Recently Received SLORC Orders to Karen Villages
An Independent Report by the
Karen Human Rights Group
July 14, 1993
Following are the direct English translations of several SLORC orders which have been sent to Karen Villages over the past few months. Photocopies of the orders themselves are available upon request. When reading the orders, keep in mind that several defenceless villages have already been shelled with mortar fire for failing to comply with orders such as these.
Please feel free to us this information in any way which can help free the villagers from such abuse; however, PLEASE KEEP THE NAMES OF THE VILLAGES IN THE ORDERS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. OTHERWISE, THE SLORC MAY ACCUSE THE VILLAGES OF "CONTACT WITH REBELS" AND SUMMARILY DESTROY THEM AND EXECUTE THEIR OCCUPANTS.
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Order #1
(Handwritten and stamped)
To
Village head
1) We hereby inform you to send us a list of rebels and their families by tomorrow, 28/4/93, at 9 a.m. Send it on time.
2) Their families have one month to persuade them to surrender to us. If they won’t, we will take severe action and put both of them and their families in jail.
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Order #2
(Handwritten and stamped)
Stamped:
31/3/93
Baw
Kyaw Lay
#83 Battalion
#3 Company
To Chairman,
S------ village
Subject: To send carts
Regarding the above subject, send a cart from S------ to our operation at Baw Kyaw Lay. We will use it for operations. Send it today, 31/3/93, at the latest.
* This order comes from Strategic Command *
[Sd.]
Company
Commander
#3
Company, 83 Battalion.
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Order #3
(Small, stamped and handwritten)
Stamped:
78 Infantry Battalion
13/1/93
#5 Company
To: S-------- Village (headman)
As soon as you get this order, send one man from each family to Ka Daing Dtee Army camp.
[illegible
signature]
Ka Daing Dtee Army camp
============================================================
Order #4
(Stamped and handwritten)
Stamped: Date: 30/3/93
Village Law & Order Restoration Council
Ka Daing Dtee Village, Papun Township
To: Village Head
Collect the family registrations for 1993 and send them by April 5, 1993.
Note: This order comes from 99 Division.
Do it without fail.
[Sd.]
Member,
Village LORC
Ka
Daing Dtee Village, Papun Township
[Written on the back of order:] Format of registrations:
Father’s ID# Occupation Nationality Dependents’
How
Name
Ages
Related
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Order #5
(Stamped and handwritten)
Stamped:
Date:
8/3/93
Village Law & Order Restoration Council
Ka Daing Dtee, Papun Township
To: Village Head
Send on man with a machete from each family to clear the vegetation along the roadsides. You have to work together with N---- village, so gather at N---- village.
Note: You must start on 9/3/93 at 6 a.m. After you gather, inform Ka Daing Dtee Army camp.
[Sd.]
Secretary
VLORC,
Ka Daing Dtee, Papun Township
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Order #6
(Typed)
Stamped:
Village
Group SLORC
Ka
Daing Dtee Village,
Village Group SLORC
Papun
Township
Ka Daing Dtee Village
Letter
# 002/7 KDD
Papun Township
Date
1993 April 2
To: Chairman, M----- village
Subject: Supplying Labour
We need emergency labour. Therefore, send 5 porters from your village. Make sure they arrive on 2/4/93 at 2 p.m., on time.
Note: Comply without fail. If you fail for any reason, we the village SLORC will not take responsibility for the consequences.
[Sd.]
Member,
Village SLORC
Ka
Daing Dtee Village
Papun
Township
============================================================
Order #7
(Typed)
Stamped:
Village
Group SLORC
Ka
Daing Dtee Village,
Village Group SLORC
Papun
Township
Ka Daing Dtee Village
Letter
# 002/7 KDD
Papun Township
Date
[left blank]
To: Chairman, N----- and M------- village
Subject: Supplying Labour
We need emergency labour. Therefore, send 10 porters from your village. Make sure they arrive on 28/1/93 at midday 1 p.m., on time.
Note: Comply without fail. We will send them back after 1 day.
[Stamped:]
No. 317 Infantry
We
will only use for 1 day so send
No. 4 Company
them
without fail.
[Sd.]
2nd Lieutenant
#4
Company, 317 Infantry
[Sd.]
Secretary
Village
Group LORC
Ka
Daing Dtee Village
Papun
Township
============================================================
Order #8
(Handwritten)
Stamped: 8/4/93
Village Group LORC
Ka Daing Dtee Village
Papun Township
To: Village headman
We need leaf roof sheets from your village for 99 Division, Ka Daing Dtee Army camp. Therefore send 400 sheets of leaf roofing on 14/4/93 at 10 a.m., on time.
Note: Send it without fail.
[Sd.]
Member,
Village SLORC
Ka
Daing Dtee Village
Papun
Township
============================================================
Order #9
(Typed)
Stamped:
Village
Group SLORC
Ka
Daing Dtee Village,
Village Group SLORC
Papun
Township
Ka Daing Dtee Village
Letter
# 002/7 KDD
Papun Township
Date
1993 March 7
To: Chairman, M------- village
Subject: Supplying Labour
We need emergency (cart) labour. Therefore, send 1 cart from your village. Make sure it arrives on 8/3/93 at 12 o’clock, on time.
Note: Comply without fail. [Typed]
Comply without fail. [Handwritten]
[Sd.]
Secretary
Village
Group LORC
Ka
Daing Dtee Village
Papun
Township
[Note: Orders #6,7 and 9 are written on a standard form letter. This explains the strange wording of this last order for a cart, because the form letter is usually used for demanding porters.]