inside news - online burma libraryinside news volume 2 issue 7 january - march 2006 2 cidkp p.o box...

Inside NewsInside NewsInside NewsInside NewsInside News Volume 2 Issue 7 January - March 2006

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMITTEE FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED KAREN PEOPLE (CIDKP)

UNITEDWESTAND

DIVIDEDWEFALL

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CIDKP

P.O Box 22Maesot 63110Tak, Thailand

Central

Phone (66) 055 531330 (66) 015328433 Fax: (66) 055 531330

Email: [email protected]@hotmail.com

NorthernPhone: (66) 053 681854

Fax: (66) 053 681854

SouthernP.O. Box 11

Kanchanaburi 71000Thailand

Phone: (66) 034 517213Fax: (66) 034 517213

Email: [email protected]

Writing and editing:INSIDE NEWS and CIDKP Reporters.

Cover picture by Phil Thornton

Photos: Bleedin'Heart Media(unless otherwise stated).

EDITORIAL

If you want to find out how you can help internallydisplaced Karen people: email [email protected] [email protected] or write to CIDKP , PO Box22, Mae Sot, Tak 63110, Thailand.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The ethnic people and groups opposing the Burmese military dictatorshipare struggling to loosen the strangle hold the regime has on the country andits people. The recent amount of foreign investment in Burma has beenmassive and it is this finance that keeps the regime in power.Burma is not a poor country, it is resource rich, but has been plundered bythe regime at the expense of the people of Burma.Time magazine recently reported that: “In 1988, Burma boasted only $89million in hard-currency reserves, but by 2004, it held $685 million.”Most of this money has come from foreign investors eager to get their handson Burma’s natural resources. China and India have signed deals worthmillions of dollars for Burma’s oil and gas resources. Thailand also increasedits natural gas imports from Burma in 2005 by more than 22 per cent.The people of Burma will not reap any benefit from this invested revenue.The profits will go into the coffers of the regime or flow out of the countryto the bank accounts of foreigners. The present economic situation for mostBurmese is dire. Most Burmese towns rely on clapped out generators forpower. Even hospitals can’t rely on the government for their electricity needs.While the regime sells its large oil reserves to foreign energy-hungry nations- China, India and Thailand - the price of petrol in Burma has reached newhighs.Environmentalists warn that agreements signed with Thailand to buildhydroelectric dams on the Moei and the Salween rivers will destroy forests,fishing grounds, the livelihoods of indigenous people and cause large scaledisplacement. Karen National Union president Saw Ba Thin, called for allthe people of Burma to stand together to oppose the regime.“As long as the military dictatorship points their guns at us we have to keepstruggling. We are walking a tightrope, it’s a hard place to be, and we askthe international investors not to deal with the dictators.”

“United we stand,divided we fall”

uD>fylRySRvD>ftd.furSH tupD.f

IDP NEWS

3IDP NEWSfriends for two month, but her

Regime deny Karen health and education

uD>fylRySRvD>ftd.furSH tupD.f EDUCATION

Wee Dah doesn’t know how oldshe is. She is a Karen from HteeBaw Day village. She takes pridein wearing the traditional dress thatyoung girls wear until they getmarried. Wee Dah is a displacedperson who was forced with herfamily from her home. They nowhide from the Burmese military.There are about thirty familieshiding out at Htee Baw Dayvillage.The village doesn’t have a school.Wee Dah says.“I have never been to school,except for a couple of months. Iloved it. Now I work with myparents.”Many children in Karen State havethe same problem. Villagers wantto set up a school at the village, butthey don’t have enough food orenough money to buy rice or payfor a teacher. The village headman from Htee

Baw Day says a lack of educationplaces a big disadvantage on thevillage.“We want to build a school, but wedo not have enough food or money.Another problem is that we live ina mixed administration area thatmakes it very difficult for us.” Theheadman claims villagers aredesperate for their children to getan education.“They try as hard as they can, somesend their children to a refugeecamp, some to a bigger town, butfew of our children get to go toschool. Many of our children wantto learn, but they don’t have achance living like this.”Wee Dah agrees.“I wanted to attend school, but myparents could not afford to pay forit. When I was young I went to arefugee camp and wanted to go totheir school so much.” Wee Dahwent to school with her new

parents were not happy living at thecamp because they felt that theywere jobless and had no work todo there. They returned to HteeBaw Day with Wee Dah.Wee Dah says.“There are many Karen girls likeme who cannot go to school. Notonly here in Htee Baw Day village.Many girls get married when theyare only 14 or 15.”According to Wee Dah many of thegirls say they married youngbecause they didn’t get aneducation.“We get married here so early andmany girls say ‘when our childrengrow up they can help us and thatwill make life easy for us’.Karen leaders say the strain ofhiding and surviving on displacedpeople will have diasterous, longlasting effects on the standard ofeducation and health of theirpeople.

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uD>fylRySRvD>ftd.furSH tupD.fHEALTH

The health costs of a sick government

A new health report on Burma, byJohns Hopkins University (US),says the Burmese governmentspends “less than $1 per person peryear” on education and healthcare.This is one of the lowest levels inthe world. The effect of thisdisregard for people can bewitnessed in Karen State. InsideNews reports from Ler Per HerClinic.Babies as young as six months,their heads wrapped in white clothto protect the IV lines attached totheir temples, cry.Sar Oo, a nurse at the clinic says.“At the moment we’re managingmalaria, but chronic diarrhea andcholera cases are on the increase.Most of the babies we see aresuffering from diarrhea. All thebabies here have either diarrhea orcholera.”Sar Oo says the Clinic is low onmedicine to treat their smallpatients. We don’t have any oraldehydration solution (ORS) to give

