SLORC ORDERS TO VILLAGES: SET
96-F
Central Karen State
An Independent Report by the
Karen Human Rights Group
December 10, 1996 / KHRG #96-35
Following are the direct translations of some written orders sent from SLORC Army units to Karen villages in the area south of Kawkareik, in south-central Karen State. They include demands for forced labour on roads and at Army camps, extortion money, food, building materials, and intelligence. Some are simply a summons for village elders to attend 'meetings' - these meetings at army camps are to dictate forced labour and extortion payment demands, and even though the Camp may be 3 to 5 miles away a 60-year old elder is expected to drop everything and walk there. As a result, many village elders fail to attend them, which only leads to further threats of 'action' against the elders and the village; several examples of this can be seen in this report.
The situation in this area continues to worsen. As an apparent prelude to a possible military offensive against Karen National Union territory in the area, the villages of Kwih Kaneh Khoh and Yaw Doh were stormed and looted by SLORC Infantry Battalions #31 and #32 at the end of October. Villagers in the area say if SLORC troops move into the area again they will flee en masse.
For every order reproduced here, hundreds more are issued every week; these should be seen only as a small representative sampling. Most of these orders were sent to village leaders, sometimes referred to as 'Chairperson', who are held responsible for complying with all orders and are the first to be arrested or tortured if they fail. Many of these village leaders are elderly women, because the villagers feel they are less likely to be tortured than men and less likely to be raped than young women. However, they are still often detained and/or beaten for failure to comply with orders such as those below. The phrase "Should you fail it will be your responsibility" can mean arrest/torture of elders, burning of all or part of the village, shelling the village, forced relocation, etc.
Most of these orders were handwritten, some typed, then signed and stamped by SLORC officers. Some were duplicated with carbon paper and sent to several villages. Photocopies of the Burmese originals (with village names blacked out) are available upon approved request. We have attempted to accurately reproduce the visual page layout of each order, and underlining, etc. are as they appear in the order. 'Stamp:' gives the translation of the unit stamp affixed to most of the orders. Italic text in square brackets has been added by KHRG for clarification where necessary. Note that Burmese grammar is very different from English, and therefore some of the phraseology sounds awkward because we have tried to reproduce the wording as exactly as possible.
As in the originals, numeric dates are shown in dd/mm/yy format. LIB = Light Infantry Battalion; IB = Infantry Battalion; LORC = Law & Order Restoration Council, SLORC's local and regional administration. Where necessary for safety, details have been blanked out with 'xxxx', 'yyyy', etc. Even so, please do not pass this report to any SLORC representatives.
TOPIC SUMMARY
Forced labour on roads (Orders #23-29,39-41), Army camp & portering forced labour (#2,3,5,20,43,44), demands for food (#1,2,7,19-22,47), for money (#28,30,31,35, 46), for wood and bamboo (#8,9,42), for firewood (#10,11), for intelligence (#14,16,17,21), paddy quotas (#32), forced ceremonies & tournaments (#29,30,31), forced building of toilets (#48), summons to 'meetings' (#4,6,12-16,18,19,21,22,24-28,31-34,36-39,45,47).
============================================================
Order #1
Stamp:
Light Infantry Battalion #339
Date:
9-96 [19/9/96]
Column #2
To: Chairperson (xxxx village)
Chairman! Send 15 viss [24 kg./53 lb.] of pork on the 21st. What about the xxxx
village
Chairman? His given date is overdue. Press him.
[Sd.
/ 19-9-96]
Intelligence
Office
============================================================
Order #2
Stamp:
Light Infantry Battalion #339
Date:
9-96 [10/9/96]
Column #2
To: Chairperson
As soon as you receive this letter, ask Maung xxxx to come and report immediately together with 3 viss [4.8 kg./10.5 lb.] of chicken. Without our releasing him, he ran away. Absolutely unacceptable. Do it so that he comes immediately.
[Sd.
