SLORC ABUSES IN CHIN STATE

An Independent Report by the Karen Human Rights Group
From Information Provided by the Chin Human Rights Organisation
March 15, 1997  (KHRG #97-03)

[Note: Some details have been omitted or replaced by ‘xxxx’ for Internet distribution.]

Distribution:  A full copy of this report is availale from KHRG on approved request.

The Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO) was formed in 1996 to begin independently documenting the human rights situation in Chin State of northwestern Burma. The information in this report was collected by CHRO and translated and organised partly with the assistance of KHRG.  We have reproduced it in this form to help give the events in Chin State as wide exposure as possible. As can be seen by the information in this report (see also the related reports "SLORC Orders to Villages: Set 97-A" (KHRG #97-04, 16/3/97) and "The Situation in Northwestern Burma" (KHRG #96-06, 30/1/96)), the Chin people (also known as Zo) are suffering human rights abuses at the same level as people in Burma's other conflict areas. The Chin National Front (CNF) is an armed resistance group which continues to actively fight SLORC forces in the area, though SLORC never includes the CNF in the list of groups which have not signed ceasefire deals, preferring to pretend internationally that the CNF does not exist.

Meanwhile SLORC follows a policy of oppression, extortion and forced labour against Chin villagers and tortures or executes any of them suspected of having any contact with the CNF. A large proportion of Chin people are Christian, while many others (particularly in the south) are Animist or Buddhist-Animist. There are active SLORC campaigns to persecute Chin Christians and make them convert to Buddhism. A lot of forced labour on infrastructure and extortion is also now being conducted in the name of the "8th All-Burma Students' Festival", which SLORC has declared is to be held in Haka in December 1997. Every year this Festival results in forced labour building roads, sports facilities and other infrastructure, and extortion of money from everyone in the region amounting to many times the cost of the Festival. The "7th All-Burma Students' Festival" was held in Tavoy, Tenasserim Division, in 1996 and caused a temporarily increased military presence in the region, extensive forced labour, extortion, and an increase in general suffering.

This report consists of incident reports and descriptions as well as interviews with villagers and SLORC deserters. The names of those interviewed in this report have been changed and some details omitted in order to protect the people who have provided information. False names are enclosed in quotes. Some names of people and places have been replaced by 'xxxx', 'yyyy', etc. Even so, please do not pass this report in its current form to any SLORC representative.

Abbreviations

CNF = Chin National Front, armed Chin resistance group
SLORC = State Law & Order Restoration Council, Burma's military junta
LIB = (SLORC) Light Infantry Battalion
IB = (SLORC) Infantry Battalion
LORC = Law & Order Restoration Council, SLORC's local and regional administration. While Chin State LORC and Township LORC consist of SLORC officials and military officers, Village LORC is the SLORC-appointed village council, who are often appointed against their will. Village LORC heads are responsible for arranging forced labourers, extortion payments etc. as demanded by the local SLORC military, and they are the first to be detained, tortured or executed if all of SLORC's demands are not completely met.

Table of Contents

Topic Summary

Arrest/Detention (p.3,4,5-8,12), torture/beatings (p.4,5-8,9,12,15,16), killings (p.4-7,16), looting/theft/extortion (p.3,4,6-8,9,11,15,16), economic conditions (p.12-13), rice quotas (p.13), extortion for Student Festival (p.11), harassment at Football Competition (p.11), extortion from students (p.11,12), persecution of Christians (p.12), 'ethnic cleansing' (p.14), child soldiers (p.14-16), abuse/forced labour of children (p.6,7,10), abuse/forced labour of the elderly (p.7,8,9,10).

FORCED LABOUR: Portering (p.7,8,16), sentry duty (p.9,11), building Lailenpi police station (p.9), building facilities for Students' Festival (p.11), Zee Chaung hydro project (p.13), Haka-Gangaw road (p.8,9,11), Haka-Falam road (p.11), Haka-Matupi road (p.10,11), Haka-Than Tlang road (p.8,9,11), Matupi-Min Dat road (p.10), Paletwa-Kuah Daw road (p.11), Sagaing Division roads and railways (p.13), Border Areas Development Programme (p.10).

Than Tlang Township

Arrest of Village Elders

Between July and September 1996, the headmen of most villages throughout all of Than Tlang township were arrested by the SLORC Army and accused of having contact with the Chin National Front (CNF). At various times during these 3 months, headmen were called from Than Tlang township to the town of Haka by Colonel Thein Lwin, Chairman of Chin State LORC, and Major Saw Hlaing, Chairman of Than Tlang Township LORC and commander of LIB #266 camp in Than Tlang. Those who came to Haka were arrested and detained in Haka police station. Those who could pay 20,000 Kyats were released immediately. However, the leaders of at least 11 villages (the villages of Thang Zang, Banawh Tlang, Tlang Pi, Tlang Lo, Far Rawn, Cawng Thia, Tlang Rua, So Pum, Hriang Khan, Thau, and Tlang Te) were detained longer because they could not pay. The following 3 interviews were conducted with some of those who were detained.