them. We’re mixing sugar with alittle salt, it’s the best we can do.Our next supply of medicine isthree months away”Clinic staff says most of theirpatients are internally displacedpeople who hide in the hills nearLer Per Her.A villager from Loe Lar Lei, whotook his baby to Ler Per Her Clinicsays.“I have been at the clinic for fivedays now. We have no medicine ornatural healer in our village.”Hill villagers coming to the clinichave to hike enormous distancesover mountains and rivers. By thetime they get to the Clinic theirchildren are often unconscious.”Nurse Sar Oo says.“We supply them with some foodand they cook for themselves. If wehave fish paste and curry we sharewith them and we all eat together.”According to a nurse at the clinic,people forced from their traditional

villages are not able to care forthemselves properly.“They have to hide in the jungle.It’s hard to maintain personalhygiene and sanitation is poor,especially in the rainy season.Diarrhea and cholera breakoutbecause parents have to work atsecret farms and have no time tolook after their children.”The nurse said children have tofend and cook for themselves.“Children play on the ground anddo not clean their hands when theyeat, infections are easily spread.”Nurse Sar Oo says she would liketo have medicine and the facilitiesto treat her people properly.“If we do not have enoughmedicine we cannot do anythingfor them.”The John Hopkins report warnsthat unless there are massivegovernmental changes andincreased pressure from regionalcountries the health of the Burmesepeople will continue to deteriorate.

“Mothers do the best they can...”

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uD>fylRySRvD>ftd.furSH tupD.f PROFILE

Soldier, Medic sets an exampleName - Saw Swe Tun KyawAge - 23 years old.Resident - Pa Kha village, Lu BlaiTownship, Pa-an District.Occupation- former soldier, henow works as medic at Ler Per Herclinic.Saw Swe Tun Kyaw is a Karen,who wants to work for his people.His father was a freedom fighter.His father now works for the Karenrevolution.Saw Swe Tun Kyaw says.“I am an only son, I left my motherat our village and came here to helpmy people. I joined the Karen armywhen I was 19, not by force, Ivolunteered. In my village peoplewere forced to work as porters, wewere beaten and treated like slavesby the Burmese army. In onemonth, six villagers [forcedlabourers] were given only threetins of rice. For this reason, I could

not endure to see my people sufferanymore and I joined the Karenrevolution. I believe my decisionwas not wrong. My mother did notaccept it because I am the only son.I joined the 2nd Battalion andworked for three years until my legwas blown off.”Saw Swe Tun Kyaw was hit by alandmine one of his friend’splanted.“I was injured and shot at on aSunday. Burmese troops were outpatrolling and opened fire on us.We were afraid that the enemywould come to our camp so wequickly turned around and headedback. On the way back I trod on alandmine that our troops plantedthree years ago. I did not know theyplanted it --- it is my fate. After Igot injured, they carried me to LerPer Her Clinic and then to Mae Larefugee camp and then onto Mae

Sot. I stayed at Mae Sot Hospitalfor more then a month. I wasdischarged and returned to mywork.Saw Swe Tun Kyaw was nowdisabled and Karen leaders urgedhim to work at the Clinic.“I’m now a medic, it is also not byforce but voluntarily.”Saw Swe Tun Kyaw says he has amessage for his younger Karenbrothers and sisters. “Soldier workis not the only work of our people.Being a medic or teacher is alsoimportant for our people. I workhere not by ancestry but as avolunteer.”Saw Swe Tun Kyaw says hisdisability does not mean he is notvaluable.“I would like to contribute as muchas possible to our struggle. I choosethis way to serve my people.”

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Born to run

Karen villagers forced from theirvillages and homes by Burmesesoldiers are in dire need of food,clothes and security. Hiding inforests and jungles with only roughground for beds and trees forshade. The forests have becometheir towns and wild animal pathstheir roads. They live in fear andgrab fitful sleep, prepared to runfrom Burmese soldiers.Naw Ma Chat, from Kwee Lavillage in Nyaw Linbin Districtsays.“When the soldiers come closer,our security warns us and we haveto move our rice and other usefulthings.”In September 2005, a Burmesearmy battalion of about 350

soldiers and led by theircommanding officer Tin Toe Aungtook over Kwee La villager for twomonths. They destroyed houses,ripped out bamboo floors, walls,and roofs. Villagers escaped to thenearest village, Kler Kee, a two-hour walk, over mountains.A Karen woman documentinghuman rights abuses claimed thevillagers had no choice but to takerefuge in the jungle.“We climbed up the mountain fortwo hours; we built temporary hutsand stayed there for two months.Young kids faced disease, studentshad to study in the jungle and thepregnant women gave birth whilerunning.”

The woman said the Burmesesoldiers stayed in the villager forsix weeks.“They stole and ate all the pigs,chicken and vegetables. They leftafter destroying every singlehouse.”A woman from Kwee La villagesaid the soldiers were cruel.“They dug pits under our housesand built a sharp wood staked trapinside. They covered the pit with abamboo mat and banana leavesand lay rice on top. Pigs driven byhunger came to eat and fell into thehole and died on the stakes.The Kwee La villagers said it washard for the students to settle downto study in the jungle.

BorBorBorBorBorn to rn to rn to rn to rn to rununununun

FORCED RELOCATION

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Naw Paw Wah, 14, one of 32students hiding said.“While living like this we are notso interested in studying as wewere in the village. We have toworry when we might have to runagain. We have to do without ourclothes and we don’t have muchto eat.”Naw Paw Wah said their firstpriority is to protect themselvesfrom insects and mosquitoes.“I have just recovered from malariaand I don’t want to get denguefever or malaria again.”Naw Ma Chat, a mother with twochildren said she was pregnant atthe time the soldiers forced themto flee.“When I ran I was eight-monthspregnant and after a month in the

jungle I gave birth. Villagers havereturned to their village [Kwee La],but I will stay here as it’s too far forme to walk with my new baby. Thesoldiers destroyed our house sowe’ll have to rebuild it.”

When the evening sun sets over theLer Per Her school playground,busy teachers move between youngmen and women and children.Some are holding notebooks otherssit or lie on the ground.“This year if I pass myexamination, I will be very happy,”said Saw Eh Doh Si.

