Order #26
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
To: Chairperson
Company #x
[I am] Writing this letter. To carry the rations tomorrow, send 10 people from
Chairperson's village to me. Do not be late. Arrive at 5 o'clock in the morning. I will be
waiting.
P.S. Reply when [you] receive this
letter.
Yours,
[Sd.] 15/11[/99]
Camp
Commander
xxxx Camp
[The 'rations' are Army rations which are usually dropped at the roadheads by military
convoys once every month or two; entire villages are then ordered to carry the rations
from the roadheads to Army camps and outposts throughout the region.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #27
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
To:
Chairperson, send without fail 10 male loh
ah pay servants on 8-10-99 to xxxx. (Chairperson or Secretary must come to
bring them.) Come and arrive on the 9th at 12 o'clock noon.
[Sd.] Captain, 8/10/99
(for) Column Commander
Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #28
Stamp:
To: 13-9-99
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Chairperson
Company #x xxxx
village
Subject: [We] already ordered the
following things from the Chairperson of the village
- [We] already ordered you to send a messenger (every day) but [you] have
failed, so the fine is 1,000 Kyat.
- [We] will order you again on the day when [you] must send a messenger.
- Take the census of every house and send the combined registers to the camp to arrive on
14-9-99.
- Report the list of overnight guests. If [you] don't report it, [you] will
be fined 500 Kyat.
- If [we] call for loh ah pay, [you] have to come on time.
- [You] have to come to the camp and sign to get permission to transport rice.
- On Tuesdays and Fridays, those who will go to the market must come first to the camp to
get permission.
Regarding the above subjects, [we] already gave orders to the Chairperson, so if
[you] don't obey, serious action will be taken.
[Sd.]
13-9-99
Camp Commander
xxxx Camp
Company Commander
#x
Company
#xxx Infantry Battalion
[Villages are supposed to send 'messengers' on a daily rotation to do errands at the
Army camp. The house registers which are requested are used to determine rates of
extortion and demands for 'loh ah pay' forced labourers. In Burma, all overnight guests
must be registered with the authorities or the host and their whole family risk being
arrested. The final two items refer to the permission which villagers must obtain to
transport rice into or out of their village, go to market or go anywhere at all. All of
these demands are routine and typical, though it is rare to see them expressed so clearly
all in one document.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #29
Stamp:
22-9-99
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Company #x
To: Chairperson
xxxx
village
Subject: Collecting firewood in the
village / Chairperson come to meet
1. Regarding the above subject, from our camp [we've told you to] collect one
bundle of firewood, but as of today [it] hasn't arrived yet.
2. On 21-9-99 [I] sent a letter but [you] didn't reply at once. Send a
messenger every day on time.
3. Whether the Chairperson is healthy or not, [you] haven't informed us.
Chairperson, keep to the specified time and come today, 22-9-99, at 1200 hours.
4. If you are not well, hire a carrier and come.
5. If [you] don't come, [I] will refuse permission and prohibit the
carrying of rice to xxxx village, and will prohibit the transport of market goods.
6. Carrying rice to yyyy village is permitted. Carrying to xxxx
village is not permitted, you are informed.
7. Regarding the above subject, summoning [you] because [I] want to
meet and discuss this. If [you] don't obey and come, you must be punished and
labelled as being solidly against the nation, and serious action will be taken. Come
today.
[Sd.]
22-9-99
Camp Commander
yyyy
Camp
[This is a seriously threatening letter. Firstly, if the officer forbids the transport
of rice and market goods to and from the village this may bring starvation on the
villagers, and the village head is additionally threatened with being labelled as a
'destructive element'. 'Carriers' and 'messengers' mean villagers to do forced labour as
porters and 'set tha' messengers respectively.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #30
Stamp: 14-9-99
#xxx Infantry Battalion
#( ) Company
To: Chairperson
xxxx village
Subject: Informing [you] to send
the new labourers
The labourers from xxxx village have done their duty for 20 days already. Therefore
we inform the Chairperson to come on 14-9-99 with the new labourers to change.
[Sd.]
(for)
Company Commander
#( ) Company
#xxx Infantry Battalion
[This order refers to villagers doing a shift of forced labour who must be replaced
before they will be released. The Company number has been left blank.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #31
To: 13-9-99
Village Head, xxxx village
Subject: To send 1 servant
A servant from xxxx village ran away on 11-9-99. Informing you to send 1 servant to
yyyy camp today.
[Sd.]
(for) Column Commander
Column x Headquarters
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #32
To: Chairperson Date:
12-9-99
xxxx village
Subject: The Chairperson must come and
meet with the Camp Commander
Village Chairperson, there are emergency matters to take care of, so as soon as [you] receive
this letter, come quickly to meet the xxxx Camp Commander. If [you] fail,
the responsibility will fall on the Chairperson, letting you know so you are hereby
informed.
Chairperson, from 8-9-99 until now the messengers from the village have not come.
Therefore, [send] a register of the names of the messengers who were on duty from
the 8th until now, and [we] will fine these messengers. [We] will
fine the messengers who were on duty 1,000 Kyat [each], letting you know so you are
hereby informed.
[Sd.]
12-9-99
Camp Commander
xxxx Camp
[Written in addition on the back of this order was 'Come to meet today'.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #33
Stamp: 11-9-99
#xxx Infantry Battalion
#( ) Company
To: Chairperson
xxxx village
Subject: Informing you to send back the
servant
1) One rotation servant from xxxx village ran away as he pleased.
2) We inform you to replace the 1 servant who ran away on 11-9-99.
[Sd.
/ 11/9]
Company Commander
#( ) Company
#xxx Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #34
To: Chairperson
Stamp: Date:
[blank]
xxxx village Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Column #x Headquarters
Subject: To send loh ah pay [forced
labourers]
Send one person per house from Gentleman's [your] village without fail for loh
ah pay on the 28th at (0600) hours to yyyy village, you are
informed.
[Sd.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #35
Chairperson
Subject: The matter of loh ah pay
labour
Tomorrow at 6 o'clock in the morning, come without fail and arrive at the Ya Ya Ka [VPDC]
office with food for 3 days. No less than 5 persons.
