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Summons to ‘Meetings’

 

All of the orders in this section call for village elders to go to ‘meetings’, usually at a local Army camp.  Village elders are deluged with these summonses every week from each Army camp in their area.  Going to all these meetings makes it very difficult for the elders to tend their fields or perform their duties within the village.  Although many of the orders use the word ‘invite’, they almost without exception add the phrase ‘without fail’.  On receipt of the orders village elders are expected to immediately drop whatever they are doing and go to the Army camp, Order #580 explicitly says ‘make yourself free’.  The meetings are more like lectures as the Army commander dictates to the village heads what forced labour, money or materials he wants and gives deadlines, or scolds and threatens the village head for being slow in meeting previous demands.  Sometimes the elder is summoned to report on the movements of resistance forces in the area, and is threatened with punishment if any of the information is inaccurate.  Orders calling for ‘discussions regarding village security’ usually means assigning villagers for forced labour as unarmed sentries, restrictions on the movements of villagers and threats of punishment if any resistance activity occurs in the area.  SPDC officers often call all the village heads in their area to come to the camp at the same time so they can allocate the demands to each village.  In these cases the orders are copied and sent out to as many villages as necessary.

The orders commonly include statements warning the elders that “the responsibility will be yours”, or the responsibility will fall on the village” if the elder does not come.  These mean that the elder will be arrested and punished or that the village will be punished in some way, which could mean relocation, looting or burning of some of the houses.  Some of the orders carry more explicit threats such as “serious action will be taken”.  For example, in Order #466 a Company Commander writes, “Calling you for the last time with this letter.  You did not fulfill the duty.  You didn’t come to us and if we ourselves go to call you, I won’t take responsibility for you, [your] family and house.  So when [you] receive this letter, come quickly to me.”

Village heads are usually afraid to go to these meetings, and often disappear off to their fields or other places when these orders arrive.  This usually results in other more angry and threatening letters being sent from the officer, until after the third or fourth letter the village head has decide whether to go to the camp or flee the village. 

Many of the orders in this section summon village heads to meetings where an SPDC officer orders them to perform forced labour.  This undoubtedly has to do with trying to cover up the use of forced labour.  The demands for forced labour are issued verbally and no written orders are issued.  In this way there are fewer paper stamped orders which may be collected and used against the SPDC in reports such as this one.  Villagers in many Karen areas have told KHRG that these meetings are becoming increasingly common and the issuing of order letters dictating demands for forced labour are becoming fewer.


Order #443 (Papun)

                   Stamp:                                                          Frontline #36 Infantry Battalion
Frontline #36 Light Infantry Battalion                   
              K’Dtaing Dee [Army] Camp
      Column #x Headquarters                              
               Letter No: xx / xx / xxxx / Oo x
                                                                                         Date: Year 2002, January 1st

To:
     _______________________
     _______________________
     _______________________

Subject:        Invitation to a meeting.

1. The villages in the area of military operations under control of our Battalion are to develop and progress comprehensively.  We want to meet with the Elder so come without fail (without fail) to xxxx Camp to arrive on 2-2-2002 at 10:00 o’clock, you are invited. 

2.  If you fail to come, it is the responsibility of the Elder, who is concerned, warning and you are informed.

                                                                                              [Sd.]
                                                                            (for)  Battalion Commander
                                                                             Stamp: Intelligence Officer
                                                                                #36 Infantry Battalion

[On the back this order is addressed “To: Elder, xxxx village, Emergency.”]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #444 (Papun)

To:
     Chairperson
     xxxx village

Subject:             Informing you to come and meet with the Battalion Commander.

            Regarding the above subject, as soon as this informing letter is received, come quickly to meet with Frontline #38 Infantry Battalion, Battalion Commander at yyyy [village] today on 3-1-2002, you are informed.

                 Stamp:                                                                                         [Sd.]
  Frontline #38 Infantry Battalion                                                               Major aaaa
     Column #x
Headquarters                                                        Frontline #38 Infantry Battalion

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #445 (Toungoo)

                       Stamp:                                                                                       Date: 6-1-02
Village Peace and Development Council
              Than Daung Township             
                Bawgali Gyi Tract

                                                       To:
                                                            Chairperson
                                                            xxxx [village]

       IB#39 Deputy Battalion Commander wants to meet you on 7-1-02 Monday at 9 o’clock in the morning, come without fail to the VPDC office, you are informed.