/ 10-9-96]
Intelligence
Office
============================================================
Order #3
Stamp:
Light Infantry Battalion #339
Date:
26-8-96
Column #2
To: Chairperson (xxxx village)
Take action to replace the five voluntary labourers already released, now and without fail. From now on I will note it down [if you are late sending replacement labour].
[Sd. / 26-8-96]
============================================================
Order #4
Stamp:
Light Infantry Battalion #339
Date:
23-8-96
Column #2
To: xxxx village (Chairperson)
I inform you that if you receive this letter now, come yourself immediately and meet the column commander.
[Sd. / 23-8-96]
Note: Come Immediately [written in red ink]
============================================================
Order #5
To: U xxxx
Chairperson
xxxx village
16-8-96
U xxxx! As the Army Column needs more servants again, I inform you to send 8 additional servants in addition to the 5 servants you already have to send from xxxx village, along with 3 days' provisions, to the Army Column at 6 a.m. on 17-8-96 without fail.
[Sd.
/ 16-8-96]
Column
Commander
#331
Light Infantry Battalion
[Note: 'Servants' as used here means porters. The village normally has to send 5 porters at all times on a rotating basis, but this time they must send 13 - with less than 24 hours' notice.]
============================================================
Order #6
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
To:
Chairperson
Battalion Office
xxxx
village
Subject: Calling the chairperson to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we need to discuss with you so if you receive this letter now, come to Infantry Battalion #32. If you fail, I inform you that it will be your responsibility.
Place:Kya In Seik Gyi Town
[Sd.]
Date: 20-9-96
Intelligence
Infantry
Battalion #32
============================================================
Order #7
To: Father xxxx 30-6-96
I write to [you] now. Now we have important guests. I am asking for your help. Send 3 viss [4.8 kg./10.5 lb.] of chicken along with the messenger who brought this letter.
With
respect,
[Sd.]
Medic
Corporal
Kyaw Moe Lwin
============================================================
Order #8
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
To:
Chairperson Date: 1-9-96
Column
xxxx
village
Subject: To send bamboo and wooden posts for a fence
Regarding the above subject, we inform you to send (300) bamboo and (---) wooden posts for the use of Infantry Battalion #32 on 4-9-96 without fail.
[Sd.
/ 1-9-96]
Intelligence
Infantry
Battalion #32
[Note: this is a form letter sent to several villages, with the number of bamboo and posts written in the blanks; this particular village has to send bamboo but no wooden posts.]
============================================================
Order #9
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
Quartermaster Dept.
To: Chairperson Date: 14-6-96
xxxx village
Subject: To sell timber for the Army's community hall
For construction of the community hall at IB #32 [Army camp], I inform you to send planks of ironwood measuring 5' x 2" [sic: should probably read 5"x2", i.e. 5 inches by 2 inches] and length over 12 feet, weighing 2 tons in total, before the moon has waxed next month (7/96). [i.e. before full moon day, which fell on 30/7/96.]
[Sd.]
Quartermaster's
office
Infantry
Battalion 32
[Note: Despite the word "sell", the villagers will likely be paid nothing or only a token sum.]
============================================================
Order #10
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
To:
Chairperson
Date:
10-1-96
Column 2
xxxx
village
Subject: Regarding the measure of firewood ordered by the Battalion
We have learned that the firewood we asked from your village has not as yet been sent.
Therefore, we inform you to send the wood according to the amount we asked from you to the
Battalion headquarters before the deadline of 12-1-96 without fail.
Should you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
[Note: this order was carbon-copied and sent to several villages.]
============================================================
Order #11
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
To:
Chairperson
Date:
10-1-96
Column 2
xxxx
village
Subject: Regarding the measure of firewood ordered by the Battalion
We have learned that the firewood we asked from your village has not as yet been sent.
Therefore, we inform you to send the wood according to the amount we asked from you to the
Battalion headquarters before the deadline of 12-1-96 without fail.
Should you fail, it will be your responsibility.