“I am sixteen years old, but still haveto do third standard. If I do not passthis exam my parents will not allowme to attend school.”Saw Eh Doh Si adds that he startedschool at the age of 12.“When I was four years old I wentto school but the situation was notgood for me. So I had to stop and I

lost my chance. I wanted to go toschool so much my mother tookme to Ler Per Her School.”Saw Eh Doh Si says he was mucholder then the other students.“They teased me a lot, but I didn’tcare. My teachers are good theyencouraged me to learn.”Saw Eh Doh Si, says there is noshame in being an older student.“I’m happy. If it is possible Iwould like to attend school up totenth standard. When I see somepeople becoming interpreters forforeigners I would like to worklike that.”Saw Eh Doh Si urges other Karenmen and women not to beashamed to learn.“I want to encourage my youngerbrothers and sisters to try hard tolearn as they will be the futurestrength of our Karen nation.”

Never too old to learn

FORCED RELOCATION

The woman said if the soldiersreturned the villagers areprepared to move again.“In 2005 we had to run four times.They have taught us how to run -it became our best lesson.”

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My storyIN MY OWN WORDS

Naw Shar Mlu 30 a KarenBaptist relates her life story forInside News.I was born on Sunday, 23October 1975. When I was eightmonths old it was the time theBurmese military started theirFour Cuts operations against theKaren people. [The aim of theoperation was to deny villagesupport for the Karen Army.Areas were designated into zoneseither hostile or neutral to theBurmese regime. Villagerscaught in classified ‘BlackZones’ were shot on sight.]My parents moved to Maw Chiwhen I was eight and I began mystudies. When I was 14 myparents returned to my villageand to our farm. My family are

hill farmers. A year later mymother died. My father lookedafter us but we were very poor.The strain of caring for the familywore out my father and fouryears later he died. I have fivebrothers and sisters. My oldersister and my elder brother gotmarried. But my three youngersisters are still single. We facedmany difficulties just to live. InApril 1996, when I was 19, I gotmarried. Two months later, theBurmese army started harassingus again. On 10th of June, wewere forced to relocate to MawChi. When we arrived at MowChi we found there was no workwe could do so we returned toour village. The army had burntdown all our homes and

destroyed the village. We fled tothe hills and stayed hidden deepin the jungle. On December 30,my first daughter was born in thejungle. I did not have anymedicine but luckily everythingwas okay. A year later wemanaged to survive by growingrice and vegetables and onSunday 23 of August, my sonwas born. When he was fivemonths old, my husband wentfishing with his two friends.Burmese troops caught them.The Burmese troops released myhusband’s friends but not him.The Burmese soldiers forced himto follow them and work as theirporter for two weeks.I feared my husband would bedisappeared for good. I felt so

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sad. I could not sleep or eat. But,by the grace of God, my husbandreturned. But it was only for ashort time. His brother whostayed at Pa Soung came to ourhouse and said the Burmesetroops that forced him to porterreturned to their camp.His brother told us if we didn’tleave immediately we would becaught, but the Burmese troopscame and forced my husband towork for them for one and halfmonths before releasing him.When my husband came back Iwas very happy. We stayed at PaSaung for six years, threechildren were born but I lost twodaughters in childbirth.In November 2005, armedmilitia, from the KarenniSolidarity Organization (KnSO),an armed group aligned to theBurmese regime started fightingwith the opposition army, the

KNPP. KnSO soldiers came toour house and called my husbandto follow them to their leader. Inever saw my husband again. Iwanted to go and see myhusband, who I loved, but theKnSO wouldn’t allow me. Sincethen, every day and every nightmy tears flow from my eyes.Everybody was very happybecause it was Christmas. I couldnot be happy knowing they hadmy husband. Two weeks later, Iheard that he had been sent toLoikaw prison. I still hoped if hewas in prison we could be oneday reunited. After Christmas, Iheard the KnSO had killed myhusband. My heart is filled withsadness. I wondered how I wouldkeep on living, how could I feedmy children? How could wesurvive?It was a difficult time for me. Myyoungest son was only nine

months. At that time I thoughtthat if I moved to a refugee camp,it would be better for us. I metwith my first cousin who livedin Mae La Oo camp in Thailand.I followed her back to Mae LaOo camp. But the camp did notaccept me. I went to Mae Ra Moecamp. It was very difficult for mebecause I did not know anyoneat the camp. The camp leader andelders accepted me I was verythankful to them.It has been 10 years since mymarriage to my beloved husband.Since his death, my tears havenever stopped flowing from myeyes. I cannot say when myworries will be gone, but I ampleased that everything is in thehands of God. Finally, I ask yourreaders, to please remember, mythree children and me, in theirprayers. Thank you.

IN MY OWN WORDS

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Every year on the 31st January theKaren people celebrate KarenRevolution Day. Many Karen fromdifferent places come to celebrateand dance. Naw Htay Htay Myintis a Done dancer from Ta Kot Wavillage. She is highly skilled in thetraditional Done dance that tells thestory of Karen culture.Naw Htay Htay Myint has dancedthe Done since she was 11. It is hervoluntary work and her hobby. Shesays.“Done is a Karen culture dance. Italso has the meaning that afterharvest time our ancestors gatherand show their unity and happinessby dancing the Done”Naw Htay Htay Myint says theDone dance can be dancedanywhere.“Mostly, it is danced on Karen NewYear Day and Revolution Day.

When we dance the Done we dressin our traditional Karen costume.”Naw Htay Htay Myint explains thata Done dance group has 30 to 50members. Every Done dance grouphas “Hta” singer, xylophone, harpand flute players. It is sung by thetwo main Karen groups, Sgaw andPwo.“The Done is difficult to dance atfirst, but it is important to ourculture and glorifies our Nationalcelebrations and that is why wededicate ourselves to learning it.”Naw Htay Htay Myint says.“The words of the songs are abouta particular event. It can be NewYear, harvest or our revolution. I amgrateful for the opportunity to comehere and dance to glorify our KarenRevolution Day.”Paw Sa, a respected teacher of theDone say she learn the Done whenshe was a child.