Interviews

INTERVIEW #1.

NAME: "Pu Hmun Lian"          SEX: M          AGE: 45 Chin, Village LORC Chairman
ADDRESS: xxxx village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 10/96

On xx/9/96 I was invited to a meeting by Major Saw Hlaing, Than Tlang camp commander of No. 266 LIB based in Haka. As soon as I reached Than Tlang I was arrested and imprisoned. The Army accused xxxx and yyyy villages of supporting CNF and of not reporting to them. They said, "If we hear that you are continuing to support them, all of you [village chairmen] will be jailed and fined 50,000 Kyats".

I was detained from xx/9/96 until xx/9/96 [for 2 weeks]. While in jail, Iwas only fed five handfuls of rice. When I was very hungry, I asked permission for my family to bring me food. My family had to give the Army officers 60 Kyats each time they sent me some curry. When the curry was good, it was eaten by the Army and I received only the rice. My family gave 5,000 Kyats to Major Saw Hlaing and I was finally released on xx/9/96. After my release, my family had to pay back to the villagers the 10,000 Kyats they had borrowed in order to pay all the bribes to the Army officers. We don't know how we will be able to pay it all back.

INTERVIEW #2.

NAME: "Pu Than Kio"          SEX: M          AGE: 40 Chin, Village LORC Chairman
ADDRESS: xxxx village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 9/96

NAME: "Pu Lal Ceu"          SEX: M          AGE: 35 Chin, Village LORC Chairman
ADDRESS: yyyy village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 9/96

Both of us were summoned by the commander of No. 266 LIB of Haka to meet him and we reached Haka on xx July 1996. As soon as we reached Haka we were detained at the Army camp. We were kept in the lockup from xx/7/96 until xx/9/96 [2 months]. We were not fed properly and our relatives from Haka had to send us food. For each meal they sent to us, they had to pay 60 Kyats [bribe to the Army officers]. Each of our families spent 120 Kyats per day to feed us. While we were in jail, our relatives hadto spend 6,420 Kyats just to provide us with food.

We told the Army officers that we had done nothing wrong and we pleaded with them to be released but we got no answer and they kept us in detention. On xx/9/96, our relatives bribed the No. 266 Battalion Commander with 5,000 Kyats for each of us, and two days later we were finally released.While we were in jail our relatives had borrowed money, and now we have to pay them back. Also, during our detention we could not work [growing their paddy - they were detained during the rainy season] and now we are facing many difficulties to survive. In jail, we became sick and we were notgiven any medicine. After our release we were hospitalised in Haka [and their families most probably had to pay for the medical treatment].

INTERVIEW #3.

NAME: "Pu Sang Cem"         SEX: M          AGE: 40 Chin, Village LORC Chairman
ADDRESS: xxxx village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 9/96

The #266 LIB commander from Haka summoned me to meet him in Haka. On xx/8/96, I reached Haka and I was immediately arrested and put in the Army lockup. I was kept there for one day. On xx/8/96 I was released. While I was in the lockup I was only fed a handful of rice. I was not told why I was arrested nor why I was then released.

When I came back to my village three days later, I was ordered by Major xxxx, commander of yyyy camp, to go to zzzz village. When I met him he told me, "Because you have only been detained in Haka for one day and one night, I have to beat you." I was badly beaten 5 times on my back with a bamboo rod the size of my arm. I could not manage to go back to my village by myself. The villagers of zzzz had to carry me back to my village,which is 4 miles away. After that, I could not do any work. It was just harvesting time and I am the only man in my family. Therefore my family lost a lot of paddy and it is difficult for us to survive.

Attack on Nga Lang Village & Murder of Bawi Kung

Hniar Ling, age 45, former village LORC chairman of Nga Lang village, was called by the commander of Than Tlang camp for a meeting on 12 July 1996. While he was travelling to Than Tlang he was told that there would be no meeting but that he would be arrested, so he did not attend. Due to his absence at the meeting, the commander Saw Hlaing sent troops to Nga Lang village in order to arrest him on 5 October 1996, but fortunately he managed to escape. Another group of troops led by 2nd Lt.Win Than were sent to arrest him on 9 October 1996, and this time also he escaped because he was in his farm field. He was therefore dismissed from his post as Village LORC Chairman of Nga Lang and replaced by someone else. The soldiers accused him of being a member of CNF, and this means that if he were arrested he would surely be killed. He therefore left the village and went into hiding. His whereabouts are still unknown.