If you receive this letter now, I inform you that you yourself must come immediately to
the Army column.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
[Note: this is a carbon copy of a letter sent to several villages, with the final sentence written in specially for this particular village headman.]
============================================================
Order #12
To: Chairperson
xxxx village
Date:
16-6-96
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
I inform you that we from #31 Infantry Battalion need to discuss organisational, management and development matters with you, Chairperson. So you yourselves, Chairperson and Secretary, must come to xxxx village at 12 noon on 19-6-96.
[Sd.]
[Sd.]
Intelligence
Officer
Major Soe Htat
Infantry
Battalion #31
============================================================
Order #13
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
17-6-96
Column
To: Chairperson
xxxx village
1) If you receive this letter now, Chairperson, you yourself come immediately along with the messenger to xxxx village to meet with the Column Commander.
2) Without fail (without fail) come and meet [him]. Should you fail, I inform you that we will take action effectively and severely.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
Column
2
(Note) - write 'effectively' instead of 'severely'. Infantry Battalion #62
[Note: The note to write 'effectively' instead of 'severely' was written on this order by another SLORC officer (probably the Column Commander himself), who clearly felt more subtle language should be used. However, the officer who wrote the order ignored him and sent the order as it was.]
============================================================
Order #14
To: Chairperson Date: 17-6-96
xxxx village
If you receive this letter now, you yourself come immediately and see us at the Army column without fail, along with up to date information about your area. If you fail it is your responsibility, Chairperson.
[Sd.]
Than
Zaw Aung
Column
2
Column
Office
============================================================
Order #15
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #31
To:
Chairperson
Column 2
xxxx
village
Subject: Come and see us
Regarding the above subject, as we want to have a discussion with you gentlemen, we inform you to come and meet at the Column [camp] at 1400 hours on 18-6-96 without fail.
Date: 18-6-96
[Sd.]
Column
Commander
Infantry
Battalion #31
Column
2
============================================================
Order #16
'96 June 19, 18:30
Mrs. xxxx!
Why didn't you come when called by the Army column? Were you not able to come because of a toothache?
Why didn't you report that there are still enemy groups in xxxx [village]?
We never hear xxxx village reporting enemy news. You only answer when the Army column
asks.
You never talk if we do not ask.
Tomorrow, Mrs. xxxx, come yourself to An Kong village without fail. You must not send a group of go pa ka [temple lay helpers] as your representatives.
Come without fail tomorrow, on 20-6-96.
[Sd.
/ 19-6-96]
Column
Commander
#310
Light Infantry Battalion
[Note: The village head later wrote on the back of this order "The headwoman had to give ten viss [16 kg. / 35 lb.] of chicken to LIB 310 for the company commander."]
============================================================
Order #17
To: Village Headmen / Go pa ka [temple lay helpers] groups 23-6-96
We have information that there have been enemy groups around xxxx / yyyy [villages], so report immediately by messenger whether this news is right or wrong.
[Sd.
/ 23/6/96]
Column
Commander
#310
Light Infantry Battalion
[Written on back in red ink:] Important / Send Immediately
============================================================
Order #18
To: U xxxx
Chairperson
xxxx village
U xxxx! If you receive this letter now, come and see the Army Column at 3 p.m. today.
[Sd.
/ 30/6[/96]]
Column
#2
============================================================
Order #19
Stamp:
Company 5
To:
xxxx village
If you receive this letter now, come and see us at Ku Done Army Camp immediately.
Without fail.
If you fail, I inform you that severe action will be taken against you.
[Sd.
Aung San Myint]
Lt.
Aung San Myint
[Written on the back afterwards by the village head: "On 7-7-96 had to give 2 viss [3.2 kg. / 7 lb.] of chicken."]