                                                                                                              [Sd.]
                                                                                              Stamp: (for) Chairperson
                                                                                 Village Peace and Development Council 
                                                                                Bawgali Gyi Tract, Than Daung Township

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #446 (Thaton)

                          Stamp:
            #106 Light Infantry Battalion

Subject:         Invitation to a meeting

            Regarding the above subject a meeting will be held at xxxx Camp so village heads yourselves must come and arrive on 10-1-2002 at 09:00 hours, you are informed.

                                                                                                                   [Sd.]
Place:   xxxx Camp                                                                        Camp Commander
Date:    8-1-2002                                                            Frontline #106 Light Infantry Battalion

[On the back this order is addressed “To: Chairperson, xxxx village.”  At the meeting the Camp Commander ordered the villagers to go and repair the road so the Army could send its rations.  The villagers were also ordered to provide 30 coconut seedlings from every village.  The villagers sell the seedlings for 300 Kyat each, but no payment was given by the SPDC.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #447 (Thaton)

To:
                   Daw aaaa
                        Chairperson, xxxx [village]
The camp has an emergency matter for the New Year.  As soon as you receive this letter, come surely to yyyy [village] Chairperson’s house.

                                                                                            [Sd.]  U bbbb, 8/1/2002
                                                                                               Stamp: Chairperson     
                                                                                 Village Peace and Development Council
                                                                                           yyyy village, Bilin Township

[The village tract chairperson had heard that KNLA soldiers would come to xxxx village to celebrate Karen New Year, so he asked the village head to come and give him the information about it.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #448 (Toungoo)

                        Stamp:                                              Township Peace and Development Council
Township Peace and Development Council      
          Karen State - Than Daung Town
             Than Daung Township                         
          Letter No: x / x-x / Oo x / (x)
                                                                       
          Date: Year 2002, January 8th
      To:
           Chairperson
           Section Village Tract Peace and Development Council
             xxxx   Village Tract
           Than Daung Township

Subject:     The matter of carrying out fire hazard prevention preparations.

Reference:        Pa’an District, Peace and Development Council letter number x / x - x / Oo x date on 19-                        12-2001.

1.   Regarding the above subject, taking heed of fire hazards and working to prevent fire hazards, all the organizations gathered, helped and carried out the convening of the Centeral Committee’s second meeting of fire hazard prevention at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement office meeting hall on 24-7-2001 and decided as below.  To implement and carry out this matter, in accordance with the notification of the General Administration Directorate (Central Office) letter No: xxx / x - x / Oo x date on 24-9-2001, the District Peace and Development Council is informing you to know with this reference letter and to arrange and carry it out as necessary.

      (a) Organize to get 1 reserve fire fighter member from 1 family in every section [or] village in the township.  To help and support the reserve fire fighter who was gotten from organizing, the local authority organization is to implement it level by level.  General Administration Department servants are to direct the needs for carrying this out.

      (b) To reduce burning and loss in the villages, arrange and carry out keeping a portable fire engine in every village.

2.   Therefore, Section / Village Peace and Development Councils have to organize, gather the lists and present them in accordance with the decision of the meeting as shown above and to know, follow and carry this out, you are informed.

                                                                                                         [Sd.]
                                                                                               (for)  Chairperson
                                                                                        (Kyaw Soe Tin - Secretary)

Copy to-
                - Chairperson, District Peace and Development Council
                   Pa'an District, Pa'an Town.
                - District Administrator, District General Administration Department, Pa'an Town
                - Office receipt / File Letter.

xx
/ xx (x:xx)

[Typewritten order with village name written in by hand.  The portable fire engine is a petrol or diesel water pump.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #449 (Pa’an)

                           Stamp:
            #548 Light Infantry Battalion
                      xxxx [camp]
                                                      To:
                                                      Chairperson
                                                                  xxxx    village

Subject:            Invitation to attend a meeting 

            Regarding the above subject, come without fail to a meeting that will be held at the Battalion Headquarters on Year 2002 January 15th, Year 1363, the second day of the waxing moon of Pya Tho, you are invited.