“It was my hobby but I am alsoaware it was important for it not todisappear from our culture. I wouldlike Karen youth and the nextgeneration to be able to dance thiscultural dance. I don’t want it to beconcealed. That’s why I try to teachit.” Paw Sar explains that there areseveral kinds of Done dance suchas Buffalo, Comedy, Kre, andTamaw. “Done dancers from Karenstate are recognized as good Donedancers and they take thecelebrations as an opportunity tocompete against other groups.”Paw Sa says the Karen Done danceis an important part of Karenculture.“The “Hta” songs words are realproverbs from the old times and areinvaluable for our people. The Donedance does not divide Buddhist orChristian. Every Karen has theopportunity to dance.”

Dance of life

REVOLUTION DAY

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United we stand divided we fall!

Our 57-year revolution has shownthe world we have the courage topersevere and to decide our ownpolitical destiny.— Saw Ma Blut, 38, ThirdBrigade.

“We feel that today, we celebrateRevolution Day in an unsatisfiedway. We would like every Karenperson to celebrate. We have to telleveryone about our revolution. Wealso have to tell our

I come to encourage those whomake sacrifices for our people.When they see us, they will feelstrengthen in their duty. I also feelvery proud seeing many Karensoldiers and the large crowd cometo celebrate our 57 year KarenRevolution Day anniversary.— Naw Pu Kaw, 40.

Some people do not understand ourrevolution. Some say it createsnothing but widows. But we arelucky we can still fight for ourfreedom. Some hands want toshoot, but they can’t, and that iswhy we are fortune.”— Saw Bo Lo, second-in-command of Karen NationalDefense Organization from KlerLwee Htu district.

revolutionaries our fight is for thebenefit of the Karen.— Lt. Colonel Pu Ka Hsu

As I am Karen I come toRevolution Day to show mycommitment and peace. I appearin public with our people tobecome the spirit and strength forour soldiers. I love my people andalways feel happy. If I am handedthe duty to be a soldier at thefrontline, I am willing to go. I amready to help my people.”— Saw Ler Gay, 18, from Mae Larefugee camp.

I am happy on this KarenRevolution Day for thisanniversary is the first I havecelebrated. I am surprised to seeso many Karen people gatheringand appearing on this special day.I feel proud that even if many ofmy people have been sacrified forour independence, we still havemany more willing to do so. Weare Karen so we have to encourageeach other.— Saw Law Ben, 22. Being a soldier at the time of the

celebrations on Karen RevolutionAnniversary Day is special. WhenI see the soldiers and the Karenpeople together I feel encouragedfor our future.Saw Maw Thow, a soldier who hasbeen a soldier for 13 years.

Saw Ma Blu (Right side)

Saw Bo Lo

Saw Maw Thow

Saw Ler Gay

Pu Ka Hsu

REVOLUTION DAY


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Resisting the regimeMany Karen people forced fromtheir homes by the Burmese armyrefuse to give up. They take to thehills and the jungles. Despitelandmines, torture and beingforced to labour for the militarythey find ways to resist the regimeand maintain their dignity.Naw Tay is one such woman. Sheand her husband left their villagebecause the Burmese army soldiersburnt their home and stole theirpossessions.“We’re afraid of the Burmese andthe DKBA (a Karen militia armedby the regime). When they cometo our village they took our rice,even our clothes, they left us withnothing. We were frightened.”Naw Tay says the Burmese soldiershave no discipline.“They do what they want; they takethe clothes of the back of oldpeople. Now they have nothing,except a few pots. The situation inour country is not good but we still

have to live there. It’s no way tolive, but we’re happy.”Naw Tay says villagers have to bearthe brunt of the Burmese armyaggression.“If there’s fighting between theBurmese and the Karen, theBurmese shoot the villagers.Naw Tay stays with more than 200Karen people in a jungle hideout.‘We have 76 children with us, butwe don’t have a school. We needmoney to set up a school. We cansupply the wood for the floor andthe roof, but we need woodenpoles, blackboards, teachers,books, pens and food for thestudents.”Naw Tay says the villagers havelearnt not to keep their foodsupplies near their homes.“If the soldiers come they steal orburn our rice, vegetables andchickens. Our paddy is about twohours walk from here.”

Naw Tay slowly empties her largepannier of vegetables.“I spent about an hour gatheringall this. We grew most of it. This isa result of what we planted lastyear. We have la tha (fruit), nwewah (potato), baw kay (taro) andtaba (a green leaf vegetable). Wedon’t have enough good soil togrow the rice we need.Naw Tay laughs and says it is hardto find money in the jungle.“There’s no job and we’re short ofchilli, salt and oil, but we don’thave money to buy them, unless wecan find wild foods like bambooshoots and mushrooms to sellacross the river in Thailand.”The small cluster of bamboo huts,are nothing more than basicshelters, but that hasn’t stopped thepeople from working hard to keepthem clean. Using handmadebrooms children sweep the area.Naw Tay smiles and says.“I have only one son. My otherbabies died in childbirth or fromsickness.”The harshness of her life is etchedin the lines on her face. Her bodyis hardened by work, walking anddigging. Naw Tay’s husband, SawShwe Htun (Golden light) joins usand smiles.“Women work harder than men,they’re bigger and stronger.” SawShwe Htun says the villagersworship flowers.“We offer food to the spirit of theflower, any flower, like sunflowers.In our old village we had plenty toeat. We even had tigers and bearsand we had to be careful of thebears. They were very fierce. ButKaren people fear DKBA andBurmese soldiers more than wildanimals.”

RESISTING

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Burma Army tortures villagersIn February 2006, Burmesesoldiers detained and beat to deathKaren villagers they accused ofhelping the Karenni army. Fearfulfor their safety, eight Karenfamilies, long-time residents ofKarenni State, fled to Thailand.One of the arrested, Saw Nu Nufrom Pa Haw Ko village said.“I was arrested by 428 Battalion.When I was released I took myfamily and fled to a refugee camp.Back in Burma we were persecutedby the army.”The families are now safe andliving in Mae Ra Mo refugee campon the Thai-Burma border. Saw NuNu says the increased Burmesemilitary presence is a result of theregime shifting their militaryheadquarters from Rangoon toPyinmanar.