Note: They can be women or men.
[Sd.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #36
Stamp: To:
Frontline #xxx Infantry
Battalion Chairperson
Secretary
xxxx
village
Chairperson/Secretary, bring along with you 10 persons for loh ah pay labour this
evening.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
Frontline
#[blank] Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #37
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #xxx
Company #x
To:
Chairperson
xxxx Village
As soon as you get this letter, Chairperson yourself come with a servant and report. Also,
bring along 2 pyi [about 4 kg/9 lb] of rice and 1 bottle of cooking oil.
[Sd:]
xxxx
[To come 'with a servant' means to bring one person from the village to do a shift of
forced labour at the Army camp.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #38
To:
aaaa / U bbbb [elders' names] Stamp:
xxxx
Village Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Column
#x Headquarters
- We are releasing servant xxxx two days early. His turn is supposed to be
5 days, but his duty is finished.
- At this moment, send an elephant to carry coconut trees to build xxxx
bridge.
- Send quickly ironwood 3 by 1 [3"x1" planks] and 60 feet [long].
[Sd.]
Battalion
Commander
#xxx Infantry Battalion
[The first point notifies the village elder that the villager has finished the task he
has been forced to do so he is being released before the originally specified time. The
second and third points also involve forced labour, because no one can control an elephant
except its regular owner/mahout so this person must go (possibly losing significant income
he could have made with his elephant otherwise), and the ironwood planks demanded are hard
to find and very labour-intensive to saw.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #39
To: Village Head
25-8-99
xxxx village
Subject: To send servants
Letting the village head or the deputy village head or village elders know to come with 5
duty servants to yyyy village, where the local Column Commander is staying today.
[Sd.]
Column Commander
Column
x Headquarters
Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #40
To: Chairperson
Subject: [We] need wood for building
the new high school. So for loh ah pay from the villagers, your villagers have to
come and carry the timber to [the site] near xxxx village. [They]
have to do loh ah pay and [come] with a packet of rice each.
Gathering place: xxxx VPDC [Ya Ya Ka]
Time: Morning
at 6:30 (10-8-99)
[Sd.]
Chairperson
Village
Tract Peace & Development Council
xxxx Village Tract, Than Daung Township
[This particular Village Tract Peace & Development Council works very closely with
the local military who appointed them, so it is difficult to know whether this order
really originated with the military or the PDC. This particular PDC is known for receiving
orders directly from the military and passing them on to the villages.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #41
Stamp: To:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Chairpersons
Date: 13/7/99
Column #x VPDC
aaaa
/ bbbb / cccc /
dddd
/ eeee / ffff [villages]
Subject: To send loh ah pay [forced
labour] and attend a meeting
1. For the use of xxxx Army Camp, send loh ah pay labourers to arrive on
14-7-99 at 7 o'clock in the morning as listed below.
(a) aaaa
village (70)
persons
(b) bbbb
village (20)
persons
(c) cccc
village
(25) persons
(d) dddd
village (15)
persons
(e) eeee
village (40)
persons
(f) ffff
village (15)
persons
1. [sic: 2.] Therefore send the loh ah pay labourers at the specified time,
and Village Chairpersons, [we] will hold a meeting on 14-7-99 at 8 o'clock in the
morning, so come on time without fail, [you] are informed.
[Sd.]
Army Camp Commander
Chairperson must bring 140 150 limes when you come to the meeting.
[Copies of this order were sent to all villages listed at the top.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #42
To: Chairperson
xxxx
village Date:
30-6-99
Subject: To send village servants for
rotation
To do loh ah pay for Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion, [send] 1
servant from each village, Chairperson yourself come to bring them to xxxx Army
Camp to arrive on the 4th waning day of first Wa Zoh month [1-7-99] ,
you are informed.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
xxxx Camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #43
Stamp: To: Chairpersons
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
VPDC
Column #x
aaaa
/ bbbb / cccc /
dddd
/ eeee / ffff [villages]
29/6/99
Subject: To
send loh ah pay [forced labour]
1. For use at xxxx Army Camp, send the number of loh ah pay labourers
specified in the list below to the army camp, to arrive on 30-6-99 at 7 o'clock in the
morning.
(a)
aaaa
village (70)
persons
(b)
bbbb
village (20)
persons
(c)
cccc village
(20) persons
(d)
dddd
village (40)
persons
(e)
eeee
village (30)
persons
(f)
ffff
village (10)
persons
2. Therefore, send the loh ah pay labourers on time according to the quantity
specified, you are informed.
3. To hold a meeting for the village chairpersons, come to the army camp to arrive on
30-6-99 at 10 o'clock, you are informed.
[Sd.]
Army
Camp Commander
(xxxx
Army Camp)
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #44
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Light Infantry
Battalion To: Chairperson
Frontline
Headquarters xxxx
village
Subject: Informing [you] to come
and bring servants
When Frontline #xxx Light Infantry Battalion was patrolling for regional control
and security, when we stopped in yyyy village we had a problem with servants.
Chairperson yourself come to send 5 loh ah pay servants from xxxx village
with rations for 3 days to arrive today at yyyy village, intelligence department,
you are informed.
Date: 25/6/99 [Sd.]
Place: yyyy
village (for)
Regional Battalion Commander
['We had a problem with servants' means that they could not round up enough villagers
as porters for their patrol or forced labourers to take back to the Army camp.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #45
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry
Battalion To: Chairperson
#x
Column VPDC
xxxx
[village] 25/6/99
Subject: To send a motorised longtail
boat
If you gentlemen have Daw xxxx's motorised longtail boat, the Army needs to use it.
When you get this letter, just send it.
[Sd.]
At
Tat xxxx
[This order carries the implicit demand that the boat owner/driver go along to drive
the boat.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #46
To: Chairperson,
Secretary
24-6-99
Subject: To buy and carry rice
Regarding the above subject, 15 loh ah pay servants from Chairperson's village must
come to xxxx village tomorrow at 7 o'clock. [You] must report information to
the Camp. [You] must give 1,500 Kyats cash to the Column for the servants' food
every 15 days. Therefore, send 1,500 Kyat in cash with the servants tomorrow. [I am]
writing this letter to inform you.