Second Lieutenant Win Than is commander of Hriphi post, Than Tlang township, under #266 LIB based in Haka. On 9 October 1996, he led a group of 20 troops to Nga Lang village to arrest former Village LORC Chairman Hniar Ling. Without any warning they surrounded the village. At about 5 p.m. that day, Bawi Kung from Haka town and his two friends "Pa Sui" [not his real name] and D--- were on their way back from Mizoram State [in India], and arrived at Nga Lang village planning to spend the night there. As they were approaching the village, the Burmese soldiers suddenly fired many rounds towards them, without any questions or warning. Bawi Kung was wounded and later killed. D--- was arrested, taken away along with the soldiers and nothing is known about what happened to him. "Pa Thang" managed to escape [see interview below]. The headman was beaten until he was bloodyand then had a plastic bag put over his head until he was unconscious. The troops detained a Church elder and stole all the Church funds totalling10,000 Kyat, the church bell and all the village's medicine from his house. Other villagers were also beaten, the village was ransacked and the troops took 16 porters and 4 horses to carry away their loot.

Interviews

INTERVIEW #4.

NAME: "Pa Thang"          SEX: M          AGE: 35 Chin
ADDRESS: xxxx village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 10/96

Bawi Kung was 23 and a cattle trader from Haka. He often went to Mizoram to sell cows. This time, he came back from Mizoram along with D---, age 18, and I. On the way back I was not feeling well and followed my two friends at a distance. D--- was leading and Bawi Kung was following him. Both of them were wearing white T-shirts. Just before they arrived in Nga Lang they took a rest at a memorial stone, and there they saw 6 soldiers on duty so they approached them. The soldiers didn't ask anything. As they came close to the soldiers, Dawt Hlei Thang was captured and Bawi Kung tried to escape. The soldiers shot at him many times but they couldn't hit him. They shouted, "Don't run away. Stop!" Then he stopped, and they shot at him and he fell down. I was behind, and when I heard the firing I escaped and returned to Mizoram.

INTERVIEW #5.

NAME: "Pu Piang Te"          SEX: M          AGE: XX Chin
ADDRESS: Nga Lang village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 10/96

"Pu Piang Te": On 9 October 1996, a platoon of Light Infantry Battalion #266 based in Haka led by Second Lieutenant Win Than entered our village. When I arrived from my farm, all the villagers had been gathered together by the Army at the open ground just at the upper side of the village. All the men were ordered to lie down on the ground and the women and children were ordered to sit facing the sunlight. All the men were asked questions about the leaders of CNF and those who didn't know about CNF were beaten. Then the soldiers told them, "Ask for the help of your God and you will see!." One of them named Pa Maung was beaten on his right hip with their guns. He could not even get up and was hospitalised. He is now in serious condition at the hospital.XXXX

We were ordered to bury the body of Bawi Kung immediately. They wouldn't allow us to carry his body to Haka, which is his native place [according to Chin tradition, a dead person should be buried at his native place - Bawi Kung was from Haka]. They added, "When you finish burying him, you must put a fence around his grave [if there is a fence around a grave, nobody can touch or go inside the fence]. Nobody is allowed to enter the tomb. If you don't follow my order, your village will be burned down."

That night, they took 15 chickens and 200 eggs and whatever else they liked, including rice, from the villagers. About 20 children, 5 to 10 years of age, were missing because they had run to hide. We requested the commander's permission to search for them because their parents were so worried about their missing children, but they did not allow us to go outside. The parents of the children were crying the whole night long.

Villager #2: Early the next morning, the villagers went to bury his [BawiKung's] body. They secretly checked the body and found not only gunshots but also marks of knife stabbings and they saw pieces of intestine hanging out of his belly. Win Than forced them to bury him immediately. After that the troops left for Khua Bung.

"Pu Piang Te": In the morning on 10 October 1996, they took 16 porters and 4 horses and left for Khua Bung at 10 a.m. After they left, the childrenwho were hiding came back. Some families had nothing left to eat because their rice had been stolen. XXXX.

INTERVIEW #6.

NAME: "Pu Lian Ham"          SEX: M          AGE: XX Chin

XXXX

INTERVIEW #7.

NAME: "Van Ceu"          SEX: M          AGE: XX Chin
ADDRESS: Nga Lang village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 10/96

["Van Ceu" was taken as a porter when the troops left Nga Lang village.]

Troops of Light Infantry Battalion #266 led by Second Lieutenant Win Than entered Nga Lang village on 9 October 1996 and tortured all the villagers in our village. They took whatever they liked. A cattle trader wasshot dead in our village. They took 16 porters and four horses from our village to carry their rations, weapons and things in order to go on to Khua Bung village, which is 14 miles away from our village. The oldest porter was 62 and the youngest was 16. Most of us were about 30 to 40 years of age. We started at 10 a.m. and reached Khua Bung at 7 p.m. We had to carry rice, eggs, and meat which they had taken from the villagers, and we were ordered to walk in line alternating with the soldiers to protect them from bullets. We carried about 30 kilograms each, and they fed us nothing on the way.