“At the beginning of 2006, wenoticed a lot more soldiers in ourarea. They started accusing us ofbelonging to opposition armies,Fearful for our lives, about 70 ofus ran to Thailand and are nowliving in Mae Ra Mo camp.”Saw Nu Nu says soldiers arrestedhim at 8pm on the night of the 16th

December.“They beat me and tortured mewith [live] electric wires. Theelectric knocked me unconsciousand when they stopped I was toldif I didn’t want more of the same Ihad better spy on my friends forthem.”Saw Nu Nu says other village menand women were also beat by thesoldiers.“Some villagers ran away, ninevillagers were beat all through the

night, five were released and fourmade to carry arms and supplies.The soldiers killed one of theporters, Saw Eay Htai, in thejungle.When Saw Nu Nu was released hewarned his friends.“We waited until the soldiers wereasleep before running away. I fledalone. The next day the othermembers of my family ran toanother village. Later on we metand together we fled to the refugeecamp. We could not suffer anymore.”Saw Nu Nu named other villagersbeaten by the Burmese soldiers.“Naw Kulu was beaten severelyuntil he bled from his nose andhis jaw was broken. Saw Su Suwas struck with a gun on his head.

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and was badly hurt. At the villagethere is no medicine or medics totreat them, situation is not good, Idon’t know whether they will dieor live.”Popular Karen singer, K’Nyaw,says. “When I saw how our peoplesuffered I felt very sorry. It mademe sad until my tears fell, but Icould not do anything for them.God will help our people gain theircountry, the freedom and help ourpeople stand on their own feet.”According to Saw Nu Nu living inthe jungle meant village childrencould not go to school.“Day by day we have to look forthe food. It is very difficult. Thejungle is not a safe place for us.My future hope is [that] mychildren get a good education herein the camp.”Saw Nu Nu says he does not planto go back to his village.“If I go back, I will die. TheBurmese troops recorded ournames. I can live here. If the otherpeople stay here.”

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From page 13

Sam Nyein Ag is only 13months old, yet he has a seriousheart problem. His heart is twicethe size it should be. Sam’s par-ents brought him to Mae TaoClinic for treatment. Back homein Burma getting help for Samwas impossible. Burma has oneof the world’s worst healthrecords. The military dictatorshipspends about half of the annualbudget on its military and aboutone percent on education andhealth. A medic at Mae Tao Clinicsaid if Sam doesn’t have special-ist treatment he will die.

Heart Trouble

RESISTING

15IDP NEWS


In April 2004 Inside Newsvisited a burnt out jungle clearingto talk to a young teacher abouther dreams and hopes. Our report-ers went back two years later tosee how she was doing.

Naw Norin says dreams docome true. The young teacher saysit’s great to have a school to teachin.

“Two years ago we had noth-ing but a burnt field now look atthis. We have 47 children.”

Naw Norin says when theyfirst came to Law Thi Hta thepeople had nothing.

‘We were forced from ourhomes. Many of our people live inthe jungle and getting a educationis hard.’

Norin says there is no secu-rity and few opportunities for

Karen children.‘My hope for the future is that

we extend the school to help olderstudents.’

Norin says she is lucky shehas the help and experience of theheadmistress to rely on.

‘Naw Htoo Lar is my aunt andis a very respected teacher. We’relucky to have her.’

Norin says they get smallhelp from donors.

‘It’s difficult. Because we areon this side of the border NGOs areunable to fund us. We need books,pens, teaching materials and hope.’

Headmistress Naw Htoo Larsays she is grateful Norin is help-ing teach.

“Our children need a founda-tion in their lives, they have come

School of DreamsSchool of DreamsSchool of DreamsSchool of DreamsSchool of Dreamshere from many different places.Scattered by the Burmese armylike leaves in a storm.”

The teachers are determinedthe children of Law Thi Hta will

have an education.“We have to hope. We can’t

give up. The children will havenothing if we do. Their dreams areour dreams.”

We did it!

EDUCATION

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Uncertain futures Ma Mya and Saw Mya, eight-month old twins, are new to theworld, but already their future isbleak. Both their parents earn theirliving as hillside vegetablefarmers.Saw Ter Hai, the twins father, says.“I’m an hill farmer. Every year Ido this work, but this year, my twochildren were born at the timewhen I was supposed to be clearingthe grass for planting. At harvesttime the little rice I get will not besufficient to feed us for the wholeyear.”Saw Ter Hai says he will now haveto depend on distilling alcohol tomake money for his family.“To buy salt and fish paste I willhave to cook alcohol.”According to Saw Ter Hai in hisvillage, Kler Kart, there are 20

other families in similarcircumstances. Some depend onselling betel nuts and betel leavesat Mae Tha Rae, a five-hour walkto Thailand. The money they hopeto get from selling their producewill be used to buy salt and fishpaste.Saw Ter Hai said this year he hasnothing to sell, except the alcoholor jungle vegetables he hopes tofind.“If it were not for cattle traffickerswho buy it I’d have nowhere to sellit - I get 20 baht for a bottle. I canonly make five or six bottles frommy small cooking pot.”Saw Ter Hai says he earns about500 baht a year and now he hastwins to look after it will be extrahard on the family.

“Their mother does not produceenough milk and I have no moneyto buy milk for them. We needhelp. I’m happy to have my babies,but I worry about their future.”0

with rice and eat it.” We neededto buy rice; salt and fish paste butwe didn’t have money.Saw Aris Htoo says he hadenough of the constantharassment.“It was too hard to stay at KlayKhee. We fled to Le Khee in MuTran District, but again thesoldiers came. We had enoughsuffering so we fled to Mae RarMoo refugee camp in Thailand.It took us four days walking to getthere.”0

From page 17....

