: Maths, English and three Science subjects. Private tuition for each subject cost me between 2,500 and 3,000 Kyats a year depending on the subject.

Question : How can they afford this?
Muana : I have 6 brothers and sisters who are all at school. My father is a carpenter as well as a pastor. My mother was a businesswoman trading between India and Rangoon. She was supporting us all. Unfortunately she died in a car accident last year.
Ngheta : My parents are farmers. I have 6 brothers and sisters, and 3 of us are students. Therefore, our family had to provide a total of 26 baskets of paddy per year, only for our education:
– 12 baskets for myself as a 10th Standard student
– 10 basket for my sister who is a 9th Standard student
– 4 baskets for my younger sister who is attending 4th standard
My family owns 10 acres of paddy fields. We can only get one crop per year because of irrigation problems. We usually harvest an average of 800 baskets a year. We manage to save 200 baskets a year for ourselves. Each year we are forced to sell 12 baskets per acre to the Government at government rate [much lower than market rate] and donate one basket per acre for the Army. We also have to donate one basket per house for the Village Tract PDC. They sell this rice to get money for entertaining VIP’s and to cover their office costs.

FORCED LABOR

Question : Did you have to do voluntary labour while you were student?
Ngheta : The Let Pan Chaung villagers are forced to work on road construction every year. The villagers have to repair all the roads linking the various villages in the township. They also have to repair the bridges. This work is usually taking place in the summer. Every villager ends up doing one day of road work per week for 4 or 5 weeks every year. Then, in the rainy season, we have to repair the dam and canals for irrigation. There is little rain in Kaley area, so the villagers have to use an irrigation system to grow their crop. The dam is built with stone and mud, so it often breaks during the monsoon, and we have to go and repair it. I often missed school or arrive late in class, because that dam is quite far from our village. I am the only young man in my family, so I always have to go. The labour is ordered by Village PDC, and everyone failing to go to labour is fined 100 Kyats.
Muana : In Tahan quarter, the largest forced labour projects have now been completed: the Kaley to Gangaw railway and the Ye Chaung hydro dam. Since then, people are ordered to clean the ground in front of their house and to paint the façade, the fences and the trees around it whenever a high-level leader of SPDC is coming to Kaley. This is happening 4 or 5 times a year. We were also forced to build a platform in front of our house because the main road is a little higher. Also every household had to build a drain for sewerage water in front of his house. The Township PDC gave the measurement and ordered it to be built with brick and cement, but they did not provide the material.

CHAOTIC SITUATIONS IN PALETWA TOWNSHIP

Lt. Col. Saw Tun, commander of Burmese army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB ) 538 ordered the following 18 villages from Paletwa township, southern Chin State, to hold a football ( soccer ) tournament in Sin-Oowa village.

In order to prepare for the tournament, the following villages Sinletwa, Sin-Oowa, Kinwa, Kohci, Dathwe-kyauk, yokewa, Bilawngwa, Rakan, Lettee, and Thalu were forced to work for a week. One person per household had to help repair the football grounds and to construct tents for temporary shelters. Any family who failed to comply were forced to pay Kyat 1,500.

Moreover, each village was ordered to pay Kyat 2000 before November 10, 1998 towards a football tournament fund. Many villages, which are a significantly far from the tournament location were also forced to pay the fee. Villages Pathiantlang(A), Pathiantlang (B), Arakan, Pintia, Ramri, Hemapi, Hemate, Sia-Oo, and Para were ordered to pay Kyat 2,000 each before Nov 10 to Major Zaw Tun Tin, the company commander of Sinletwa army camp.

Seven police officers led by Cpl. Soe Myint were sent to Pathiantlang village on Nov 12, 1998 to guard the tournament. They forcibly stole four chickens and a tin of rice from the villagers. While the police were cooking the chickens, the Chin National Army (CNA) suddenly arrested them, confiscated their six rifles, one Ne Win Stengun, 820 rounds of ammunition and one hand bomb. After a brief interrogation, the CNA released the police unharmed the same day.

The police then went to Shweletwa and asked U Sa Ki,one of the village elders, to inform their families that they were planning to flee to Mizoram, India. They fear a serious action would be taken against them, because their weapon had been taken by the CNA. U Sa Ki reported the incident to the village tract chairman U Tin Win, who is a member of the Buddhist hill missionary and favoured by the SPDC. U Tin Win has full authority over the villagers. They also fear him as much as the army personel. U Tin Win wrote a report to company commander Maj. Zaw Tun Tin saying that the police would never have been arrested if they were accompanied by a Chin police officer. The report contended that the police had faced problems because they were Burman and the villagers took advantage of this fact by cooperating with the Chin insurgents.

As soon as the army personel receives the reports, 50 soldiers led by company commander Maj. Zaw Tun Tin came to Pathiantlang ( A ) village on Nov 13, at 12:30 pm and ordered village head men from Pathiantlang ( B ), Arakan, Pinte, Ramri, Hemapi, Hemate, Sia Oo, Para to meet with him immidiately.