[Sd.]
24-6-99
Chairperson
Village
Tract Peace & Development Council
xxxx Village Tract, Than Daung Township
[This order is written in red ink, which is interpreted by villagers as an indication
of urgency and an implied threat. It is the village head who must report intelligence to
the camp, while the 15 other villagers being demanded must do some form of unspecified
forced labour. Such forced labourers always take along their own food because they know
the Army will not feed them; the demand for regular payments for their food is probably
just direct cash extortion. It also implies that this labour will be permanent and carried
out on a 15-day rotation basis.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #47
To:
Daw aaaa (Village
Head)
17-6-99
xxxx [village]
The Column says that mother's village, xxxx, should cut wood between 28-Mile and
34-Mile. Therefore, mother should tell loh ah pay labourers from the village to
report to yyyy camp.
Respectfully,
Camp
Commander [Sd.]
yyyy camp
['28-Mile' and '34-Mile' refer to road or pathway milestones, so the area covers a
stretch of 6 miles.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #48
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
To: Chairpersons
Column #x
VPDC
aaaa
/ bbbb / cccc /
dddd
/ eeee / ffff [villages]
Date:
14/6/99
Subject: To send loh ah pay [forced
labour]
1. For use at xxxx Army Camp, the above villages must send loh ah pay
labourers to the army camp, to arrive on 15-6-99 at (0700) hours, according to the list
below.
(a)
aaaa
village (70)
persons
(b)
bbbb
village (15)
persons
(c)
cccc
village (20)
persons
(d)
dddd
village (10)
persons
(e)
eeee
village (40)
persons
(f)
ffff
village (10)
persons
2. When [you] send the loh ah pay labourers, they must bring plastic sheets
themselves, and the loh ah pay labourers from bbbb village have to go from xxxx
to yyyy camp and arrive at (0800) hours in the morning, you are informed.
[Sd.]
14/6/99
xxxx
Army Camp Commander
[This was a carbon-copied order sent to many villages. The plastic sheets they must
bring are to worn to protect themselves from the rain.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #49
Stamp:
#xxx Infantry Battalion
To: Chairperson
10-6-99
Intelligence xxxx
Village
Army (Land)
Subject: Come to send information to yyyy
Camp within this night
Regarding the above subject, Chairperson (or) Secretary yourselves from xxxx
village must come to yyyy Camp tonight with one person to replace the guide [to
replace the villager currently doing forced labour as a guide] for the Column. Bring
information without fail. This is an emergency matter so bring information without fail,
you are informed.
[Sd.] 10/6/99
Camp Commander
yyyy Camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #50
Stamp:
8-6-99
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Company #x
Ko aaaa,
Sending this letter right now with the villagers from xxxx village to carry rice.
From the 50 sacks of rice left by Captain bbbb, give 11 sacks of rice to these
villagers. [I] will ask [them] to come and carry the rest of the rice within
the day. I will give them a recommendation letter together with my [this] letter
when the villagers come. You check it and give them the sacks of rice. If [we] need
help, [we] will ask it from Ko aaaa [you]. Right now, [we] don't
need it. When [we] need, I will tell [you]. Send back this letter and the
recommendation letter for the rice along with the villagers. If [you] have any
problems, write a letter to me.
With
friendliness,
[Sd.]
8/6/99
Camp
Commander
yyyy Camp
[This is a letter from an Army officer to a village elder. The Captain has left 50
sacks of rice at the elder's village, and this officer has now rounded up villagers to do
forced labour carrying it the rest of the way to his camp. This letter is to verify to the
village elder that it is okay to hand over some of these sacks of rice to the villagers to
be carried away; the villagers will have to make several trips to carry all of it.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #51
Stamp: Date:
4-6-99
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Col.
x
To: Village Head
xxxx [village]
- Village head and 3 messengers, come on
5-6-99 and report without fail to yyyy.
- Come before 9 o'clock.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
Officer
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #52
Stamp: Date:
4.6.99
Infantry Battalion #xxx
Company #x
To:
Daw aaaa
xxxx Village Head
Subject: Informing [you] to come to the Army Camp
Regarding
the above subject, xxxx Village Head Daw aaaa must come with a messenger [someone
to do forced labour as a messenger] on 5.7.99 [sic: 5.6.99] at 9 o'clock to yyyy
Army Camp, you are informed.
[Sd.]
Company
Commander
#x Company
#xxx
Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #53
Stamp:
1-6-99
Village Tract Peace & Development Council
xxxx
Village Tract
To: Chairperson, Secretary, Village Mother,
Village Father
yyyy [village]
Subject: The matters of rotating for
guide duty and servants' fees
+
the matter of clearing the rice taxes
Chairperson and Secretary, as soon as [you] receive this letter, you are requested
to come right now to xxxx. [We] have to discuss and clear up the above
subjects. You are requested to bring the money at the same time. It is important so come
without fail, [we] write this letter to inform you.
[Sd.]
Chairperson
Village
Tract Peace & Development Council
xxxx Village Tract, Than Daung Township
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #54
To: 31.5.99
Chairperson
xxxx village
Subject: From xxxx village, the
village head must come and bring the carpenters who will build the bridge and villagers
immediately upon receiving this letter to yyyy camp, you are informed.
Bring the rice that you borrowed.
[Sd.]
Camp
Commander
yyyy camp
[Both the carpenters and the villagers will be used as forced labour to build the
bridge.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #55
Stamp: To: Chairperson
/ Secretary
#xxx Infantry
Battalion xxxx
village 30-5-99
Column #x
Subject: Asking for loh ah pay
servants
From gentleman's village, the Column asks you to give 15 loh ah pay servants and
bamboo and pork, bring them at the same time to the Column. Informing you for the second
time. Do not fail to bring them. If you fail, it will be the gentleman's [your]
responsibility, you are informed.