FOOD SECURITY

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Villagers forced out by soldiers

Living with the enemy

The villagers of Bu Sa Khee inToungoo District were terrifiedwhen Burmese soldiers set up apermanent camp near their village.It was not long before the soldiersstarted persecuting people.They burnt down Bu Sar Kheevillage, forcing villagers to flee tothe jungle. The Burmese soldiers

“Most of the time we have onlyboiled rice to eat.”Villagers say it is also difficulty forthem to send their children to townto school.“We can’t work to earn a living andthis means we don’t have moneyfor school fees, food and clothing.”Being unable to settle means thevillagers can’t plan to build schoolsor churches or temples. Manyvillagers’ sick of the constantthreats and persecution have fledto the mountains or across theborder to refugee camps.“If we build anything the Burmesetroops come and destroy it. TheBurmese soldiers are very activeand we always have to run andhide. Our children have no chanceto get an education here.”0

destroyed the paddy barns, burningthe rice supplies, leaving villagerswithout food.Some villages were targeted andshot on sight. Saw Lar Ka BawMoo, 22, told Inside News aboutthe day he was to be married.Saw Lar Ka Baw Moo went withhis friends to get the food to feedthe wedding party. On the wayBurmese troops saw them and shotat them, luckily no one wasinjured. Being shot at is notunusual for villagers from Bu SarKhee. When they go to the storesat Kaw Thay Du Township to buyfood supplies Burmese Armysoldiers harass them.According to Saw Lar Ka BawMoo villagers are never able to buyenough supplies.

Burmese soldiers from ToungooDistrict blocked Klay Kheevillagers from working their farmsand carrying their food to markets.A newly married couple, Saw AisHtoo, 25, and Naw Ah Khn Paw,23, used to live at Klay Kheevillage.Saw Aris Htoo says the harassmentagainst villagers by the Burmesesoldiers increased until he and hiswife could not stand it any longer.“We fled to a refugee camp to getaway. To eat our daily food we hadto travel to a remote place to buyit. We’d try to carry our food to ourvillage, but the Burmese troopswould stop us and steal the food.”Saw Aris Htoo claims thegovernment soldiers would also

force villagers to be unpaidlaborers for the army.“If the villagers heard SPDC troopsentered our area, especially themen, we’d flee into a safe hidingplace. If we were caught we wouldbe persecuted”.Saw Aris Htoo says the soldiersalso made it impossible forvillagers to work their farms.“At the harvest time the Burmesesoldiers came and destroyed orburnt our crops. When they enteredour village and saw our paddybarns [rice stores] they’d burn itdown. They’d kill and eat ouranimals. In 1997 they burnt downthe whole village of Klay Khee,including the Baptist church and

wouldn’t allow people out to getfood”.“We never have enough food toeat. During the rainy season we’dpick bamboo shoots and boil them

continue to page 16......

Newly married Saw Ais andNewly married Saw Ais andNewly married Saw Ais andNewly married Saw Ais andNewly married Saw Ais andNaw Ah Khn PawNaw Ah Khn PawNaw Ah Khn PawNaw Ah Khn PawNaw Ah Khn Paw

Bu Sa Khee villageSaw Lar Ka Baw Moo

FORCED RELOCATION


IDP NEWS18

They burned our village

The Burmese army attacked thevillage of Hee Dor Kor on 28November 2005. They burnt thevillagers’ houses, clothing and foodstores. Without shelter the villagershad no way of protecting their oldand young from the elements.A villager from Hee Dor Kor, SawWiller Htoo says the army isattacking and destroying manyvillages in the area. “Our village was destroyed by theBurmese soldiers. We faced manyfood problems. I could not buy andcarry foods because the troopsblocked the road and we did notdare to pass to the stores.”Without shelter or security thevillagers stayed in the jungle. It wascold. Villagers say the biggestproblem they face is from theBurmese army soldiers whodestroy their crops and food.

According to villagers patrollingBurmese soldiers plant land minesin their fields and on the roads theyuse to travel to shops to buy food.Saw Aris Htoo from Klay Keevillage says.“We are very afraid. We have tofind enough food to feed ourfamilies. We have to go to remoteplaces and carry it. The troopsblock our way and make it verydifficult for us. If the soldiers seeus we will be arrested or forced tocarry loads as porters.”When the villagers get warningthat the Burmese soldiers are in thearea they take to the jungle.Saw Willer says the villagers’ onlyfriend against the Burmese is theKaren Army, but even that comeswith a heavy price.“When the Burmese army enteredour place the Karen soldiers

planted landmines to help secureour village from attack, but SwaPu Lar, 66, stepped on a land mineand was severely injured.”

A Hee Dor Kor’s villager Saw Willer Htoo

FORCED RELOCATION


IDP NEWS 19

FORCE LABOUR

Since February 2006, the BurmeseArmy has increased its operationsin Toungoo District. Soldiers haveordered villagers from Than-Daung and Tan-Ta-Bin townshipsto carry military supplies, work atmilitary camps, clear and labour ontwo motor roads in Kaw-Thay-Doe, Bu-Hsa-Khee, Kaw-Thay-Doe and Maw-Chi. New militarybases have been set-up to controlstrategic points in the hill regionsaround Toungoo District.Burmese soldiers forciblyconfiscated cardamom, coffee,dock-fruit farms owned byagricultural workers in Than-Daung and Tan-Ta-Bin Townships.The Federation of Trade UnionKawthoolei (FTUK) has compileda long list of crimes committed bythe Burmese army soldiers againstvillagers in the area. These include:firing heavy weapon at villages;banning villagers from travelingand going out to buy food; stoppingpeople from going to work; starting

forest fires to burn down betel nut,cardamom, coffee plantations andhomes; torturing and executingKaren villagers on accusation ofcommunicating with the KarenNational Union; forcing villagers,including women, to work for freeand forcing villagers to clearlandmines. Villagers or theirfamilies are fined if Burmese armysoldiers are injured by thelandmines being cleared, die in thefighting or if military trucks aredamaged by an exploding mine.The constant forced labour ordersmeans villagers have no time to dotheir own work. Fed up withthe abuses thousands of Karenpeople in Toungoo District haveleft their homes and villages tohide in the hills and jungles.FOR THE RECORD4 February 2006: Soldiers fromLight Infantry Brigade (LIB) 440based at Kaw-Thay-Doe camp inTan-Ta-Bin Township forced sixmen and nine women from Kaw-