============================================================
Order #20
Stamp:
#310 Light Infantry Battalion
To:
Village Head
Intelligence Office
xxxx
village
I want to know why you have not sent the prawns I asked for. I am asking you for curry for the Battalion Commander. Next time when you change the servants, headwoman, you yourself must come.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
Officer
[Notes: "Changing the servants" refers to the villagers doing forced labour at the Army camp, who are kept there or several days and not released until their replacements arrive for the next turn. The village headwoman later wrote on the back of this order: "Had to give 3 viss [4.8 kg. / 10.6 lb.] of pork for the Battalion Commander in xxxx Army camp on 9/7/96."]
============================================================
Order #21
To: Village Chairperson / Secretary
Stamp:
#310
Light Infantry Battalion
Column
2
Now, headmen, come yourselves and report news of the enemy around xxxx / yyyy / zzzz villages, and whether it [enemy activity] is usual / not usual.
Come and sell today the edible meat you must sell to the Army column.
Column 2
[The village head later wrote on the back: "13/7/96 had to give one viss [1.6 kg. / 3.5 lb.] of chicken to Column Commander Than Htun in An Kong Army camp." - this is in addition to the large amount of meat his village has to regularly "sell" for nothing to the Army camp.]
============================================================
Order #22
To: Chairperson
xxxx village
Subject: Come and meet with the Column Commander
Regarding the above subject, we inform you to come and meet at LIB 310 Column 2 immediately without fail, and if you fail it is the village head's responsibility.
Note: Come and see us on the 13th.
Date:
13-7-96 [Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
[Note: the village head later wrote on the back: "14/7/96 had to give 12 viss [19 kg. / 42 lb.] of pork to Column Commander Than Htun in An Kong Army camp."]
============================================================
[Orders #23 - 29 all relate to construction of the Chaung Wah road and the Chaung Wah bridge throughout 1996.]
Order #23
Stamp:
#32 Infantry Battalion
To:
Chairperson
Date:
5-1-96
Column 2
xxxx
village
The construction of Chaung Wah - Kya In Seik Gyi road will be resumed on Tuesday the 9th [9/1/96]. After working for 3 days (Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday) take a rest for 4 days. In the following weeks you will have to do it on Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday each week, every week.
In order to start the finishing work on the road, you yourself must come on Tuesday 9-1-96, and since you will have to cast lots for each section of the road, I inform you to come without fail.
If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.
/ 5-1-96]
(for)
Column Commander
[Note: At this point the work of clearing and embankment building had been done, and the work to be commenced was to finish off the road. The head of each village had to go on the first day along with the forced labourers in order to "cast lots" to decide which village is assigned which section of road. None of the forced labourers are paid and they must take their own food and tools. This order leaves the villagers only 4 days per week to support their families, during which they also have to do other forced labour as porters, messengers, maintaining the Army camp, etc. Those who can no longer support their families under such conditions have no choice but to flee the village or be arrested.]
============================================================
Order #24
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #62
To:
Chairperson
Date:
11-3-96
[illegible]
xxxx
village
As soon as you receive this letter, come and meet at Chaung Wah village. If you fail I warn and inform you that severe action will be taken against you.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
Sergeant
Infantry
Battalion #62
============================================================
Order #25
Stamp:
Date:
19-3-96
#62 Infantry Battalion
Remark: Must come on the fixed date without fail.
To: Chairperson
xxxx village
On 23-3-96 at 10 o'clock a.m. do come and meet with the column commander at Chaung Wah village. If you should fail to come by making many different excuses, I warn and inform you that we will take severe action.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
Sergeant
#62
Infantry Battalion
============================================================
Order #26
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #31
To:
Chairperson
Date:
23-6-96
Column 2
xxxx
village
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we need to discuss with you gentlemen the construction of the Chaung Wah village bridge and security matters for the area. We therefore inform you to attend the meeting (without fail) at Chaung Wah village at 12 o'clock noon on Wednesday 26-6-96.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
Infantry
Battalion #31
Column
2
============================================================
Order #27
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #31
To:
Chairperson
Date:
23-6-96
Column 2
xxxx
[village]
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we need to discuss with you gentlemen the construction of the Chaung Wah village bridge and security matters for the area. We therefore inform you to attend the meeting (without fail) at Chaung Wah village at 12 o'clock noon on 26-6-96.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
Infantry
Battalion #31
Column
2
============================================================
Order #28
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #31
To:
Chairperson
Column 2
xxxx
village
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we will hold a meeting to continue to implement construction of the Chaung Wah bridge. Therefore attend the meeting at Chaung Wah village at 12 o'clock noon on 27-7-96 without fail, and bring along with you the money to be collected for bridge construction.