The soldiers told us that portering is compulsory for the villagers twice a month throughout the whole region. "Phun Uk" and I were beaten when we could not walk like the others because our loads were too heavy. They beat others as well, but not as much as us.

INTERVIEW #8.

NAME: "Hla Thang"          SEX: M          AGE: 29 Chin farmer
ADDRESS: Nga Lang village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 10/96

When a platoon of soldiers led by 2nd Lt. Win Than arrived, I managed to escape from the soldiers and went into hiding in the jungle. They tortured the villagers and took all their belongings such as rice, money, cattle etc. They stole two tins of rice and 3,600 Kyats from my box and other things worth approximately 2,500 Kyats were also taken [from his house].

Forced Portering and Beatings of the Elderly

INTERVIEW #9.

NAME: "Pu Ar Ceh"          SEX: M          AGE: 63 Chin
ADDRESS: xxxx village, Than Tlang township      INTERVIEWED: 9/96

"Pu Lian Peng", aged 62, from our village, and I are very old but we want to stay active, so on 23 August 1996 we went together to the outskirts of the village to cut some bamboo. We met Major XXXX and 40 soldiers. We were questioned by Major XXXX in Burmese language about the situation. We told him that we could not speak Burmese. That Major said, "You are under the control of the Burmese. Why can't you speak Burmese?" Then each of us was beaten five times with the bamboo we had just cut. After that, we were taken back into our village and we were forcedto carry the Army's cooking equipment from there to yyyy village, 4 miles away. We weren't given anything for this. I felt very weak because of exhaustion. When I asked the soldiers to give me medicine, I was told, "We have no medicine for you." As we were not able to carry anymore, we were sent back to our village.

After the villagers heard about our beatings they were very afraid, so each time the Army comes to the village they run away and hide in the jungle.

Forced Road Labour and Sentry Duty

Throughout 1996, villagers in Haka and Than Tlang townships were forced to work on the Haka-Gangaw and Haka-Than Tlang roads. One person per household had to go in shifts of two weeks each. Working hours were from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. No payment was given, and the villagers had to take their own food and tools. No health care was provided. Anyone who failed to do the work, even for health reasons, was fined 3,000 Kyats. Anyone whose work failed to pass inspection by the authorities was forced to do another shift of labour. Labour on these roads is continuing in 1997. In January 1997, the villagers were ordered to provide 22,500 kyin [1 kyin = 10 x 10 x 1 feet] of crushed stone for the Haka-Gangaw road. Any household failing to provide their quota is fined 135 Kyats per kyin. A meeting was held on 18 December 1996 to decide on further labour assignments on these roads for the villagers.

In June 1996 Major Saw Hlaing, Than Tlang camp commander of #266 LIB of Haka, forced the people from Than Tlang to build six sentry posts. Since then 5 people at a time have been forced to do sentry duty at each post. A total of 30 people are doing sentry duty every night at the six posts, from 6 p.m. until 5 a.m. These people have to bring along catapults [slingshots] and a long knife. From 5:30 onward, two people from each post are forced to patrol the town, a total of 12 people. They are not allowed to sleep and soldiers are checking on them frequently to make sure they are doing their duty. If someone is not doing their duty properly, he or she will be beaten 20 times. If a person cannot do sentry duty for one night, he or she will be fined 50 Kyats. Even if they are sick, they have topay this fine of 50 Kyats.

On 25/9/96 at about 8:30 p.m., one Corporal and 5 soldiers came to check the sentry posts and said: "You have been on duty for 4 months now but you have never arrested any CNF rebels". For punishment, everyone was beaten five times each.

The people have already paid a lot of money because sometimes they are sick and sometimes they have to do their own work so they cannot do the sentry duty. They and their families are facing financial problems.

On 9th June 1996 at 9:30 p.m. Rev. Biakkam, 65 years old, from Than Tlang Baptist Church, was coming home after a religious meeting. Two soldiers stopped him and asked him where he was coming from and what he had just done. Although Rev. Biakkam gave explanations, he was beaten up seriously. He had to be hospitalised.

Matupi Township

Interviews

INTERVIEW #10.

NAME: "Ki To"          SEX: M          AGE: 48 Chin Christian farmer
ADDRESS: XXXX village, Matupi township

The people from XXXX village were ordered to construct the police station in Lailenpi, which is 35 miles away from XXXX village, from 5 April to 10 April 1996. Our duty was to complete a quarter of the police station which is 40 x 20 [feet] within five days. We had to work from the early morning until night. We had to build it until they were satisfied withthe building. They provided nothing. We had to work with our own food and no wages at all. The order was sent by U Pe Ku, who is in charge of the Lailenpi police station.

