Mounting forced labour by Burmese army in Taung Oo region

Report by Nan Htoo San

Friday, 04 December 2009 08:22

The Burmese Army based in Taung Oo region is forcing many locals, including women to work against their will, locals said. Army battalions under the Military Operation Command 5 (MOC 5) based in Htan Ta Pin township, Taung Oo district have been constantly summoning locals to work since November. Locals are forced to carry rations and military equipment, which are necessary transportation for the army come winter, Taung Oo locals said. Image by Rusty Stewart via Flickr "It's happening around the mountain area in Htan Ta Pin Township called the military operation area. Locals are made to carry rations, military equipment and ammunition for battalions under the MOC 5. About 20 to 30 locals, including women, are summoned for duty at a time," a Taung Oo local Saw El War said. Some of the military camps are situated on the roadsides and vehicles are also requisitioned. Then villagers are forced to walk in front of the vehicles as landmine detectors. If the military camps are far from the main road, locals are forced to carry rations and military equipments. The Light Infantry Battalion 542 (LIB 542) based in Ka Lawme Del village under the command of MOC 5 summoned 32 women and 24 men on November 27. The infantry battalion forced them to transport army rations (rice) from Ka Lawme Del camp to Palei War camp. "There is an army camp in our village. Therefore, two villagers have to work in the camp daily. Besides, villagers are forced to carry rations, cut wood and bamboo for the camp. Villagers are treated inhumanly," a Zee Phyu Kon villager in Htan Ta Pin Township said. There are often gun battles between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Burmese Army, when the latter’s troops escort the convoy transporting ration. Currently there are 78 military camps in Taung Oo district, which is under the control of KNU's brigade 2. The battalions from MOC 5 and Southern Military Command have entered the area since 2006.