SLORC ORDERS TO VILLAGES:
SET 96-C
Ye-Tavoy Railway, Dooplaya District
An Independent Report by the Karen Human Rights
Group
May 27, 1996 (KHRG #96-22)
[Note: Some details have been omitted or replaced by ‘xxxx’ for Internet distribution.]
This report contains direct translations of several SLORC orders sent to
villages in 1995. Orders #1 thru #15 were issued in the Ye-Tavoy railway area and concern
railway labour. The Burmese copies of these orders were provided to KHRG by XXXX. Orders
#16 and #17 were issued to Karen villages further north in Dooplaya District.
The orders from Ye-Tavoy area partly concern a change in the railway route - after 2 years
of the forced labour of thousands of people clearing and building a railway embankment
from Yah Pu to Kalein Aung, SLORC suddenly decided the streams along this route require
too many bridges so the route would be moved several kilometres to the west, passing along
the eastern bank of the Heinze Basin through Mintha and close to Ain Da Ya Za. The
villagers now have to begin the forced labour all over again. For more information on the
route change see "Forced Labour in Mon Areas",
KHRG #96-20, 22/5/96. The prime focus of forced labour on the railway now is in
trying to complete the Kyaun Sone-Kalein Aung section using the Nwe Lay labour camp, as
noted in Orders #3, 4, and 9. It should also be noted that several of the village tracts
called for labour in these orders are along the gas pipeline route or very close by, such
as On Bin Kwin (where French oil company TOTAL's base camp is located), Kanbauk,
Hpaungdaw, and Ain Da Ya Za. Kywe Thone Nyi Ma is just north of the pipeline route. These
villages are not only suffering from railway labour, but also from other labour for the
SLORC pipeline security battalions sent into the area - see "Effects of the Gas Pipeline Project", KHRG
#96-21, 23/5/96. Some of the orders clearly state that as soon as villagers get home
from forced labour building a military base on Heinze Boke Island they are immediately
considered available and called for labour on the railway. As villagers in the area say,
forced labour is non-stop.
Some of the orders call for 'professional' or 'paid' labour; this means the villagers are
supposed to raise money among themselves and pay the people they send for forced labour.
Other orders are actually receipts verifying that village elders have paid the appropriate
extortion money of 3,000 - 3,500 Kyat per person to avoid sending forced labour.
All numeric dates in the orders are given in dd/mm/yy format. Some details of the orders
have been replaced by 'xxxx' or 'yyyy' where necessary to protect people. However, the
Battalion numbers and some other details of the orders are sensitive, so please ensure
that this report does not go to any SLORC representatives.
TOPIC SUMMARY
Railway labour (Orders #3-10), railway route survey labour (#1,2),
Heinze Boke island military camp labour (#9), extortion to avoid forced labour
(#6-8,11-13), 'paid professional' labour (#3,4), summons to meetings (#14-17).
Orders
============================================================
Order #1.
Township
LORC
Ye
Pyu Township
Reference:
099/4-8/Ma Wa Ta (Ye Pyu)
Date:
1995/August/2
To: Chairmen
Quarter / Village LORCs
Kalein Aung/Kanbauk/Pha Chaung/Ain Da Ya Za/Nat
Gyi Zin/Mintha
Ye Pyu Township
Subject: To cooperate with the railway route-finding team
1. The route-finding team from Tavoy for Ye-Tavoy railway construction will come and
search in our village tracts on (5-8-95).
2. When this team arrives in our village tracts, we have to clear the bushes. Each village
tract must provide (50) labourers with their tools to help them to do their work.
[Sd.]
(for)
Chairman
(U
Myint Soe - Secretary)
Copy to:
- No. 8 Commanding Operations Headquarters - Tavoy
- No. 1 Tactical Command Headquarters of South-East Division - Tavoy
- Division LORC - Tenasserim Division - Tavoy
- District LORC - Tavoy
- Railway Project Myanmar - Tavoy town
- Local working groups implementation (Kalein Aung - Kanbauk)
- Township Surveying Department - Ye Pyu Town
- Office copy/for clearance only
[This is the team which surveyed the new route after SLORC decided to change the
route, scrapping the embankment built by years of forced labour from Yah Pu to Kalein
Aung.]
============================================================
Order #2.
Stamp:
Date:
XX-8-95
Village LORC
xxxx Village Tract - Ye Pyu Township
To:
Chairman/Secretary
Date: XX-8-95
xxxx
village
Subject: To clear for the railway
Regarding the above subject, gentlemen, you have to send (XX) people with machetes to xxxx
village by this evening, XX-8-95 at 4 p.m., for voluntary labour.
Note: Do not fail.
[Sd.]
Chairman
Village
LORC
xxxx
village - Ye Pyu township
[Note: this is to clear for the railway route-finding team mentioned in Order #1.]
============================================================
Order #3.