Date: 25-7-96
[Sd.]
Place:Chaung Wah
(for)
Column Commander
Infantry
Battalion #31
Column
2
============================================================
Order #29
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #31
To:
Chairperson
Date:
25-9-96
Column 2
____
village
Subject: Opening ceremony of self-reliance bridge in Chaung Wah village
Regarding the above subject, we have finished construction of the self-reliance bridge in Chaung Wah village and we will hold the opening ceremony on 29-9-96 at 8:00 a.m. Therefore we invite you that football and volleyball teams from your village must come and compete without fail on 27-9-96 at 10:00 a.m., and five representatives including the headman must attend without fail the final meeting regarding the Chaung Wah bridge on 27-9-96 at 12:00 noon.
Notes:
1) We will feed and entertain members of the football and volleyball teams and the
headmen from 27-9-96 to 29-9-96, five times altogether [i.e. they will feed them twice
on the 27th, twice on the 28th and once on the 29th].
2) We will hold a boxing competition for those under 20 years old.
3) After the opening ceremony on 29-9-96 at 8:00 a.m., all the villages which gave
contributions [for the bridge] must cast lots at 9:00 a.m., and we will award one
black and white television including antenna and battery and one cassette player to the
one who wins.
4) We will hold a closing ceremony after the football match between the young ladies and
the old men.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
Infantry
Battalion #31
Column
2
[Note: Identical copies of this order were sent to all villages which did forced labour on the bridge. 'Self-reliance' projects are SLORC terminology for projects built entirely with forced labour and forced contributions of money and building materials by the local population. Usually the forced monetary contributions amount to several times the entire cost of the project; most of this money is just taken by the military officers, while in this case some of it is apparently being used to pay for the opening ceremony. After the bridge is open, the villagers may also be forced to do sentry duty on it.]
============================================================
Order #30
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
To:
Chairperson
Date:
1-1-96
Column 2
xxxx
village
Gentleman, we will hold a boxing competition to raise money for Independence Day [January
4].
In your village, you will have to sell ten adult tickets, and you have to sell them for 40
Kyats each.
The people who buy the tickets from your village have to watch the competition on the 2nd
at 11 o'clock and on the 3rd at 11 o'clock. Altogether two times you will have to watch.
I inform you that you have to sell all ten tickets and send the money to Za Mi hall without fail.
[Sd.
/ 1-1-96]
(for)
Column Commander
============================================================
Order #31
Stamp:
#32 Infantry Battalion
To:
Chairperson
Supreme Headquarters (Intelligence)
xxxx
village
Date: 1996 January 22
Subject: We want to hold a meeting with the village head
Regarding the above subject, as we need to speak with the headman we inform you to come to Infantry Battalion #32 on 26/1/96 without fail.
Note: Bring along with you the 400 Kyats proceeds from sale of the boxing tickets.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
Officer
============================================================
Order #32
Stamp:
#32 Infantry Battalion
To:
Chairperson
Supreme Headquarters (Intelligence)
xxxx
village
Date: 1995 December 14
Subject: Calling the village head for a meeting
As we want to discuss the purchasing of paddy, we inform you to come and arrive at #32 Infantry Battalion on 16 December.
[Sd.]
Intelligence
Officer
[Note: The "purchase" of paddy means the paddy quotas which SLORC forces every farmer to hand over for only about 20% of market price, even in bad crop years. These paddy quotas cause many farming families to go hungry, and in bad years they often have to buy rice on the market just to fill the quota.]