[Sd. / 30-5-99 (xxxx)]
(for)
Column Commander
Frontline IB #xxx, Col. #x
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #56
Stamp: To: Chairpersons
Frontline #xxx Infantry
Battalion
VPDC
#x
Column aaaa
/ bbbb / cccc /
dddd
/ eeee /
ffff
/ gggg [villages]
Date:
30/5/99
Subject: To attend a meeting and send loh
ah pay
1) On 31-5-99 in the morning at 8 o'clock, the Battalion Commander wants to meet the
Chairpersons from the above villages at xxxx Army Camp. The Chairpersons yourselves
come to the Army Camp at 0740 hours, come without fail.
2) On 31-5-99 at 0700 hours, send loh ah pay for use at the Army Camp according to
the numbers below. Each of them must prepare [and bring] plastic sheeting, you are
informed.
(a) aaaa
village labourers 70
persons
(b) bbbb
village labourers 25
persons
(c) cccc
village labourers 30
persons
(d) dddd
village labourers 20
persons
(e) eeee
village labourers 40
persons
(f) ffff
village labourers 15
persons
(g) gggg
village labourers ([blank])
persons
[Sd.]
Army
Camp Commander
xxxx [camp]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #57
Stamp:
Peace & Development Council
Date:
23-5-99
xxxx village tract
The headman's village must start providing one bullock cart for Ta Won Kyay [duty/obligation],
so send this bullock cart to arrive on 24-5-99 at 6 o'clock in the morning.
Note: Change the bullock cart every day,
and when we finish 6 carts [we] will switch to another village.
[Sd.]
Member
Village Peace & Development Council
xxxx
village tract, Papun Township
['Ta Won Kyay' (duty, obligation) is the term used to refer to things such as rice
quotas and other materials which villagers must give on a regular specified basis to the
Army and authorities. This means the village will have to provide a bullock cart for the
Army's use on a regular basis, a different villager's cart each day for 6 days in a row,
then the rotation will move to another village. This automatically implies that the
bullock cart owners will have to go along to drive their teams in doing the forced
labour.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #58
Stamp: 19-5-99
Frontline #[illegible] Infantry Battalion
Column #x
To: Chairperson / Secretaries
Now, as soon as [you] receive this letter, come quickly to replace the servants
with servants from Gentlemen's [your] village, each of them with rations for 5
days, a machete and plastic sheet, you are informed.
Friendly
and respectfully,
[Sd.] 19/5
Sgt.
Maj. xxxx
Mobile Army (Sgt. Maj.)
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #59
Stamp:
Peace & Development Council
Date: 6-5-99
xxxx village tract
From Gentleman's [your] village, [send] one bullock cart and 5 loh ah pay
labourers, they must be men and do not send fewer under any circumstances. Send them
without fail to the Ya Ya Ka [VPDC] office on 7-5-99 at 6 o'clock in the morning in
order to build a sawmill.
Note: Major
xxxx has ordered it.
[We]
will not accept fewer [than 5] under any circumstances.
[Sd.]
Member
Village
Peace & Development Council
xxxx village tract / Papun Township
[This order and those immediately below give an indication of how the military uses the
village tract PDC authorities to force its orders on the villages. The village did not
comply immediately as ordered, so this order was followed by Orders #60 and 61 below.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #60
Stamp:
Date:
7-5-99
Peace & Development
Council To: [Village]
Head
xxxx village
tract yyyy
[village]
Subject:
The xxxx Army Camp Commander [asks for] 5 loh ah pay labourers
and 1 bullock cart from the [village] head's village. Send them quickly right now,
as soon as [you] receive this letter, you are informed.
Note:
The [village] head and 2 assistants of the [village] head must come. If [you]
fail, we will not take responsibility [for what happens].
[Sd.]
Chairperson
Village
Peace & Development Council
xxxx village tract / Papun Township
[This order followed the day after Order #59 above. The village still did not comply,
so Order #61 was sent.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #61
Stamp: Date:
8-5-99
Peace & Development Council
xxxx village tract
Headman, [we] asked you to send one bullock cart and 5 people to arrive at 6
o'clock in the morning, but until now they haven't arrived yet. Therefore, send quickly
one bullock cart and 3 people right now with the person who brings this letter, to carry
the machine saw in xxxx village.
Note: Send
them to arrive within 1 hour.
[Sd.]
Member
Village Peace & Development Council
xxxx village tract, Papun Township
[This order followed the day after Orders #59 and #60 above. As no more orders
followed, the village must have complied; however, just a few days later the demand was
repeated in Orders #62 and 63 below.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #62
Stamp: Date:
12-5-99
Peace & Development Council
xxxx village tract
From Headman's village, send without fail one bullock cart at 6 o'clock in the morning.
Note: Major xxxx has ordered it.
[Sd.]
(for)
Chairperson
Village Peace & Development Council
xxxx village tract / Papun Township
[This order came only a few days after those immediately above, and was followed the
next day by Order #63 below.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #63
Stamp: Date:
13-5-99
Peace & Development Council
xxxx village tract
Right now, as soon as [you] receive this letter, the Headman must come and bring
along one bullock cart to the Ya Ya Ka [VPDC] office.
Note: The
Headman clearly doesn't respect this office.
[Sd.]
Member
Village
Peace & Development Council
xxxx village tract / Papun Township
[This order followed the day after Order #62 above. Taken in the local context, the
'Note' written on this order is extremely threatening.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #64
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
To: Chairperson Date:
4-5-99
Column #x
VPDC
xxxx
[village]
Subject: To send loh ah pay [forced
labour] to clear the scrub
To clear the scrub between yyyy and zzzz villages, come to yyyy led
by the village head and arrive on 5-5-99 at 6 o'clock in the morning, you are informed.
[Sd.]
4.5.99
Camp
Commander
Frontline IB #xxx
(xxxx
Army Camp)
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #65
To: Chairperson
xxxx
village 4-5-99
[For] loh ah pay [send] 10 persons tomorrow, 5-5-99 at 0700 hours, and send
information to the camp.
[Sd.]
Capt. xxxx
xxxx
[camp]
LIB #xxx
[This order was written with very abrupt grammar, literally "Loh ah pay, 10
persons tomorrow, …"]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #66
Stamp:
#xxx Infantry
Battalion To: Chairperson
/ Secretary
Column #x
xxxx
village
Now, as soon as you receive this letter, [send] 2 servants from Gentleman's village
to the Column, Gentleman yourself come to send them tomorrow early in the morning, you are
informed.