Township
LORC
Ye
Pyu Township
Reference:
099/4-8/Ma Wa Ta (Ye Pyu)
Date:
1995/August/31
To: Chairmen
Quarter / Village LORCs, All Village Tract
LORCs
XXXX village tracts
Subject: Increasing professional labour force for railway construction and to send full
labour force
1. The sections of Ye Pyu and Kalein Aung on the Ye-Tavoy railway construction must be
completed as quickly as possible. This is why we are increasing the paid labour force to
(XX) people on (1-9-95).
2. You must send the paid labour force to Nwe Lay camp on 1.9.95. All the paid workers
must be male adults. No Children. Members of the village LORC have to go and stay by
rotation for implementation and supervision and arrange the full labour force.
[Sd.]
(for)
Chairman
(U
Myint Soe - Secretary)
Copy to:
- District LORC - Tavoy town
- No. 410 LIB - Kalein Aung village - Ye Pyu township
- Camp leader - Frontline No. 410 LIB - Nwe Lay camp - Ye Pyu township
- Office copy / by clearance only
[Note: 'paid labour force' means the villagers are supposed to pay people to go and do
railway labour. In fact, many villagers just have to go themselves to fill this quota
without pay.]
============================================================
Order #4.
Township
LORC
Ye
Pyu Township
Reference:
099/4-8/Ma Wa Ta (Ye Pyu)
Date:
1995/August/31
To: Chairmen
Quarter / Village LORCs, All Village Tract
LORCs
XXXX village tracts
Subject: Increasing professional labour force for railway construction and to send full
labour force
1. The sections of Ye Pyu and Kalein Aung on the Ye-Tavoy railway construction must be
completed as quickly as possible. This is why we are increasing the paid labour force to
(XX) people on (1-9-95).
2. You must send the paid labour force to Nwe Lay camp on 1.9.95. All the paid workers
must be male adults. No Children. Members of the village LORC have to go and stay by
rotation for implementation and supervision and arrange the full labour force.
[Sd.]
(for)
Chairman
(U
Myint Soe - Secretary)
Copy to:
- District LORC - Tavoy town
- No. 410 LIB - Kalein Aung village - Ye Pyu township
- Camp leader - Frontline No. 410 LIB - Nwe Lay camp - Ye Pyu township
- Office copy / by clearance only
============================================================
Order #5.
Stamp:
Date:
XX-9-95
Village LORC
XXXX Village
To:
Chairmen
Date: XX-9-95
(xxxx
- yyyy villages)
Subject: Volunteer labour for Ye-Tavoy railway construction
Regarding the above subject, the XXXX village tract has responsibility for (XX) people.
According to the work sharing, your villages have the responsibility to send (xx) people.
That is why you must send these villagers to XXXX village on XX-9-95.
Note: Do not fail.
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village
LORC
XXXX
village tract
[Note: This order was sent to all villages in XXXX village tract, with varying numbers
of people demanded depending on the village size.]
============================================================
Order #6.
Stamp:
Date:
XX-9-95
Village LORC
To:
Chairman
XXXX Village
VLORC
Date: XX-9-95
(xxxx
village)
Subject: Volunteer labour for Ye-Tavoy railway construction
Regarding the above subject, by order from Ye Pyu township, XXXX village tract must dig
(1,440) kyin [1 kyin = 10'x10'x1' of stones or earth]. According to the work
sharing, it is your village responsibility to dig (XX) kyin. To hire labour for (1) kyin
costs 350 Kyats.
Therefore, you must send your villagers to XXXX village on XX-9-95.
[Sd.]
Note:
Do not fail.
(XXXX)
If
you fail, it will be your responsibility.
Secretary-1
Village LORC
XXXX village tract
============================================================
Order #7.
Stamp:
Date:
XX-9-95
Village LORC
To:
Chairman
XXXX Village
VLORC
Date: XX-9-95
(xxxx
village)
Subject: Volunteer labour for Ye-Tavoy railway construction
Regarding the above subject, by order from Ye Pyu township, XXXX village
tract must dig (1,440) kyin [1 kyin = 10'x10'x1' of stones or earth]. According
to the work sharing, it is your village responsibility to dig (XX) kyin. To hire labour
for (1) kyin costs 350 Kyats.
Therefore, you must send your villagers to XXXX village on XX-9-95.
[Sd.]
Note:
Do not fail.
(XXXX)
If
you fail, it will be your responsibility.
Secretary-1
Village LORC
XXXX village tract
============================================================
Order #8.
Stamp:
Date:
XX-9-95
Village LORC
xxxx village - Ye Pyu Township
xxxx
village Chairman and Secretary
Date: XX-9-95
BE
INFORMED
Subject: xxxx village must dig (XX) kyin. One hole for 350 Kyats, total amount XXXX Kyats.
You must send this amount to XXXX village on XX-9-95.
Do not fail.
[Sd.
/ XXXX]
Secretary
Village
LORC
XXXX
village tract
============================================================
Order #9.
Township
LORC
Ye
Pyu Township
Reference:
099/4-8/Ma Wa Ta (Ye Pyu)
Date:
1995/June/22
To: Chairmen
Village Tract LORCs
On Bin Kwin/Zadi/Hpaungdaw/Yah Pu/Zimba
Subject: To send volunteer labourers for the railway construction
1. The labourers from Zadi, Hpaungdaw and On Bin Kwin village tracts who have been working
at the building of Heinze Island military camp are now taking a rest. I inform you to send
(XX) people from each village tract to Nwe Lay labour camp on the Ye-Tavoy railway
construction project on (25.6.95).