[Other villagers reported that the villagers from YYYY village, Matupi township, received a written order (Reference number XXXX) dated XX April 1996 to build one quarter of the Lailenpi police station. They were ordered to reach Lailenpi on 30th May 1996. At that time the villagers had to work on their fields and could not go, so every household was fined 200 Kyats.]

INTERVIEW #11.

NAME: "Tha Pa"          SEX: M          AGE: 35 Chin Christian
FAMILY: Married, 6 children
ADDRESS: XXXX village, Matupi township

[This account has been paraphrased from the description given by "Tha Pa".]

One person per family, a total of 96 people, from my village have to build the Matupi to Haka road. Their duty is to complete 15 kyin [of crushed stone; one kyin is 10 x 10 x 1 feet (100 cubic feet)] each. So 1,440 kyin must be completed by our whole village. 50 men, 20 women and 26 children under 17 years of age have been working there. The youngest was 15 and the eldest 60. Once every year we have to do this. Even if we pay money we cannot escape it.

The work place is in Lung Hlaw village, 5 miles away from our village. The working hours are from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. They promised to pay us 100 Kyats for each kyin but they took off 50 Kyats for the Students' Festival fund [the "All-Burma Students' Festival" is to be held in Haka in December 1997] and 25 Kyats for the Township Sports fund. Only 25 Kyats are left. They provide nothing, we have to work with our own food. There is no medical care. We cannot go back home unless we have completed our duty. The soldiers come to check on us three times a week. This work has been ordered by the SLORC under the Border Areas Development Programme. In total, 7,500 people from 50 villages in Sing Tlang Village Tract have been forced to work on this road construction project. If someone fails to work he is fined 1,500 Kyats.

INTERVIEW#12.

NAME: "Khung Boi"          SEX: M          AGE: 28 Chin Christian
FAMILY: Married, 1 child
ADDRESS: XXXX village, Matupi township

[This account has been paraphrased from the description given by "KhungBoi".]

One person per family, a total of 125 people, from my village have to build the Matupi to Min Dat road. Their duty is to complete 15 kyin each, so 1,875 kyin must be completed by our whole village. 80 men, 25 women and 15 children under 17 years of age have been working there. Some are very old men aged 65. The youngest was 14. Once every year we have to do this. Even if we pay money we cannot escape it.

The work place is in Chan Pian village, 30 miles away from our village, at the 202 milestone. The working hours are from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. They promised to pay us 100 Kyats for each kyin but they took off 50 Kyats for the Students' Festival fund and 25 Kyats for the Township Sports fund. Only 25 Kyats are left. They provide nothing, we have to work with our own food. There is no medical care. We cannot go back home unless we have completed our duty. The soldiers come to check on us three times a week. This work has been ordered by the SLORC under the Border Areas

Development Programme. In total, 3,800 people from 40 villages in Dum Nen and Dai Nen Village Tracts are forced to work on this road construction project. If someone fails to work he is fined 1,500 Kyats. Even Christian Pastors and Reverends are not spared, but the Buddhists are not forced to work and the SLORC doesn't ask any money from them.

Dar Ling Football Competition

By order of the Chairman of Matupi Township LORC, a football competition was scheduled to be held on 12 January 1996 at Dar Ling village. Sabawngpi, Sabawngte, Hlung Mang, Dar Ling, Lung Cawi, La Oo, and Ce Paw villages had to participate in the football competition. After that, some players were to be selected to participate in the Zonal Football Competition at Matupi. Therefore all the footballers arrived in Dar

Ling from various villages. That day, troops from Light Infantry Battalion #266 based in Haka, led by Capt. Thein Htet Phyu, entered Dar Ling. The Captain said, "Without my permission this football competition cannot be held. I will stop it by force. The security of this region is my responsibility, so you must inform me of whatever you plan to do or to celebrate." The Village LORC chairmen explained that the football competition had been arranged with the approval of the Matupi Township chairman. However, Capt. Thein Htet Phyu said that the security was not goodand he postponed it until 12 February 1996 [one month later]. All the participants were ordered to go back to their own villages.

Then on 12 February, with the permission of Capt. Thein Htet Phyu, the football competition was restarted. During the festival two of his soldiers deserted, and all the villagers were ordered to search for them until they found them. The Captain ordered the villagers to go on sentry duty in the village day and night, and if there was any news about the deserters they were to report it to him.

Despite this incident, the Village LORC chairmen decided to continue the competition, while the villagers also did sentry duty as ordered. When the Captain heard that the football competition was continuing, he called the Village LORC chairmen and Village LORC members and fined them one sack of rice each. Each sack costs 1,000 Kyats.