Note [Sd.
/ 4/5/99]
Gentleman yourself,
(for)
Column Commander
do not fail to come and send.
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #67
To: Chairperson
xxxx [village] 4-5-99
Now, when you receive this letter, tomorrow, 5-5-99 at 0700 hours hire 10 persons for loh
ah pay, and report information to the camp.
[Sd.]
Capt.
xxxx
xxxx [camp]
LIB
#xxx, Company #x
[Though this order refers to 'hiring', it really just means to bring 10 people for
forced labour.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #68
To: Chairperson 2-5-99
xxxx village
Subject: To clarify about servants
Regarding the above subject, to clarify about the servants from xxxx village,
Chairperson yourself come today to the yyyy Camp Commander, you are informed.
[Sd. / 2/5/99]
Captain xxxx
yyyy
Camp Commander
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #69
To: Chairperson /
Secretary 1-5-99
xxxx [village]
Subject: The Chairperson must come with one
guide
Regarding the above subject, right now as soon as [you] receive this letter, come
to the camp at once. Come quickly, it's important. Bring along one guide.
[Sd.]
Camp Commander
yyyy
Camp
[The village head is being asked to bring one of his villagers to do forced labour as a
guide for an SPDC Army column.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #70
Stamp:
Date: 27-4-99
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Column #x
To: Chairperson
Secretary
xxxx village
Subject: To send loh ah pay
Regarding the above subject, to carry [Army] rations, you Gentlemen yourselves must
come and bring along loh ah pay [forced labourers] from Gentlemen's [your]
village, to arrive on 28-4-99 at 6:00 in the morning, you are informed.
[Sd.]
27/4
(for) Intelligence Officer
Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Note: To register the names for loh
ah pay, make a list of their names, ages and fathers' names systematically.
[This is a standard order which villages always receive when the monthly ration
shipments come in, and all of the villagers are forced to go and carry them from the
delivery point to the Army posts.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #71
To: Chairperson
Date:
21-4-99
Secretary
xxxx
village
Subject: To send rations for loh ah
pay [forced labourers]
Regarding the above subject, for one of the loh ah pay labourers from Gentlemen's
village who is with Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion, come to send 2 bowls [about
4 kg / 9 lb] of rice, fried shrimp-paste, plastic sheeting and salt to yyyy
village now, as soon as [you] receive this letter. If [you] fail, it will be
Gentlemen's [your] responsibility, you are informed.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
Officer
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Note: Next time [you] change the servant, bring the rations [for
him] at the same time.
[This order probably resulted when one of the villagers doing forced labour ran out of
food. The Army does not want to release him nor feed him, so they demand food for him from
the village, then go on to warn the village head that in future all forced labourers on
rotation should bring along enough food for their shift.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #72
Stamp:
#xxx Infantry Battalion
To: Chairperson 17-4-99
Column #x Headquarters
Subject: To send loh ah pay
servants
Now, as soon as you receive this letter, Gentleman [village head] yourself bring
rotation loh ah pay messengers to the camp.
xxxx village
xxxx
township
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #73
Stamp:
Date: 17-4-99
Frontline Headquarters
#2 To:
Infantry Battalion #xxx
Chairperson
xxxx
Village
Subject: To send emergency servants
Regarding the above subject, you are informed to come yourself and bring one servant
immediately to yyyy Camp when you get this letter. If you fail, it will be your
responsibility.
[Sd.
/ 17/4/99]
Camp Commander
yyyy Camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #74
To: Chairperson /
Secretary Date:
12-4-99
xxxx village
Subject: To send loh ah pay [forced
labour]
Regarding the above subject, from Gentleman's [your] village [send] one man
for loh ah pay with food for 5 days. Gentlemen, come yourselves to bring him to yyyy
[camp] and arrive on 13-4-99 at 12:00 o'clock noon, you are informed.
Stamp:
[Sd.]
xxxx
Frontline #xxx Infantry
Battalion Intelligence
Officer
Column #x
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #75
To: Chairperson /
Secretary Date:
11-4-99
xxxx village
Subject: To send loh ah pay [forced
labour]
Regarding the above subject, to carry [Army] rations, loh ah pay from the
Gentlemen's [your] village must come and arrive on 12-4-99 at 6:30 in the morning
at yyyy village. Gentlemen, come yourselves to bring them, you are informed.
Stamp: [Sd.]
xxxx
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Intelligence Officer
Column #x
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #76
To: Chairperson /
Secretary 9-4-99
xxxx village
Subject: To send 8 load-carrying bullocks
Regarding the above subject, to carry rice to yyyy, send 8 load-carrying bullocks
to the Chairperson's house at zzzz [village], to arrive on Sunday 11-4-99 at
0700 hours.
[Sd.]
Camp
Commander
yyyy Camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #77
To: Chairperson / Secretary
xxxx
village 2-4-99
Now, as soon as you receive this letter, [send] 2 servants and a donation of 5,000
(Five Thousand) Kyat for xxxx pagoda. Send it to yyyy village without fail.
If you fail the Chairperson and Secretary will be held responsible, you are informed.
Stamp: [Sd.]
#xxx Light Infantry
Battalion Intelligence
Officer
Military Control
Headquarters
LIB #xxx
yyyy [camp]
[The 'servants' are forced labourers, and the donation will likely be either pocketed
by the Intelligence Officer or used to make an offering to the pagoda in his own name.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #78
Stamp:
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion xxxx Village
Tract Peace & Development Council
Column #[blank]
Headquarters Than
Daung Township
Verification Date:
31-3-99
The 3 villagers named below, in place of xxxx Village Tract, are taking
responsibility as military operation servants together with our Frontline #xxx [IB],
Col. #x, from 31-3-99 to 31-4-99 [sic: 30-4-99], they are truly
verified.
1. Ko aaaa 35 years old, (father) U eeee
xxxx Village, Kyauk Kyi Town
2. Ko bbbb 32 years old, (father) U ffff
yyyy Village, Kyauk Kyi Town
3. Ko cccc 27 years old, (father) U
gggg zzzz Village, Than Daung
township
[Sd.]