2. The people from Yah Pu and Zimba village tracts have been taking a rest from voluntary
labour. I inform you to send (XX) people from Yah Pu village tract and (XX) people from
Zimba village tract on (25-6-95).
3. Your village tracts have the responsibility to build themselves some buildings
[shelters] for the railway construcion labourers. A member of the Village LORC himself
must bring the labourers and a member of Village LORC has to be in charge and supervise
the construction work.
[Sd.]
(for)
Chairman
Copy to:
(U
Myint Soe - Secretary)
- District LORC, Tavoy town
- Group leader, "Local working groups implementation"
- Kanbauk area/Kalein Aung area:
To send and supervise
labourers from Ye Pyu township, I inform you about this.
- Office copy / by clearance only
[This order reflects the constant burden of forced labour; as soon as villagers get
back from labour on Heinze Island, they are immediately considered available for labour on
the railway.]
============================================================
Order #10.
Stamp:
Date:
XX-8-95
Village LORC
To:
Chairman
XXXX Village
Village
LORC
Date: XX-8-95
(xxxx
village)
Subject: Volunteer labourers for Ye-Tavoy railway construction
Regarding the above subject, according to the rotation for the Ye-Tavoy railway
construction, you have to send (xx) people to XXXX on XX-8-95 without fail.
Note: If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village
LORC
XXXX
village tract
[Note: this order was sent to several villages, with different numbers written in
depending on the village size.]
============================================================
Order #11.
Stamp:
Date:
xx-XX-95
Village LORC
xxxx Village
Date: xx-XX-95
Tenasserim Division - Ye Pyu Township - xxxx
Village Tract
From (xxxx village)
Chairman U xxxx - Secretary U yyyy, themselves, hired (xx) people for
XXXX Ye-Tavoy railway construction in XXXX village.
(Receipt - xxxx - Kyats)
Correct
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village
LORC
xxxx
village tract
[This receipt was given after village elders paid extortion money of 3,500 Kyat for
each person absent from railway labour.]
============================================================
Order #12.
Stamp:
Date:
xx-XX-95
Village LORC
xxxx Village
Date: xx-XX-95
(xxxx
village)
Chairman U xxxx, himself, hired (xx) people for voluntary labour on the Ye-Tavoy
railway construction.
I received (xxxx) Kyat - xxxx Kyats
Correct
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village
LORC
xxxx
village tract
[Note: this is a receipt after 3,000 Kyat per person was paid to the LORC.]
============================================================
Order #13.
Stamp:
Date:
xx-XX-95
Village LORC
xxxx Village
(xxxx
village)
Date: xx-XX-95
Village
LORC Chairman / U XXXX
For the Ye-Tavoy railway construction, yourself, U xxxx, hired (4) people at 3,500 Kyats
each.
Total: (14,000) Kyats - Fourteen thousand Kyats.
Received - Correct.
[Sd.]
(XXXX)
Chairman
Village
LORC
xxxx
village tract
============================================================
Order #14.
To: Chairmen
xxxx / yyyy villages
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we want to discuss and consult with you about the new railway
[i.e. the new route]. As soon as you receive this letter, come and meet at the
army camp without fail. If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
Place: XXXX camp
[Sd./XXXX]
Date: XX-8-95
Company
commander
No.
X Company
Stamp:
No.
XXX LIB
No. XXX LIB
XXXX
camp
No. X Company
============================================================
Order #15.
Stamp:
No. XXX LIB
To:
Chairman/Secretary
No. X Company
xxxx
and yyyy villages
Village LORC
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we want to consult and discuss with you on Taw Tha Lin Hla
San XX [XX Sept. 1995]. You have to come and meet without fail, according to the
order of #XXX Battalion commander. If you fail to come, it will be your responsibility.
Date: XX-9-95 12:00 hour
Place: XXXX camp
[Sd.
/ XXXX]
Date: XX-9-95
Company
commander
No.
X Company
No.
XXX LIB
XXXX
camp
============================================================
Order #16.
Stamp:
Date:
19-3-96
No. XXX IB
Note:
Come without fail at the fixed time.
To: Chairman
xxxx village
23-3-96 - At 10 a.m. you must arrive at xxxx village for the meeting. Do not come
up with any excuse that you failed to come. If you fail to come, we warn you that serious
action will be taken.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
- Corporal
============================================================
Order #17.
Date:
21-3-96
To
discuss important matters
To: U xxxx
Chairman
xxxx village
23-3-96 - At 10 a.m. you must arrive at xxxx village for the meeting. Do not come
up with any excuse that you failed to come. If you fail to come, gentleman, we warn you
that serious action will be taken.
Note: Come without fail at the fixed time. Attendees must not be women. No representatives
or delegations.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
- Sergeant
No.
XXX IB