Place:      xxxx                                                                                        [Sd.]
Date:    10-1-2002                                                                (for) Battalion Commander
                                                                                            #548 Light Infantry Battalion

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #450 (Toungoo)

To:                                                                                                            11-1-2002
      The village head
      xxxx village

            Please come to meet me in the evening at 5 o’clock on 11-1-2002 Friday at aaaa’s house.
                                                             With respect,
                                                                                       bbbb

P.S. Come surely.

* New Year matter.

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #451 (Thaton)

To: Chairperson                                                          [Sd.]
      xxxx village                                        #3 Light Infantry Battalion
                                                                 Military Staff Department

Subject:            A meeting will be held on 16-1-2002, so come to yyyy village on the 16th at 2 o’clock.

                                                                                                                                  [Sd.]
                                                                                                                        Intelligence Officer
                                                                                                                 #3 Light Infantry Battalion

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #452 (Papun)

            Stamp:
 #38 Infantry Battalion
   Date:
16-1-2002
# [Unclear] Company         To:                         
                                           Date: 16-1-2002
                                            Chairperson
                                            xxxx village
                                            U aaaa

Letter written from xxxx Camp.
Come without fail to xxxx Camp on 17-1-2002 at 08:00 o’clock in the morning, you are informed
.

                                                                                                            [Sd.]
                                                                                              Company Commander
                                                                                              #38 Infantry Battalion
                                                                                                     xxxx Camp

[The villagers were forced to come and fence the Army camp.  The Army also demanded 300 shingles of thatch from the village.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #453 (Papun)

            Stamp:                                                                                                     Date: 16-1-2002
#38 Infantry Battalion
     Date 16 1/02
      #x Company                     To:
                                                     Chairperson
                                                     xxxx village
                                                     U aaaa

            Writing a letter from xxxx Camp.  Come without fail to xxxx Camp on 17-1-2002 at 08:00 o’clock, you are informed.

                                                                                                                      [Sd.]
                                                                                                         Company Commander 
                                                                                                          #38 Infantry Battalion
                                                                                                                 xxxx Camp

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #454 (Papun)

                 Stamp:                                                                                                     Date: 17-1-02
Peace and Development Council
   K’Dtaing Dee Village Tract
                                                           To:
                                                                  Head
                                                                  xxxx [village]

            When this letter is received, come to meet with #36 Battalion Commander on 19-1-02, you are informed.

                                                                                                             [Sd.]
                                                                                              Stamp: (for) Chairperson
                                                                                    Village Peace and Development Council
                                                                                K’Dtaing Dee Village Tract, Papun Township

[Villagers at the meeting reported to KHRG that the commander told the village head, “Right now, I have come and replaced [the previous unit] so I want to meet with all the village heads.  When you see KNU soldiers, you must come to report at once.  If I know that you don’t come to report, I will take severe action.  You must help me with what I need when I am staying at xxxx Army Camp as you did the people who stayed before me.  You can’t stay without helping me.”]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #455 (Thaton)

                Stamp:
#207 Light Infantry Battalion
   Military Staff Department
                                             Subject:    Invitation to a meeting 

                        We want to discuss about the matter of village affairs, so the Chairpersons must come without fail and bring along the papers relating to the village to xxxx Camp to arrive on 20-1-2002 you are informed.

                                                                                                          [Sd.]
                                                                                       
        Camp Commander
                                                                                         
           xxxx Camp
                                                                                          
      Frontline LIB#207

[On the back this order is addressed to “xxxx village”, Chairperson”.  The village head was ordered to cut and clear the bushes from a road and to put sentries along the road because the Army was going to send food.  The SPDC said that when they are sending food there should be no gunfire and no landmine explosions.  If there is gunfire or landmine explosions, they will come to burn the village.  They ordered the village head to take the responsibility.  Several villages were at the meeting and all received the same instructions and warning.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #456 (Thaton)

                 Stamp:
#207 Light Infantry Battalion
  Military Staff Department
                                             Subject:    Invitation to a meeting

                                    We want to discuss the matter of village affairs, [so] Chairpersons have to come and bring along the papers relating to the village to xxxx Camp to arrive on 20-1-2002, you are informed.