Thay-Doe village to carry six sacksof rice to Naw-Soe military camp.7 February 2006: Troops fromLIB 35, LIB 14 and LIB 108 fromTactical Command 1, under LIB66, went into Play-Hsa-Lo (Tate-Pu) village and forced 250 convictsto carry their food supplies. Theyordered the convicts to keep theinformation about transportation ofthe supplies secret. Theythreatened to take harsh actionagainst Play-has-lo (Tate-pu)villagers if the information wasleaked. During transportation ofmilitary supplies, some of theconvicts escaped into the jungle.2 to 5 March 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LID 66, LIB 80(under the command of CaptainKyaw Sein Ya) forced 80 villagersfrom Tha-Kweh-Plo, Tha-Hseh-Plo, Hta-Thaw-Po-Lee, Di-Dah-Ko, Htee-Tha-Saw-Hta and Htee-Tha-Saw-La to carry military andfood supplies for the army from

Ceasefire doesn’t stop abuses

continued page 20

IDP NEWS


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Thauk-Ye-Khan to Htee-Tha-Sawmilitary camps.1 March 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LID 66, Tacticalcommand 663, Major Tin Aung atPlay-Hsa-Lo camp forced sevenvillagers – one woman and six menfrom Yer-Lo, and five women andthree men from Plaw-Mu-Der tocarry food supplies from Paw-PaTaung to Play-Hsa-Lo camp.11 to 13 March 2006 Burmesearmy soldiers from LID 66,Tactical Command 663 underMajor Tin Aung forced 40 (31 menand nine women) villagers fromYer-Lo, Ka’Moo-Lo, Lay-Oh andPlay-Has Lo to carry militaryrations from Play-Has-Lo to Zya-Gyi camp.13 March 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LID 66, Tacticalcommand 663, LIB 35 and No 2column led by Zaw Nay Myo

forced villagers to carry militarysupplies and food supplies for threedays from P’Let-Wa to Klaw-Mee-Der military camp: The total ofmen and women was: 78 (60 menand 18 women) from Klaw-Mee-Der; 27 (17 men and 10 women)from Hu-mu-Der; 30 (22 men andeight women) from Ler-Klah-Der.The Burmese army soldiers alsostole 24 cattle owned by Klaw-Mee-Der villagers15 March 2006: Commander ofLID 66 Khin Zaw Oo forced alllocal trucks drivers at Kler-La, atotal of 11 trucks to transportmilitary supplies from Kler-La toBu-Has-Khee camp.Army runs on slave labour4 February 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LID 66 and LIB73,48,53 and LIB 599 fromSouthern Command headquartersforced villagers from Htee-Lo andKa-Ser-Doh to work for them. The

troops stole and butchered thevillagers’ domestic animals forfood.4 February 2006: Bo Zaw Aungfrom LIB 48, based at Htee-Locamp forced 38 villagers (17 menand 11 women) from Pler-Daw-Day to work at Htee-Lo armycamp.

7 February 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LID 66 based atEastern Play-Hsa-Lo, forced Play-Hsa-Lo(Tate-pu) villagers to workon the army camp construction.8 February 2006: Bo Zaw Aungfrom LIB 48, forced 26 Ka-Ser-Doh villagers to work in the armycamp making fences, cuttingbamboo, cutting wood, makingbamboo ropes and waiting on theofficers and soldiers.

8 February 2006: Troops fromLID 66, Yu-lo and Ka-Mwee-Lorvillagers to work and spy on theKNU. Burmese army soldiers from

Continued from page 19

FORCED LABOUR

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LID 66, operating in the Taungooarea stopped villagers from doingtheir own work or shopping.Villagers fled and hid in the jungle.10 February 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LID 66, in Than-Daung forced Ler-Ge-Khovillagers to work at the Per-Doe-Kar Bridge construction.8March 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LID 66, Tacticalcommand, Maj Aung Myint Ooforcibly demanded the villagers ofKer-Der-Kah, Kler-Pah-Htee, Ler-Gi-Ko to make 10,000 pieces ofbamboo from each village andsend to the military camp to makefence.9 March 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from Tactical command661 Major Aung Myint Oo forciblydemanded 50 Zinc roof from thevillagers of Ka’ Thwee-Dee andTha-Bah-Per. Human mine s Human mine s Human mine s Human mine s Human mine swwwwweeeeeeeeeeperperperperpersssss30 January 2006: The SPDCSouthern Command Headquarter,Strategic Command 1, commander

Thein Htun ordered a person fromeach household in Kaw-Thay-Doe(Ye-tho-gyi) village, in Tan-ta-bin Township, to clear bushes andlandmines on the motor road fromKaw-thay-doe to Bu-has-kheevillage.

31 January 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LIB 439 led bycommander Aung Tun Oodemanded 30 villagers from Peh-kaw-doe in Than-daung Townshipto clear landmines on Maw-Chimotor road from Tha-aye-hta to Pi-mu-kho.

March 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from LID 66 Tacticalcommander forced the villagers ofPeh-Kaw-Der, Maw-Ko-Der, Ku-Plaw-Der, Der-Do, Gar-Mu-Der,Kaw-Thay-Der, Klay-So-Khee,Wa-Tho-Ko, Kaw-Soe-Ko, Ler-Ko, Maw-Pah-Der, Kler-La toconstruct the road and clear landmines from Kler-La to Maw-Chiand Kler-La to Bu-Has-Khee.