Haka, Paletwa and Other Locations

SLORC began construction on a new road from Paletwa [southwestern Chin State] to Kuah Daw in January 1997. The road is being built entirely with forced labour. One person per household from every village in Paletwa and Kuah Daw areas has to be provided for the labour. Any household which fails to send a person is fined 1,500 Kyats each time they are ordered to go.

The All Burma Students' Festival is scheduled to be held in Haka in December 1997. This is the biggest Students' Festival ever held in Chin State. This festival is organised by SLORC. For this purpose, the SLORC has collected 5,000 Kyats from each landlord and 2,000 Kyats from anyone who is paying rent not only in Haka town but in all of Chin State. Each student has had to pay 50 Pyas (1/2 Kyat) every month since 1st December 1995. For this school year, every student will have to pay 100 Kyats more as a contribution to the Festival. At the same time, the people of Haka are being forced to work in order to extend the football ground and to build a stadium and roads. The people who have their homes along the main road leading to the Festival ground were ordered to repair and repaint their houses, and all buildings in bad condition must be removed. Besides this forced labour for the Students' Festival, the people of Haka township also have to repair the Haka-Falam road, the Haka-Matupi road, the Haka-Than Tlang road and the Haka-Gangaw road. The people are complaining that they have no time to do their own work.

Interviews

INTERVIEW #13.

NAME: "Pu Lai Lian"          SEX: M          AGE: 58 Chin Christian schoolteacher
ADDRESS: XXXX town, Chin State     INTERVIEWED: 7/96

On XX May 1996 at about 9 p.m., I was returning from the hospital with my wife. On the way home, I suddenly met two soldiers who pointed their guns at me. Without any interrogation, they started beating me badly. My wife was afraid and ran back to our home to inform our relatives. Then the soldiers took me to the Army camp of #XXX Battalion. There they continued to beat me. My whole body was swollen and I could hardly breathe. The Army accused me of being involved in three bomb explosions which took place in XXXX in January 1996. They said they also suspected me of being in contact with CNF. XXXX I was kept for a few days in the Army camp. Some teachers from my school who were the wives of Army officers came to plead with the Battalion Commander to let me go. Therefore I was released. I was carried to XXXX hospital, but my injuries were so serious that I needed to be transferred to XXXX hospital. Now, two months later, I am still hospitalised.

INTERVIEW #14.

NAME: "Salai Lai Bi"          SEX: M          AGE: 25 Chin Christian student

I am a final year student in XXXX at XXXX College [outside Chin State] and I am involved in the University Christian Fellowship.

Each year when the Universities open an amount of 100 Kyats is asked from every student for the construction of a Buddhist Monastery - including the Christian students. If a student fails to pay the requested fee, they are not allowed admission to the college.

Up to now, I have given 400 Kyats during my life at university as they have required. Our Jesus said, "Do not worship other Gods except me", and we have to follow Jesus' commandments. But we cannot, since we have to study for our livelihoods. In 1994, the monastery was built in the campus with the permission of the SLORC authorities. But when in November 1995 the University Christian Fellowship requested permission to build a Church for worshipping, the authorities turned down our request.

INTERVIEW #15.

NAME: "Pu Than Kil"          SEX: M          AGE: 60 Chin Christian farmer
FAMILY: Married, 8 sons
ADDRESS: XXXX village, Kalaymyo township, Sagaing Division      INTERVIEWED: 9/96

["Pu Than Kil" was asked questions focussing on the economic situation in his area.]

As I am a farmer, I can only earn money by selling my rice. The production would be enough to feed my family but I have no other way to make money, so I need to sell some of my rice. Because of that, we don't have enough to eat. It is also very difficult for the people who don't have any fields. They don't have enough rice to cook.

Recently, we have not been able to afford sugar and milk. One viss [1.6 kg./3.5 lb.] of sugar costs 120 Kyats. The sugar comes from India - we cannot get any sugar from our own country. There is no chance to do paid labour, even to earn 30 Kyats per day. Nobody can employ workers because they do not even have money to pay them.

We also had to build the railway and work on the Zee Chaung hydro project. Now the villagers have to pay 100,000 Kyats for a meter box to connect to the power supply from this hydro project. We had to build an Army camp between Kaley Wa and Kham Phet villages. This forced labour generally goes on from January to May. The SLORC chooses this time because there is no farm work then. In my area, the Army does not behave too badly. They even protect us from thieves.

We have to construct a road by ourselves from my village to another village. This is a new road under a government scheme, but they have never supplied anything toward it and we had to collect money amongst the villagers. [SLORC calls these forced labour and forced payment projects "self-reliance basis" projects.]

