These villagers fled their homes in Bper Day village, Than Daung township, Toungoo District on June 10th 2007 following increased threat of attack by soldiers from SPDC MOC #5, TOC#1 under the command of Sein Than. As they fled in the midst of the raining season, forest paths had all turned into thick mud; making the wearing of rubber 'flip-flop' sandals near impossible and travel through the mountains excruciatingly slow. In photo C-102 one villager - second from the back - carries his rubber 'flip-flops' and walks barefoot rather than struggle to keep them on up the muddy slope. [Photo: KHRG]

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Internally displaced villagers bypass a flooded paddy field following a heavy downpour of rain on June 11th 2007. Many of those shown here use plastic sheets to provide some cover from the rain but nevertheless go barefoot through the thick mud. These villagers fled from Thay Pay Htee village in order to escape SPDC military control and the persistent demands and restrictions of army personnel. [Photo: KHRG]

The now-displaced residents of Thay Pay Htee village continue on their journey through Toungoo District. In photo C-108 the community takes a brief rest on June 13th two days after fleeing their village. [Photo: KHRG]

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Family members from Papun District travel to their hillside paddy fields in Law Kaw Htee village tract on June 14th 2007. Due to the military-induced impoverishment of rural communities, this family's livelihood has been under increasing pressure. The elder man [photo C-111] is 67 years old yet must work in the fields to support himself and his family. His two young grandchildren who accompany him must also work in the fields and have not therefore been able to go to school. The elder man's son-in-law [photo C-112] must spend his time foraging for food despite having previously lost his right leg. [Photo: KHRG]

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On June 14th 2007, villagers in Lay Kaw Htee village tract, Papun District divide the rice from one large rice sack [64 kg. / 140.8 lb.] into smaller bags so as to make carrying it more manageable. A local police officer ordered the villagers to deliver the rice to the police headquarters. [Photo: KHRG]

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The base and remaining fins of two separate 120mm mortar shells which SPDC forces fired on villages in Lu Thaw township, Papun District. SPDC troops based at Kaw Poo fired the shell shown in photo C-115 at Pa Yo Wah village on April 28th 2007. SPDC forces based at Muh Bpleh Meh fired the shell in photo C-116, shown here on May 17th 2007, at displaced villagers in the Bo K'Ser area. [Photo: KHRG]

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Following an outbreak of fighting between KNLA and DKBA troops, a group of DKBA soldiers came to Maw Dtaw Hta village, Nah Koh Kee village tract, located near to the site of the fighting, where they set fire to a home and rice storage barn belonging to villager Saw Gkaw Dee. These photos show the situation shortly after the arson on June 20th 2007. In photo C-119 villagers have attempted to retrieve some of Saw Gkaw Dee's possessions out of the ashes. The DKBA soldiers apparently burnt down these buildings as a means of punishing local villagers for not doing enough to prevent KNLA forces from patrolling in the area. DKBA and SPDC forces typically hold local villagers responsible for any KNLA presence near their villages. [Photo: KHRG]

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Young children carrying family belongings and infant siblings travel through southern Toungoo District while evading SPDC patrols with their families. This community fled from Muh Kha Day village in Karenni State on June 30th 2007. [Photos: KHRG]

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Displaced villagers make use of a felled tree for a makeshift bridge to ascend a muddied slope in Toungoo District during June 2007. The women and children shown here make their way barefoot loaded with personal belongings over the slippery log soaked by the heavy June rains. On top of the natural dangers of such a trip, these villagers must also be wary of encountering SPDC patrols or the many landmines strewn through the area. In photo C-123 one family takes a brief rest [Photo: KHRG]

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Trekking over the hilltops of Than Daung township, northern Toungoo District, these villagers fled their homes when troops from SPDC MOC #5 set up three new army camps at Pwee Kee, Shoh Koh and Kaw Haw. Due to the close proximity of these camps to their home village, these villagers fled on June 7th 2007. [Photos: KHRG]

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These villagers fled their homes in Saw Muh Der and Saw Dtay Dter villages, Toungoo District upon the arrival of SPDC troops from LIBs #375 and 540 of MOC #9, TOC #2 in early 2007.

When these photos were taken on June 1st 2007, the villagers had just left their homes in Toungoo District and told KHRG that they were on their way to a refugee camp in Thailand. [Photo: KHRG]

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Growing up under militarisation, children in Karen State are particularly affected by the negative impact of systematic abuses and constraints which threaten their health, education and social support networks. Nevertheless, most children, such as those shown here from Ler Per Her IDP camp [photos C-136 and C-137] and Thay Bo Gklo village [C-138, C-139, C-140, C-141 and C-142] in Pa'an District in August 2007 have demonstrated a strong resilience to the challenges of militarisation; taking on new roles at a young age in support of their families and communities. [Photo: KHRG]

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