31/3/99
Column
Commander
#xxx Infantry Battalion
[Sd.]
Chairperson
Village
Tract Peace & Development Council
xxxx Village Tract, Than Daung Township
[This is a movement pass for 3 villagers who have been hired by the village to go as
frontline military porters in place of 3 of their villagers. The portering shift is to
last an entire month.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #79
Stamp:
Date:
17-3-99
Peace and Development Council
xxxx
village
To: Chairperson
yyyy [village]
Subject - Informing you to gather
labourers to carry rations
According to the order from the Ma Ya Ka [Township Peace & Development Council]
in Papun of 1999 March 16, letter number 3/16 - 1/Oo 1/178, between 20-3-99 and 25-3-99 we
have to send [rations] from Papun to zzzz camp. We inform you to gather
labourers to carry 17 sacks of rice from yyyy village to zzzz camp, and to
send the labourers to xxxx Ya Ya Ka [the Village Peace & Development Council
of xxxx village] on 19-3-99 at 12 noon, and do not be late.
PS - Bring with you sacks and pots for carrying the rice.
[Sd.]
Chairperson
Village
Peace & Development Council
xxxx village, Papun township
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #80
Date:
14-3-99
To: Chairperson
Stamp:
xxxx village Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Column #x Headquarters
Subject: To send loh ah pay [forced
labourers]
From the Gentleman's [your] village, send one person per house without fail on the
15th at (0600) hours to yyyy Village for loh ah pay,
you are informed.
[Sd.]
(for)
Intelligence Officer
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #81
To:
Stamp:
Chairperson Frontline
#xxx Infantry
Battalion Date:
26-2-99
xxxx village
Column
Subject:
To
send loh ah pay [forced labour]
Send one person per house for loh ah pay from Gentleman's [your] village
without fail on 26-2-99 to yyyy Army Camp, you are informed.
To arrive at (0700)
hours.
[Sd.]
Battalion
Commander
#xxx Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #82
Stamp:
#xxx Light Infantry Battalion
#x Company
To: Chairperson
xxxx
Village Date:
25-2-99
Subject: To send 5 bullock carts and 1
messenger
Regarding the above subject, from your village, sir, [send] 5 bullock carts to yyyy
village and one messenger to zzzz camp to arrive tomorrow, 26-2-99, in the morning
at 9 o'clock. Do not fail to send [them]. If you fail it will be your
responsibility, sir. You are informed.
[Sd.]
#x
Company Commander
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #83
Stamp:
#xxx Light Infantry Battalion
26.2.99
#x Company
To: Chairperson
xxxx
village
Reply by this messenger to inform [us] whether or not you have finished sending 5
bullock carts and a messenger from yyyy to zzzz.
[Sd.]
xxxx [camp]
[This order followed after Order #82 above.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #84
Stamp: To:
Village Tract Peace & Development Council
Chairperson,
Secretary
xxxx Village
Tract
xxxx
[village]
Subject: The matter of rotating servants
Chairperson, send the servants for rotation today, 19-2-99, Friday, you are hereby
informed.
[Sd.] 19-2-99
Chairperson
Village Tract Peace & Development Council
xxxx Village Tract, Than Daung Township
['Servants' here means forced labourers; villages have to provide a fixed number of forced
labourers on multi-day 'rotations' to the Army camps in their area. The current set of
labourers are not released until their 'rotation' replacements arrive.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #85
To: Chairperson Stamp:
xxxx
village Frontline
#xxx Light Infantry Battalion
Column
#x Headquarters
Date:
18-2-99
Now, as soon as you receive this letter, Chairperson yourself come to meet with the
Battalion Commander at yyyy camp, you are informed. When the Chairperson comes,
bring a messenger at the same time. The messenger from Chairperson's village never came
yet. Chairperson yourself come, and if you do not come we will take action, you are
informed.
[Sd.]
(for)
Battalion Commander
yyyy camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #86
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Intelligence
To:
Village Head
xxxx
village Date:
14 / 2 / 99
Subject: To send loh ah pay
labourers
[You] are informed to send immediately 10 loh ah pay labourers to xxxx
as soon as you receive this letter, absolutely without fail.
[Sd.]
(for)
Battalion Commander
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #87
To: Chairperson /
Secretary Date: 10-2-99
xxxx Village
Right now, when [you] receive this letter, the Chairperson yourself must come to
the Army Camp. Together with the Chairperson, bring along 2 people to be servants. If
[you] don't come, the responsibility will fall on the Chairperson.
Important. [Sd.]
Camp
Commander
xxxx
Camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #88
To: U aaaa (xxxx [village]) Date:
29-1-99
Chairperson
Come and bring 15 villagers to carry the [Army] rations, and arrive on 31-1-99 in
the morning at yyyy.
[Sd.]
yyyy [camp]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #89
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry
Battalion Date:
26-1-99
Column #x Headquarters
To: Chairperson
xxxx
village
Subject: To send loh ah pay [forced
labour]
Send one person per house for loh ah pay from Gentleman's [your] village to yyyy
village, to arrive on 27-1-99 at (1000) hours. Send [them] without fail, you are
informed.
[Sd.]
Battalion Commander
#xxx
Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #90
Stamp:
URGENT
26-1-99
Frontline #xxx Light Infantry Battalion
Column #x
To: Chairperson U aaaa
xxxx village
Yesterday [you] sent 2 bullock carts but they didn't arrive yet at yyyy
village. Send them now, you are informed.
[Sd.]
Column
Commander
Major xxxx
['URGENT' is written in red ink and underlined. The owners/drivers of the bullock teams
will also have to go along to drive their teams doing forced labour.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #91
Village
Head
Stamp:
xxxx
village Frontline
#xxx Light Infantry Battalion
Column
#x Headquarters
The place for which your village is responsible is not yet finished. Tomorrow early
morning, the whole village must do it.
16-1-99 [Sd.]