I don't know exactly about government salaries. A high school teacher earns 1,000 to 1,500 Kyats [per month]. Even lecturers [college or university] only earn between 1,500 and 1,750 Kyats. Now rice costs 50 Kyats per pyi [1.6 kg./3.5 lb.], and pork and other meat are at 200 Kyats per viss [1.6 kg./3.5 lb.]. A shirt that costs less than 500 Kyats is not ofgood quality - you have to spend at least 500 up to 1,200 Kyats for a good one. A longyi [man's sarong] for 800 Kyats is of medium quality. To have one shirt with long sleeves sewn you have to pay 200 Kyats, and with short sleeves 140 Kyats.

One acre produces about 50-70 tangs [one tang = 2 big tins, or about 30 kg./66 lb.] of paddy but we have to sell 12 tangs per acre to the government at 75 Kyats each, while the market price is 350 Kyats each. Every field is registered by the government. In my village, all the fieldsare passed from father to son. The government doesn't allow us to sell these fields to other people.

INTERVIEW #16.

NAME: "Pu Than Ceu"          SEX: M          AGE: 36 Chin Christian carpenter
FAMILY: Married, 7 children
ADDRESS: XXXX village, Kalaymyo township, Sagaing Division      INTERVIEWED: 9/96

["Pu Than Ceu" was asked questions focussing on the economic situation in his area.]

The people now live in poverty. Some do not have enough rice to eat. Instead they mix some red beans with corn. And they cannot afford to purchase medicine when they are sick. We cannot eat like before. The cost of rice is getting higher and higher. In my village, the price of rice is 55 to 70 Kyats for one pyi [1.6 kg./3.5 lb.] but it can be higher according to the season. The pork and meat is 200 Kyats per viss [1.6 kg./3.5 lb.]. We spend all our money just to buy rice, so we cannot afford to prepare two or three kinds of curry like before. Before, the government was supplying sugar, oil, and rice from the cooperatives. Every village used to have two cooperative societies but now they have been abolished.

When I have work, I can earn 50 to 80 Kyats per day. But I don't have work everyday. If we do not do volunteer labour [i.e. forced labour], we have to pay more than our daily wage [as a fine]. So we have to do forced labour. Even though we do it, we don't earn anything from that. Moreover, for widening the main road and the railway each household has to provide the government with one kyin [10 x 10 x 1 feet] of small stones.

In my area, the young soldiers aged between 13 and 15 are bad. They steal chickens and clothing from the villagers. Young boys who are found roaming around the town are forcibly recruited by the Army. The son of my friend Hming Liana was wandering around Kalaymyo town and he was captured by the Army. When he did not return home his father searched for him, and they found him at the soldiers' camp.

SLORC Deserters in Chin State

Four SLORC soldiers from #XXX Battalion and one SLORC soldier from LIB #XXX surrendered to CNF troops in December 1995. They then crossed into India and reached New Delhi on 25 January 1996. They applied to UNHCR (the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in Delhi to be recognised as "persons of concern". The status was granted to them. Then they went back to stay in Manipur but were handed over to the SLORC by Indian authorities in August/September 1996. No one knows of their whereabouts. They have almost certainly been tortured, and have quite possibly been executed or sentenced to life imprisonment by SLORC.

Interviews

INTERVIEW #17.

NAME: "Myo Aung"          SEX: M          AGE: 18 Burman Buddhist
FAMILY: Single, 2 younger brothers and sisters
EDUCATION: 6th Standard (Grade 6) RANK: Private, #XXX Battalion
ADDRESS: xxxx village, Mandalay Division     INTERVIEWED: 1/96

In 1992, I was studying in 6th Standard at the State High School in my village and our family was facing extreme financial difficulties. I couldn'tcontinue my education. I wanted to let my younger brother and sister go to school. At that time, the rumour circulating in our area was: "Anyone who joins the Army will be given rations and be paid 600 Kyats per month". I thought that I would be able to send the 600 Kyats to my family, so that they could send my brother and sister to school. So I decided to enrol in the Army.

On XX August 1993, I went to the recruiting centre in Mandalay [note: he was only 15 years old]. I started my military training on XX September 1993 and completed it after 4 months. I was posted to LIB #XXX. Then I was transferred to #XXX Battalion at Tiddim [northern Chin State, just east of the border with India's Mizoram State] on XX October 1994. This was a newly established Battalion for the 'Chin People Operation' under the commander of Northwestern Command, Col. Maung Thein [Northwestern Command covers all of northwestern Burma]. They selected only unmarried soldiers for this Battalion and encouraged them to marry Chin girls and convert them to Buddhism. If the soldier cannot convert the Chin girl whom he marries to Buddhism or if he becomes a Christian himself, he is punished and put in jail. If he can, he gets rank and privileges.