                                                                                                              [Sd.]
                                                                                                   Camp Commander
                                                                                                         xxxx Camp
                                                                                                  
  Frontline IB #207

[On the back this order is addressed to “xxxx village, Chairperson.”  The village head was ordered to send thatch, bamboo and wood to the camp.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #457 (Papun)

               Stamp:                                                                                            Date: 19-1-02
Peace and Development Council
        Date:
19-1-02
 K’Dtaing Dee Village Tract           To:
                                                               Head
                                                               xxxx [village]
                                                               Subject:
                                                               The matter of inviting a meeting

#36 Battalion has to meet and discuss with the Heads so without fail attend a meeting at xxxx Army Camp on 21-1-02 at 9 o’clock in the morning, you are informed.

Note:  The Head yourself must attend the meeting.

                                                                                                         [Sd.]
                                                                                             Stamp: Chairperson
                                                                              Village Peace and Development Council
                                                                          K’Dtaing Dee Village Tract, Papun Township

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #458 (Papun)

                   Stamp:                                                                                               Date: 19-1-02
Peace and Development Council
           Date:
19-1-02
    K’Dtaing Dee Village Tract             To:
                                                                Head
                                                                xxxx  [village]
                                                                Subject:
                                                                The matter of inviting a meeting

#36 Battalion has to meet and discuss with the Heads so without fail attend a meeting on 21-1-02, you are informed.

Note:  The Head yourself must attend.

                                                                                                             [Sd.]
                                                                                                 Stamp: Chairperson
                                                                                  Village Peace and Development Council
                                                                              K’Dtaing Dee Village Tract, Papun Township

[This order, although worded slightly differently, orders the village head to attend the same meeting as in Order #457.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #459 (Papun)

                 Stamp:                                                                                     Date: 20-1-2002
Frontline #38 Infantry Battalion
   Column #x Headquarters

             To:
                  U aaaa
                              Now, as soon as this letter is received, we want you to come and meet with the Column Commander at xxxx Army Camp.  It is for meeting and discussing an emergency matter.

                                                                                                                 [Sd.]
                                                                                                       xxxx Army Camp
                                                                                                  
 #38 Infantry Battalion

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #460 (Papun)

       To:                                                                                                       Date: 20-1-2002
            Head (xxxx village)

                        As soon as this letter is received, come to meet with the Column Commander at xxxx Army Camp, you are informed.

                                                                                                                     [Sd.]
                                                                                                     Frontline IB#38, Column #x
                                                                                                
           xxxx Army Camp

[Summons to this meeting were sent out to several villages in the area.  Villagers who attended the meeting told KHRG the IB #38 Column Commander ordered “You have to come and help us.  You have to give us information on time, every time.  If you don’t come to tell us on time, it is the village head’s fault.”]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #461 (Papun)

      To:                                                                                                             Date: 20-1-2002

           Head, (xxxx village)

                        As soon as this letter is received now, come to meet with the Column Commander at xxxx Army Camp, you are informed.  If you fail, it is the responsibility of the Head.

                                                                                                                     [Sd.]
                                                                                                           IB#38 Column #x
                                                                                                           xxxx Army Camp

[This is a summons to the same meeting as Order #460 above, but with the addition of the threatening second sentence.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #462 (Toungoo)

To:
                    Chairperson/Secretary
                    xxxx  village
                                                                                              
                                       Date: 24-1-02

Subject:            The matter of attending a meeting

            IB#39 Column Commander at xxxx Army Camp [and] the new Strategic Operations Commander want to meet with Chairpersons/Secretaries from all the villages in Bawgali Gyi Tract according to the schedule below, so Chairpersons/Secretaries yourselves attend without fail, you are informed.