Arrive at 0700 in the
morning. Battalion
Commander
Frontline #xxx Light Infantry Battalion
[This order refers to a forced labour assignment which was given to the village, such
as clearing a patch of road or some related job, but the Army is not satisfied with the
work which has been done and is therefore ordering the "whole village" to come
out and finish it.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #92
To: Chairperson 15-1-99
xxxx [village]
[We] already called for a loh ah pay group, but no one has come yet. The
whole village must come for loh ah pay to arrive on 16-1-99 at 6 o'clock in the
morning, and now as soon as [you] receive this letter, quickly send a sentry to
guard the bridge to the camp, you are informed.
[Sd.]
xxxx camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #93
Stamp: To:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Chairperson
Column #x
Headquarters xxxx
[village] Date:
11-1-99
Subject: To carry [Army] rations
To carry rations at yyyy Camp, 15 loh ah pay labourers must come to zzzz
village, to arrive on 12-1-99 at 0700 hours in the morning, you are hereby informed.
(Do
not fail to send [them].)
[Sd.]
Column
Commander
Column #x Headquarters
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #94
Stamp:
Battalion Reinforcement Platoon
To: Mother Daw aaaa
Date: 6-1-99
#xxx Infantry Battalion
[We] sent a letter with a messenger on the 2nd [of January] to xxxx
and until now he has not come back yet. Therefore make the messenger come back. Send him
now with the messenger who brought this letter.
[Sd.]
Platoon
Commander
Battalion Reinforcement Platoon
#xxx Infantry Battalion
[This order refers to a villager who was doing forced labour as a messenger; the Army
officer sent him to deliver an order to a village and he never returned to continue his
shift, so the officer is demanding that he return.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #95
Stamp: Date:
6-1-99
Battalion Reinforcement
Platoon Village
Head
#xxx Infantry
Battalion xxxx
village
Subject: To send bullock carts
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion at yyyy Army Camp urgently needs bullock
carts. Send 5 bullock carts to arrive on 7-1-99 at 0900 hours, you are informed.
[Sd.]
Platoon Commander
Battalion
Reinforcement Platoon
#xxx Infantry Battalion
[This order will also force the owners/drivers of the bullock carts to drive their
teams in doing the forced labour hauling things for the Army.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #96
To/ Chairperson
From xxxx village we need 2 servants, please send [them] as soon as possible
when you get this. It is an emergency.
[Sd.]
IB
xxx
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #97
To/ Chairperson Daw aaaa
From xxxx village we need 2 servants, please send [them] as soon as possible
when you get this letter. It is an emergency.
[Sd.]
IB
xxx
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #98
To:
Dear xxxx Village Head: Come and replace the servants
when you get this letter. You are hereby informed.
#xxx
[IB] Camp Commander, xxxx [camp]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #99
Stamp:
Village Tract Peace & Development Council
To: Chairperson /
Secretary
xxxx Village
Tract xxxx
[village]
Chairperson, right now as soon as [you] receive this letter, come to yyyy
village. [We] have to clear the matter of servants right now. Come and meet without
fail, you are requested.
[Sd.]
Chairperson
Village
Tract Peace & Development Council
xxxx Village Tract / Than Daung Township
['Servants' (wontan) in this context means forced labourers. 'Clear the matter' means
to clarify demands for forced labourers and possibly to admonish the village for previous
failures to send people when ordered.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #100
To: Chairperson, Secretary
xxxx [village]
Send 2 servants right now. [I] have already given the 1,200 Kyat in cash that the
Chairperson gave me. The Chairperson must clear the balance, you are informed.
From 15 to 30 yyyy
zzzz [camp]
[This is apparently a note from one village head to another, telling him that he has
already passed on the payment of 1,200 Kyat to the Army but that the Chairperson had
better forward the balance as well as 2 forced labourers immediately.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #101
Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Stamp:
xxxx
[camp]
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Letter
#: xxx / 11 / Oo 1
Column #x
Headquarters
Date: 1998 December 26th
To: Chairperson
Village Peace &
Development Council
xxxx village
Subject: To send loh ah pay
Regarding the above subject, to go and carry [Army] rations from yyyy [village],
from Gentleman's [your] village one person per house must come with a basket and
hand-basket [a type of bamboo basket carried in the hand like a shopping bag] each,
to arrive on the 27th at (0600) hours. Do not fail to send [them], you
are informed.
[Sd.]
26-12-98
(for) Battalion Commander
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Note: When you send the loh ah pay [labourers], they should not be too old / too
young.
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #102
Stamp: Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Frontline #xxx Infantry
Battalion yyyy
[camp]
Column #x
Headquarters Letter
number: xxx / 01 / Oo 1
Date:
1998 December 24th
To: Chairperson
xxxx village
Subject: To coordinate the number of
servants
Regarding the above subject, come to discuss and coordinate on 25-12-98 at 0900 hours.
Come without fail to report information, you are informed.
[Sd.] 24-12-98
(for)
Battalion Commander
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Note: For your village, divide the real
families in the village register into those who can do servant duty and those who cannot
do servant duty and bring it [the lists].
['Servants' ('wontan') and 'servant duty' mean forced labourers and forced labour for
the Army and SPDC authorities.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #103
Brother,
I
visited with Intelligence and he told me that aaaa said 4 persons have to help. He
will let you know later where [they] have to guard, when [they] have to go
and how many days it will last. Ask bbbb to send a little turmeric powder [a
yellow-coloured spice] for me.
Your
younger sister / 23-12-98
cccc
dddd said [he] isn't sure about Thramu [Teacher] yet, that's why I
haven't let her go back yet.
[This is actually a letter from one Karen village elder to another, written in Sgaw
Karen, passing on news of SPDC demands for forced labourers.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #104
To: Village Head
Date:
15-12-98
xxxx village
[You] are informed that xxxx village should send 10 loh ah pay [workers]
to yyyy village tomorrow, 16-12-98, at 0730 hours in the morning without fail.
[Sd.]
Army
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #105
Stamp: xxxx
Frontline #xxx Infantry
Battalion 13-12-98
Company #x
To: Chairperson
xxxx
Village
Tomorrow on 14-12-98, send 20 people to arrive at 0700 hours at yyyy for loh ah
pay labour, you are informed.
