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 STOP KILLING KAREN PEOPLE

Karen Women Organization stated that SPDC troops are committing gross human rights violations and atrocities against the Karen people, including women and children, in their military operations in Toungoo, Nyaunglaybin and Papon Districts of Karen State, which has continue since September 2005 until today.

Villagers are forced to build motor roads, construct barracks and haul food supplies for the SPDC troops. They are forced to relocate away from their villages, while their rice barns, agricultural fields and homes are burned down. Thousands of people in the area have to abandon their homes and livelihood to flee and hide as internal refugees, and this number is likely to continue to increase dramatically.

On November 21, 2006, a soldier from IB-124 based at Ye-da-gun Camp, under the command of Bn. Commander Kyaw Tun, near Baw-ga-li-gyi, attempted to rape a Kler-la villager. Luckily, her 13-year old daughter came to her rescue and the two had to run away and stay in hiding, as they did not dare to go on living in the village. On February 6, 2006, Sergeant San Aung from LIB-349, under Column-2 Commander Soe Tint, committed rape against E-kyu-kee villager in Dweh-loe Township of Papun District. On March 27, a 9-year old girl was wounded seriously in the stomach and her 80-year old grandmother was killed on the spot, in Ka-ba-ta village in Mone Township of Nyaunglaybin district, by the SPDC troops’ indiscriminate gunfire.

KAREN NATIONAL UNION reported that Starting from February 2006, the SPDC troops have been conducting military operations in the KNU base areas of Toungoo, Nyaunglaybin, Papun and Thaton Districts. Those involved in the military operations are units under (Light Infantry Division) LID-66, (Local Military Operation Command) LMOC-16, LMOC-21 and LID-101. There are a total of 56 battalions, including battalions under the Southern Command.

In the operational areas, the SPDC troops ban civilian populations from traveling, trips for buying food and going to work in their agricultural fields. They are shelling the villages with heavy weapons, force the villages to relocate, burn down the villages, orchards, forests, farms and rice barns, loot properties of the villagers, including Karen bronze drums which are cultural objects of the Karen people, plant landmines, subject the people, including women, children and old people, to forced labor, arrest, torture and kill suspects, commit rape of women etc. openly without restraint.

As a result of these military operations implementing the scorch-earth policy, about 11,000 Karen people have to abandon their villages and flee to hide. More than a thousand have reached the border area, but the rest have to severely face problems of lack of security, food, medicines and clothing in the jungles. The situation of these people is becoming worse as the rain has now started.

The European Union called on the government of Burma to engage in cease-fire talks with the ethnic Karen minority and end abuses against civilians.

"The EU presidency calls upon the Burmese leadership to cease abuses and dislocations of civilians in the zones of conflict and urges both sides to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law," it said, urging both sides to work toward a peaceful solution.

Karen guerrillas have been battling the central government for decades, seeking greater autonomy. Cease-fire talks broke down in 2004, and in recent months SPDC military regime has launched a major offensive in Karen State of eastern Burma.

Please sign the REQUEST to SPDC Regime to STOP KILLING Ethnic People. (click here)

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Comments

Dr. Habib Siddiqui said _

The monstrous atrocities of the SPDC regime and its criminal affiliate DKBA against the Karen people must be stopped. We need the UN, European Union and all the freedom-loving and progressive forces to walk their talk by trying these war criminals for war crimes against humanity. The failure to stop these criminals would only make a mockery of their hollow slogans that does not alleviate the pains and sufferings of people in Burma.

J Saw Jeff said _

                        Send me new issue of BURMA DIGEST every time. Thanks.

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If you have evidences of genocide committed by military regime please contact burmadigest@tayzathuria.org.uk