============================================================
Order #33
Stamp:
To:
Chairperson
#62 Infantry Battalion
xxxx
village
If you receive this letter now, come and see us at Ta Taw Oo village. Should you fail and offer many different excuses, I warn and inform you that severe action will be taken against you.
[Sd.
/ 14/3/96]
Intelligence
Sergeant
#62
Infantry Battalion
============================================================
Order #34
Stamp:
#32 Infantry Battalion
To:
Chairperson
Date:
16-1-96
Column 2
xxxx
village
Chairwoman Mrs. xxxx, the Major wants to tell you about important matters so we inform you to
come and see him immediately at Wah Bo Gone village, where the Army column is stationed.
[Sd.
/ 16-1-96]
(for)
Column Commander
============================================================
Order #35
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
To:
Chairperson (Mrs. xxxx)
Date:
14-1-96
Column
xxxx
village
From your village send the servants' fees for 12/95 and 1/96, come and give them. They must arrive here today.
Should you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.
/ 14-1-96]
(for)
Column Commander
[Note: "Servants' fees", more commonly called "porter fees", are extortion money demanded by the Army and divided between the Column and Battalion officers, with a portion remitted to higher levels within SLORC. Every village has to pay thousands of Kyat every month (anywhere from 50 to 2,000 Kyat per household), sometimes several times a month.]
============================================================
Order #36
Stamp:
Infantry Battalion #32
To:
Chairperson / Secretary
Date:
11-1-96
Column
xxxx
village
Gentlemen, as we have to discuss important matters with you, we inform you to come to the Army column in xxxx village at 11 o'clock on Sunday 13-1-96 without fail. Should you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.
/ 11-1-96]
(for)
Column Commander
============================================================
Order #37
Stamp:
#32 Infantry Battalion
To:
Chairperson
Date:
7-1-96
Column 2
xxxx
village
On Monday 8-1-96 there will be a meeting at Infantry Battalion #32 in Kya In Seik Gyi town. I again inform you to come to the meeting without fail on 8-1-96 at 9 o'clock a.m.
If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.
/ 7-1-96]
(for)
Column Commander
============================================================
Order #38
Stamp:
#32 Infantry Battalion
To:
Chairperson
Date:
7-1-96
Column 2
xxxx
village
If you receive this letter now, I inform you yourself to come immediately to the Army column and meet with the Column Commander without fail.
Should you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.]
(for)
Column Commander
============================================================
Order #39
Stamp: EXACTLY, CORRECTLY, QUICKLY
Township
Law & Order Restoration Council
Kya
In Seik Gyi Town
Ref.
No. 111 / 1-1 / TLORC (KISG)
Date:
1995 December 14
To: Chairperson and Village Head
xxxx village
Kya In Seik Gyi Township
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
We need to discuss the construction of the Ka Done Seik - Htee Po Klaw motor road, so we invite you to come to the Township Law & Order Restoration Council office at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday 19-12-95.
[Sd.]
(for)
Chairman
Copies: File Copy / apply
[Note: This is a meeting to dictate the forced labour and financial contributions to be demanded from each village.]
============================================================
Order #40
xxxx village head
Village chairperson
Gentlemen, we inform you that we need to discuss with you to help on the Htee Po Klaw road construction. Therefore you yourself must come, we request you earnestly.
1) The date for the labourers to come is 8-12-95 at 6 o'clock a.m., and they must
gather in Seik Gyi Ka Done Seik.
2) They must bring mattocks, hoes and machetes.
3) They must bring provisions.
Headman, you yourself come and discuss this before the date given by the Township LORC's letter.
[Sd.]
Seik
Gyi [town]
============================================================
Order #41
To: Chairperson
Date:
24-11-95
xxxx village
Kya In Seik Gyi Township
Subject: Letter of Reply
I inform you that we have received the chairperson's [i.e. your] letter. You must come to the worksite at 6:00 a.m., and all voluntary labourers must bring a rice-pack for breakfast along with them. We have already designated the road construction that must be done by xxxx village.
&n