The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is a multi-ethnic humanitarian service movement. They bring help, hope and love to people in the war zones of Burma. Ethnic pro-democracy groups send teams to be trained, supplied and sent into the areas under attack to provide emergency assistance and human rights documentation. Together with other groups, the teams work to serve people in need.-----------------
Incidents in the Toungoo District
Burma Army attacks remain frequent in the northern Karen State; shoot-on-sight killings and the destruction of crops remain the primary concern for those in hiding, and the subjugation and deliberate starvation of ethnic Karen villagers continues as the Burma Army attempts to consolidate its rule and squeeze displaced populations into areas it can control. Following attacks which displaced more than 30,000 people in northern Karen State between early 2006 and 2008, the Burma Army has slowed its offensive but has not eased in its ill-treatment of Burma's ethnic minorities. Forced labor, extortion, theft and harassment are commonplace for villagers living under the Burma Army and these abuses are conducted with impunity.
Burma Army attacks against IDPs, and sweeps to locate and terrorize IDP populations and destroy their means of livelihood have increased in Toungoo District over the last several months. Designed to make life terrifying and impossible for people in hiding, the Burma Army hopes to brutalize these Karen villagers into submission, further solidifying its grip on power throughout Burma. While there have been few reports of villages being burned down in 2008, this is in large part due to the Burma Army's large-scale attacks in 2006 and 2007 in which numerous villages were burned and thousands of villagers were forced into more remote, precarious and unsustainable situations.
IDPs are now living in smaller groups, building more temporary housing structures, and must now venture further into areas recently occupied by Burma Army troops in order to cultivate and gather enough food for basic survival. This, along with a marked increase in Burma Army activity, has resulted in an increase in reports of villagers and families being surprised and attacked by Burma Army troops in their farms or gardens.
Beginning on 7 August, 2008, Burma Army troops under MOC 10, stationed in Bawgali Gyi (Kler La) village, forced villagers who own vehicles to transport rocks from Toungoo Town to their camp in Bawgali Gyi. These vehicle owners were forced to make at least two trips per week during this period. At around the same time, each household in nearby Kaw Thay Der was also forced by troops under MOC 10 to cut seven lengths of bamboo for the Burma Army's use in their local camp. Additionally, people from the villages of Kler La, Kaw Soe Ko, Kaw Thay Der, Wa Tho Ko, Ga Mu Der, Der Doh and Maw Koh Der were forced to make improvements to the local Burma Army camps.
Throughout this period, the Burma Army also halted all villager trade from Kler La to Toungoo. Villagers weren't allowed to collect food in the mountains and sell their produce in Toungoo, including items such as durian fruit, mangosteens, and betel nut. This trade is a large part of the villagers' income, and this denial of movement has caused a significant problem for a number of local residents.
On 13 September, 2008, Burma Army MOC troops blocked 200 villagers from the plains area from working on their fruit and cardamom plantations at Pa La Wah. MOC 10 is commanded by Ko Ko Hla.
On 3 September, Burma Army troops entered Kaw Tha Kaw village, stealing many of the villagers' belongings. The local pastor was robbed of two baskets of rice, 400,000 kyat, one gold necklace and one ring. These troops were under the command of Kyaw Zay Ya.
On 2 September, 57 villagers were forced to carry supplies from the Burma Army's camp at Play Hsa Lo to their new camp at Htee Pla Day. The villages included in the forced labor were Play Hsa Lo, Yaw Lo, Paung Pai, and Plaw Baw Der.
The Free Burma Ranger’s (FBR) mission is to provide hope, help and love to internally displaced people inside Burma, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Using a network of indigenous field teams, FBR reports on human rights abuses, casualties and the humanitarian needs of people who are under the oppression of the Burma Army. FBR provides medical, spiritual and educational resources for IDP communities as they struggle to survive Burmese military attacks. For more information, please visit www.freeburmarangers.org
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