                                                    Date the meeting will be held                 28-1-02 (Monday)
                                                    Time           “  
            “                         Morning at 8:30 hours
                                                    Place         “               “
                        xxxx Army Camp

                                                                                                       [Sd.]
                                                                                         Stamp: (for) Chairperson
                                                                              Village Peace and Development Council
                                                                             Bawgali Gyi Tract, Than Daung Township

[This order was sent out to several villages in the area to attend the meeting.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #463 (Thaton)

To:                                                                  Stamp:                                                29-1-2002
     Chairperson   
                              #x Light Infantry Battalion
     xxxx village     
                             Military Staff Department

As soon as this letter is received, come quickly to meet the column, you are informed.

                                                                                                              [Sd.]
                                                    
                                                Intelligence Officer
                                                   
                                           #x Light Infantry Battalion

[Villagers at the meeting told KHRG that, the intelligence officer said there should be no sound in the area for 3 miles around.  If there is a sound, the SPDC soldiers will shoot into the village.  The KNU is not to shoot at them, and if the KNU shoots at them, they will shoot back at the villagers.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #464 (Dooplaya)

To:                                                                                                                         2-2-2002
     Chairperson
     xxxx village

            Come to meet at xxxx Camp on 3-2-2002, you are informed.

                                                                                                            [Sd.] Captain
                                                                         
                               Camp Commander
                                                                       
                                      xxxx Camp

[On the back this order is addressed “To: Chairperson, Village Peace and Development Council, xxxx village.”]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #465 (Toungoo)

                      Stamp:                                    To:                                                   Date: 3-2-02
Village Peace and Development Council              Chairperson, Secretary
                Bawgali Gyi Tract                               xxxx village

Subject:            The matter of coming to Bawgali Army Camp.

            xxxx Army Camp #x Strategic Operations Command, Assistant Operations Commander, Military Staff Commander (Adjutant/Quartermaster) wants to meet with the Chairperson and Secretary from every village, so come without fail on 4-2-02 at Monday 7:30 hours in the morning, you are informed.

                                                                                                                  [Sd.]
                                                                                                         (for) Chairperson 
                                                                                          Village Peace and Development Council
                                                                                         Bawgali Gyi Tract, Than Daung Township

[This order was handwritten and carbon copied and sent out to several villages.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #466 (Toungoo)

                                                                                                                        6-2-2002
           [To:]  Saw aaaa

            Calling you for the last time with this letter.  You did not fulfill the duty.  You didn’t come to us and if we ourselves go to call you I won’t take responsibility for you, your family or house.  So when this letter is received, come to me quickly.

                                                                                                              [Sd.]
                                                                                                Company Commander
                                                                                                     Temporary xxxx

[On the back this order is addressed “To: Saw aaaa, xxxx village.  From Company Commander, Maung Nweh Gyi.”  This explicit and threatening order was written in red ink as an added threat to the village head.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #467 (Toungoo)

                         Stamp:  
Village Peace and Development Council
               Than Daung Township                  To:
                  Bawgali Gyi Tract                               Chairperson/Secretary
                                                                             xxxx village
                                                                                                     
                                 Date: 7-2-02

Subject:            The matter of attending a meeting

            IB#30 Deputy Battalion Commander at xxxx Army Camp wants to meet and hold a meeting with Chairpersons/Secretaries from all the villages, so attend the meeting according to the schedule below, you are informed.

                                                Date the meeting will be held                 11-2-02 (Monday)
                                                Time          “
              “                          Morning at 8:30 o’clock
                                                Place         “              “
                          xxxx Police Camp

                                                                                                          [Sd.]
                                                                                            Stamp: (for) Chairperson
                                                                                  Village Peace and Development Council
                                                                           
     Bawgali Gyi Tract, Than Daung Township

[This handwritten order was carbon copied and sent out to several villages.]

______________________________________________________________________________

Order #468 (Papun)

To:                                                                                                                              8/2/02
          Head
         
xxxx Village

            Come and arrive tomorrow at 07:00 hours in the morning to xx Miles [Army] Camp.

                                                                                  [Sd.] Company Commander
                                                                                  Frontline IB
#38 Company #x