[Sd.] 13/12
Camp
Commander
yyyy Camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #106
To: Date:
9-12-98
Chairperson ( xxxx [village]
)
Stamp:
#xxx
Infantry Battalion
#x Company
(1) For loh ah pay, gentleman's village should send persons aged above 12 years
(all those aged above 12 years) including the Chairperson. Bring food for one day (without
fail) and report at 09 o'clock in the morning on 10-12-98, Thursday, at zzzz Camp.
(2) Every village in yyyy - zzzz area is being called for loh ah pay,
thus gentleman's village is informed to come no later than 9 o'clock in the morning
without fail.
[In different handwriting:] All villagers aged above 12 years (including women)
should come to yyyy Camp at 9 o'clock on 10-12-98, Thursday, without fail.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
yyyy Camp
Company Commander
#x Company
[This order was carbon-copied to several villages, with the village name and the final
note at the bottom written in afterward by hand.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #107
To:
Stamp:
Chairperson Frontline
#xxx Infantry Battalion
xxxx village
Column #x Supervisory Group
Subject: Informing [you] to bring
the servants
1. Regarding the above subject, as soon as [you] receive this letter, led by
the Chairperson and Secretary yourselves, come and bring 5 servants, one and a half viss
[2.4 kg / 5.2 lb] of chicken and one and a half baskets of rice from Gentleman's [your]
village to yyyy village.
2. If [you] don't come and bring [them], [we] will send the shell of
a big weapon so that you won't need to come yourselves.
[Sd.]
xxxx
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Column
#x
Temporarily
at yyyy
6-12-98
U aaaa:
The Chairpersons yourselves must come. The Commander is asking for you.
[The 'servants' requested means villagers for forced labour. The threat to 'send a
shell' means that if you don't comply, don't bother coming later to explain because we
will simply shell your village.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #108
Stamp:
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
1-12-98
Column #x
Headquarters To: Daw
aaaa
I am writing this letter. Send duty servants from xxxx village to yyyy to
arrive on 2-12-98.
[Sd.]
1-12-98
Intelligence Officer
['Duty servants' (Ta Won Kya wontan) means forced labourers to do a rotation of errands
at the Army camp.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #109
Stamp:
#xxx Infantry Battalion
Company #x
To: Chairperson (xxxx [village]) Date:
20-11-98
There is nothing to meet about. For the Army camp there is no firewood, so assist with 2
bullock carts [full of firewood], and to run the machine come and coordinate with
the Captain.
[Sd.]
Army
Camp Commander (yyyy [camp])
[This order requires the villagers to go to the forest to cut firewood, then haul it to
the camp, as well as to discuss forced labour 'running the machine',which may be a sawmill
or rice mill.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #110
Stamp:
#xxx Infantry
Battalion Date:
11-11-98
#x Company
This is aaaa writing this letter.
2 servants from xxxx village and 2 servants from yyyy village ran away
today, so you are informed to send immediately 2 substitutes, and 2 from yyyy
village, totalling 4 people.
[Sd.
/ 11/11/98]
Company
Commander
#x Company
#xxx
Infantry Battalion
zzzz Camp
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #111
To: Chairperson Date:
26-10-98
xxxx
village
Subject: To carry rations at yyyy
Send 10 loh ah pay labourers from xxxx village on 28-10-98, Wednesday, to
carry [Army] rations at yyyy, you are hereby informed. If there are not
enough people, hire some people from the zzzz group commander.
[Sd.]
zzzz
Camp Commander
['Hire some people' means that if the village sends less than 10 people then they also
have to send money to make up for as many as they do not send. The money will not be used
to 'hire' labourers; instead, the labour will be divided among as many people as have been
sent, or additional labourers will be demanded from other villages. On the back of this
order the village head wrote a list of 10 names, the people who went for the forced
labour.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #112
Daw aaaa (Village Head) xxxx [village] 19/10/98
- I'm Major bbbb.
- Mother must send someone [replacement labour] to yyyy
Camp, because cccc has been a servant for 7 days.
- If [the replacement person] doesn't arrive, it will be
Mother's responsibility.
[Sd.]
Major
bbbb
* Messenger dddd has been serving for 4 days, so change him tonight.
[This order demands replacements for rotation forced labourers who have already been
with the Army for some time. 'It will be Mother's responsibility' implies that the
labourer will not be released if his replacement doesn't arrive; 'Mother' is the village
headwoman.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #113
Stamp:
To: Date:
27-9-98
Frontline #xxx Infantry Battalion
Chairperson
Company #x
xxxx
Village
Subject: Calling
a meeting about military operation servants
[We] want to discuss and specify the number of servants who will go with the mobile
column for military operations, so come and arrive on 28-9-98 at 10 o'clock in the
morning, you are informed. The set tha [forced labourers for messengers and errands] didn't
come on the 25th, so you are informed to bring along with the Chairperson those
set tha labourers and the set tha labourers for 28-9-99, Saw aaaa and
bbbb, a total of 4 villagers from xxxx.
[Sd.]
yyyy
Camp Commander
['Military operation servants' means forced labour porters to go on extended frontline
patrol with mobile Army columns; such porters are frequently kept by the Army for a month
or longer, and are often killed when they can no longer carry.]
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #114
Stamp:
Peace and Development Council
xxxx village
tract [Village]
Head
13-9-98
From the Chairperson of the Ya Ya Ka [Village Peace & Development Council], to
discuss about servants, come to a meeting at Ya Ya Ka office on 15-9-98, in the morning at
7 o'clock, you are informed.
[Sd.]
(for)
Chairperson
Village
Peace and Development Council
xxxx
village tract, Papun township
______________________________________________________________________________
Order #115
To: Ma aaaa
Stamp:
#xxx
Light Infantry Battalion
20/7/98
Company #x
- The servants have been released.
- This evening at 3 o'clock come to meet at the Army (monastery).
- [We] want to know if the news has changed or not.
- [We] order you to bring one pair of chickens.
[Sd.]
Company
Commander
Company #x
#xxx Light
Infantry Battalion
______________________________________________________________________________
Previous Section / Next Section / Table of Contents
/ Home Page
|