January 2006: Burmese armysoldiers from SPDC IB 51, led by2nd Lt. Shwe Than Oo, forcedvillagers from; (1) Pa-ta-la, (2)Noe-gaw, (3) Thoo-ka-bee, (4) Inn-net, (5) Ga-mon-aing and (6) Wet-lar-daw to clear bushes and landmines between Kyauk-Kyi andKlaw-maw.TTTTThehehehehey steal our fy steal our fy steal our fy steal our fy steal our foodoodoodoodoodColumn 2 from Tactical command663, LID 66 and ID 73, 48, 53 andLIB 599 from Southern Commandheadquarters ordered villagersfrom Htee-lo and Ka-ser-doh areasto provide them with domesticanimals.February 2006: The commanderfrom SPDC Tactical Command663, under LID 66, in Tan-ta-binTownship, demanded 1 sack of riceand chickens from each householdof Yu-lo and Ka-mwe-lo villagesand ordered the villagers to sendthem to Play-has-lo (Tate-pu) armycamp. The villagers have toprovide food supplies for thesoldiers every month.

Burmese soldiers use Karen villagers as disposable labour

FORCED LABOUR

Saw Hay, 26, is a Karen NationalLiberation Army (KNLA)sergeant from battalion 202,Brigade 7. He joined the Karenarmy in 1996, after he completedhis studies.Saw Hay says he joined the armybecause when he as a child hesaw Burmese soldiers persecutevillagers. Saw Hay said he andtwo friends were chased andshot at by Burmese troops andhis two friends were killed.Saw Hay says he was too youngto take action against them, butnever forgot. He says hiswillingness to fight is becausehis Karen people need to havethe right to live and travelwithout fear. When he fled the

soldiers he felt great fear tryingto survive in the jungle alone.“I had never been here before.I did not know the way to go.I was scared.”Saw Hay was lost in the junglewithout anything to eat. He

survived by eating tree leaves.After wandering for four days hemet a Karen soldier and wasgiven water and rice.Saw Hay’s says the experiencetaught him to never give up nomatter how difficult it is. He sayshe has many comrades like himwho work together with thesame objective to dedicate theirlives for their people’s liberation.“I would like us to gain freedomas soon as possible. The Karenpeople live in fear, work in fearand travel in fear. So manyKaren people have been killed,persecuted and raped withoutreason. Thousands of oursoldiers have sacrificed theirlives for our revolution, wemustn’t give up now.”

22 IDP NEWS


What price freedom?

FREEDOM FIGHTERS

23IDP NEWS


Major General Silver, 77, hasspent the last 56 years fighting forfreedom for his Karen people. Theold soldier lives in a small bamboohut on the edge of Karen State. Hiseyes sparkle as he talks about hispeople.“I’m 77 years old but I don’t feeltired. Our war is just. We haveright on our side. We’re fightinggangsters who lack any morals.”Major General Silver speakssoftly as he proudly talks of hisyoung Karen soldiers andpoliticians.“Young and old we all havedifferent views about the ceasefirebut we are all ready if it finishes.We’re fighting for our land, welove our people.”Major General Silver is scathingof the Burmese army and theirallies the armed DKBA militia.

“Their soldiers have nothing.They are completly controlled bythe Burmans. The DKBA have nopolitical experience, no politicalconsciousness, they’re officers arenothing more than gangsters infancy uniforms.”The Major General rejectscriticism that the Karen must betired of the fighting.“It’s not about tired. We have tofight for our freedom. We haveconfidence in our young people,we trust them. Even if our peoplego overseas to live they are stillKaren.”The old soldier’s eyes hardenwhen he talks about Internationalnon-government organisationswho criticise his Karen army.“They accuse us of being corrupt.Look around, there’s not muchwealth to steal.”

The Major General’s hut is basic.Water is bottled, food is scarce andhis bed a simple platform. TheMajor General admits the Karenare not perfect.“We have a few bad people, butmost have sacrificed their comfortand their lives for the revolution.We never see NGOs over here ifthey come they’re welcome.”Major General Silver says hispeople would have no chancewithout the security of the Karenarmy.“We’re protecting our people.Without us they cannot survive.Other countries have armies andpolice to defend their citizens.NGOs have double standards.They want protection forthemselves and their staff, butdeny our people the same.”

Freedom Fighter

“My quarters are not luxury...”

FREEDOM FIGHTERS

New ginningsNew ginningsNew ginningsNew ginningsNew ginnings

32 years old Tin Shwe Oo, is of Burmanethnicity and used to believe in Buddha. Hewas born in Pyaw Bweh village, Maehteela inMandalay division. He has got eight brothersand sisters and he is the second eldest. Heattended the village school until he finishedeight graded. After he left school, he becamea goldsmith for five years and as a driver fortwo months. Keeping work was difficult inBurma and he soon found himself jobless. TinShwe Oo could not find any job so he workedfor the Burmese regime.Tin Shwe Oo says in 1993 he was looking forsomewhere to live in Lweh Kaw village, inKarennie State, but he was caught by theBurmese army and questioned by the Burmesesoldiers. They jailed him for two years.He had been in jail for 8 months when he wasordered to porter the army’s supplies at thefrontline.Tin Shwe Oo portered for three weeks untilhe decided to escape to a Karen village calledKo Khon in Mu Traw district. While avoiding

the Burmese soldiers he stepped on alandmine. Villagers from Ko Khon took himto a clinic where he was helped and cared for.In 1998 he relocated to Kho Khay village nearthe Salween River where he worked as aprimary school teacher. After four yearsteaching he married a Karen woman and hechange his religion from Buddhism toChristian. He now has a two-year-old son.He says.“I used to do slash and burn farming,but the Burmese army destroyed the rice andburned down our village several times. I hadto hide on the Thai side until the soldiers left.Now I earn my living by teaching and runninga small shop – it’s enough for my family”.Tin Shwe Oo says his memory of his old lifedisturbs him.“It wakes me up and I want to return to myown village, where my parents and siblingslive. But I dare not go back because of the army.I am married here with one child, so as longas we do not have any worries about oursecurity, I love living here.”

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