| |
KHRG Photo Gallery 2010
The first instalment of KHRG's Photo Gallery 2010 presents 131 still images selected from photos taken by field researchers since July 2009. Of these photos, 56 were taken during the latter half of 2009 and 75 were taken during 2010. This edition of the gallery is divided into six subtopics, including Forced relocation and displacement, Life under military control, Convict porters, Children in armed conflict, Soldiers, army camps and weapons, and Land and livelihoods.
KHRG is committed to documenting not just the way that villagers are victims of human rights abuses, but also the myriad protection strategies they employ to resist abuse as well as maintain cultural practices and continuity in their lives. Consequently, all sections of this report include a wide variety of photo selections, not just photos of villagers as victims.
Since the last photo gallery was released, KHRG has continued to document abuses of the type documented in earlier editions. Villagers already under government control continue to report abuses related to SPDC and DKBA attempts to consolidate control and support ongoing militarization of the countryside. Elsewhere, the SPDC Army continues efforts to expand control, particularly into upland areas in northern Karen State. Though the Northern Karen State Offensive appears to have drawn to a close, attacks on villagers in hiding nonetheless continue. According to the most recent figures, more than 60,000 villagers[1] remain displaced and in hiding. Beginning in May 2009, soldiers from the SPDC and DKBA also became more active in southern Papun District and northern Pa'an districts. In spite of difficulties, however, villagers continue to employ a variety of protection strategies for resisting abuse.
Photos included in the Photo Gallery are identified with alphanumeric characters shown below each image.
All photos are by KHRG except where otherwise noted.
Footnotes
[1] "Protracted Displacement and Militarisation in Eastern Burma," Thailand Burma Border Consortium, October 2009.
Terms and Abbreviations
| IED |
Improvised explosive device, sometimes used to describe homemade landmines and other explosives used by the DKBA and KNLA |
| KPF |
Karen Peace Force, Nyein Chan Yay A'Pweh ("Peace Group") in Burmese; formed in 1997 by defected KNLA officer Thu Mu Heh and now allied with the SPDC. |
| Na Sa Ka |
SPDC's 'Border Defense' force |
| UXO |
Unexploded ordnance |
| SPDC |
State Peace & Development Council; military junta ruling Burma |
| PDC |
Peace & Development Council; SPDC local-level administration, (e.g. Village PDC [VPDC], Village Tract PDC, Township PDC [TPDC]) |
| Village tract |
An administrative unit of 5 to 20 villages in a local area, often centred on a large village |
| Tatmadaw |
SPDC Armed Forces; Tatmadaw Kyi is the Army, often referred to here as the SPDC Army |
| IB |
Infantry Battalion (SPDC), supposed to be about 500 soldiers strong but at present most SPDC battalions number under 200 |
| LIB |
Light Infantry Battalion (SPDC) , supposed to be about 500 soldiers strong but at present most SPDC battalions number under 200 |
| LID |
Light Infantry Division (SPDC), consisting of 10 Light Infantry Battalions |
| MOC |
Military Operations Command (SPDC/SLORC); 10 battalions, for offensive operations, may be deployed anywhere |
| Company |
Military unit of about 100 soldiers, though often under-strength in SPDC Army |
| Column |
Combination of Companies, assembled for operations; usually 100-300 soldiers |
| Camp |
Army base or outpost; from remote hill posts of 10 soldiers to Battalion HQ camps of several hundred soldiers |
| NCO |
Non-commissioned officers; Lance Corporals, Corporals, and Sergeants |
| KNU |
Karen National Union; main Karen opposition group |
| KNLA |
Karen National Liberation Army; armed wing of the KNU |
| DKBA |
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army; Karen group allied with the SPDC |
| KPF |
Karen Peace Force, Nyein Chan Yay A'Pweh ("Peace Group") in Burmese; formed in 1997 by defected KNLA officer Thu Mu Heh and allied with SPDC |
| loh ah pay |
Forced labour; literally it means traditional voluntary labour, but used by SPDC officers in reference to short-term forced labour |
| Set tha |
'Messenger'; forced labour as errand-runners, messengers, and for some odd jobs |
| viss |
Unit of weight measure; one viss is 1.6 kilograms or 3.5 pounds |
| milk tin |
Volume measure equivalent to the contents of a 200 ml condensed milk tin |
| bowl/pyi |
Volume measure equivalent to 8 small condensed milk tins; about 2 kg / 4.4 lb of rice |
| kyat |
Burmese currency; US$1=6 Kyat at official rate, 1200+ Kyat at current market rate |
| Paddy |
Rice grain still in the husk |
| Rice |
Rice grain after pounding or milling, with the husk removed and ready to cook |
|
|
|
|