Our company commander was Captain XXXX. The company was divided into two platoons. Our platoon commander was Sergeant XXXX. Our section commander was Lance Corporal XXXX and I was the section second-in-command. [A SLORC company is about 100 soldiers, a platoon is about 30 and a section is about 10. SLORC battalions usually have 4 or 5 companies.] Our company was posted at XXXX camp near the border of Mizoram, India. Our main duty was to patrol the border area, which is part of Tiddim and Falam townships in Chin State. We had to convince the civilians to condemn CNF rebels, and persuade them to support the Burmese Army. But whenever the civilians requested any assistance from the SLORC, they got nothing. Whenever the commanders disliked someone, they ordered us to beat him up and to harass him. Once, when our platoon was in Hai Mual village, one of the volunteer labourers [i.e. forced labourers] was not well. My platoon commander ordered me to beat him up. I hit him four times in his chest with my gun. After that he couldn't even stand up by himself. I felt so sorry about that, but an order was an order.

Instead of teaching us good things, the officers frequently ordered us to steal whatever they wanted. When we entered a village, they ordered us to steal chickens and wine. During my 3 years of service, we stole more than 500 chickens from the villagers. The commanders are always very happy to eat the chickens. Sometimes we stole the locally made Zupi, which is the most appreciated traditional wine. Once in Thing Lei village the section commander, XXXX, ordered me to steal a jacket worth 1,000 Kyats from a person who lived in the house where he was staying.

The salary of a private is 600 Kyats per month [it is supposed to be 750]. But every month the officers cut it: 1 Kyat for donation [alu ngui], 5 Kyats for Buddhist religious funds, 10 Kyats for social welfare, 100 Kyats for savings in the bank, 40 Kyats for a Battalion Certificate. Only those with this Certificate were allowed to meet the Battalion Commander, and it was valid for one month. The remainder of our salary was not sufficient for a uniform. We had to save money for 3 or 4 months to purchase a full uniform. By the time we could afford to buy one part of it, another part was already torn, so we didn't look much different from the volunteer soldiers [the militia units which are forcibly conscripted in the villages].

I escaped because I was not satisfied with my salary or with the relationshipwith our higher officers and the civilians. I came to realise that the Burmese Army is not supported by the people and is not working for our country. Most of the Privates and some NCO's [Non-Commissioned Officers, i.e. Corporals, Sergeants etc.] from #XXX Battalion would like to escape but they have no chance. I discussed running away with Lance Corporal XXXX, YYYY and 6 other soldiers. Three friends and I planned to flee on 3 December 1995 at 11 p.m. with the help of a villager, but our plan fell through because our officers were drinking and gambling up to midnight. On 4th December at 3 a.m., I replaced ZZZZ on duty and we took off. At 4 a.m. we reached xxxx village and hid in the forest. The SLORC was chasing us. They reached xxxx village at 8 a.m. and there was fighting with the CNF. As soon as the SLORC left, we went to a farm and asked for food and drink. The villagers helped us to meet with the CNF on XX December 1995.

INTERVIEW #18.

NAME: "Za Kap"          SEX: M          AGE: 20 Chin Christian farmer
FAMILY: Single, 2 brothers and sisters
EDUCATION: 4th Standard (Grade 4) RANK: Private, #XXX LIB
ADDRESS: xxxx village, Paletwah twp., Chin State      INTERVIEWED: 1/96

I joined the Army in September 1993 [at age 17]. After 15 days in the recruitment centre of Sittwe [capital of Arakan (Rakhine) State], I was moved to the No. 9 Training Centre of Arakan State. After completing the training, in January 1994 I was posted with LIB #XXX. The Battalion Commander is XXXX, the commander of Company #2 is Captain XXXX, the platoon commander is Lieutenant XXXX, the section commander is XXXX and the section second-in-command is XXXX.

The main duty of my battalion was to provide security for Than Tlang camp by patrolling the areas of Swe Let Wah and Salain Wah. The area is very rural and the people there have never seen a car or a motorcycle. There is no middle school, only one private primary school. They are poor and isolated from the Burmese. When I got there, no chickens were available because the previous soldiers had already stolen them all. The porters were very weak. Their heavy loads made them fall down again and again. They were scolded, punched and beaten continuously. We never carried our own rations. Wherever we went we demanded food, money or animals from the villagers. Often the villagers were suspected of having contact with the rebels. The saddest thing I heard in my life was when a Captain from Infantry Battalion #376 killed more than 10 villagers because they were members of CNF. Then he took people as porters to the SLORC camp, and he was given a promotion. I do not remember his name.

I planned to flee with XXXX but he stayed behind. I ran away from my camp on XX December 1995, and with the help of a villager I reached xxxx village at 6 a.m. Then I reached yyyy village the next day, and waited for a week before contacting CNF.