On November 14, LIB 538 commander Lt.Col. Saw Thun went to Sia Oo village and he ordered the village head men to meet him. The Lt. Col. immediately condemned the CNA for arresting seven police officers and confiscating their weapons. Lt. Col. Saw Thun said he believed that the arrest was an act of Chin aggression against the Burmese. “If a Chin had been among the police, this incident would never have happened”, he said. The Colonel contended that all the Chin villagers were involved in this case and demanded the police weapons be returned by December 2. Lt. Col. Saw Thun threatened to burn down all the villages and kill all the village head men if his demands were not met.

The village head men responded with the following plea. “If we go to CNA camp, they will arrest us because we are all members of the village security guards that you have formed”. The Lt. Col replied that it is the duty of the village head men to make peace just as Church pastors have made peace among the Karen and the Kachin. He suggested the villagers go to the CNA camp accompanied by pastors and relatives from Mizoram in order to avoid harm from the insurgent fighters and that they may get back the police officers’ guns. After that he forced pastor Sa Chi and an evangelist L.T Khunzin to go to the CNA camp along with the village head men.

However, the village head men did not dare to go to the CNA camp, knowing that the CNA would never give them back the guns. On the other hand, they also knew that if they returned to their villages empty handed, they would be killed by the Burmese army.

They, therefore, fled to Laki village, Mizoram State of India. On November 16 1998, ten families from Hemapi village moved to Laki village leaving behind all their belongings. They said that the Battalion commander was residing in Hemapi village and the army had closed all the roads to the border and planted land mines. The tactical commamder was residing in Pathiantlang village and Arakan, Ramri, Pinte, Hemate villages were being relocated to Hemapi village.

On November 30, 1998, another six families from Hemapi village came to Laki village. They reported that the soldiers were still waiting for the return of the village headmen. If they come back empty handed, again it was said they would be killed on the spot and all nine villages would be burned down.

Now these refugees are currently living in Laki village without shelter and struggling against many hardships. Until November 5, 1998, they have still not received assistance from any individuals or organizations. The CHRO has learned that the nine villages surrounding Hemapi are also ready to flee to India.

The CHRO therefore requests to individuals and organizations advocate for the safety of the villagers wanting to flee as well as for the refugees who have already fled to India.

200,000 KYATS RANSOM FOR 34 LIVES

Burmese army Infantry Battalion 274 from Lailenpi village, Matupi township of Chin State consumed all the food and domestic animals from the surrounding villages without any payment to the villagers. The villagers were left with no more food and were facing daily hardships.

Therefore, thirty four people from Sabawngte village went to Pintia village to buy rice on September 29, 1998. Upon their return, they met with a group of Burmese army personnel led by Lt. Han Kyaw from IB 274. The Burmese army doubted that they were carrying rice for CNA and, subsequently, arrested them all.

The army then brought the arrested to Sabawngte village where they gathered all the villagers. The soldiers accused villagers of providing food to the Chin insurgent CNA and threatened to burn down their villages and kill the 34 people.

The villagers explained that because of food shortage, they had been compelled to seek out food from other villages. They begged the soldiers to spare the lives of the villagers and not to burn down the village. At first, the soldiers ignored the pleas of the villagers. However, later on, Lt. Han Kyaw told some village elders that if they were to give him two hundred thousand Kyats(200,000 Burmesecurrency) and not tell anyone, he would release the villagers and do no harm to their property.

The village elders begged the Lieutenant to reduce the extortion price because of their dire poverty and the difficulties they already faced for daily survival. The Lieutenant denied their request.

Since the villagers had no alternative, they sold their cattle and managed to hand over one hundred thousand Kyats to Lt. Han Kyaw on November 30, 1998. The Lieutenant ordered them to pay the other one hundred thousand in materials. He ordered them to go to Mizoram State in India to buy kitchen ware such as pressure cookers and steel plates before December 5,1998.

VILLAGE HEAD MEN COMPELLED TO SELL LIQUOR(Army Run)

In Chin State selling intoxicating drinks is forbidden by most villages’ elders in their local areas excetp some surrepitiuos pub. The Burmase army company commander from IB 274, Lungler army camp, Thantlang township called village headman meeting from Tlangpi, Tlanglo, Farawn, Vanzang, Sopum, Zaangtlang, Lungding, Bungkhua, Thangzang, Fungkah, Saikah, Ruakhua, Ruabuk, Sihhmuh, Dawn villages and gave 30 bottles army rum to each village headman to sell it in their respective villages. He also ordered these villages’ elders to come and meet with him once a month.The reason was to collect the money from the sell and to give them a new quota for selling the army rum. Whenever he gave them their quoata of rum,he took back two or three bottles which the villager headmen had to pay from their pocket. Although the villagers are too poor to afford the alcohol, they are still compelled to cover the cost of their quotas. If they fail to make the payments, the whole village is made to suffer.

To protect and promote human rights and democratic principles