Burma Army Attacks Continue While Regime Talks Peace
By Jeremy Reynalds (02/04/05)
Burma's regime has increased its military offensives against the Karen and Karenni ethnic groups in eastern Burma, despite calling for a new round of peace talks.
According to reports from relief teams in the area, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said in a news release, new attacks have been launched against Karen (www.karen.org) villages along the Toungoo-Mawchi and Kler La-Busakee roads. Earlier this month, a Karen National Union (KNU) camp at Kalaw Waw was attacked.
Burma Army troops have also shelled a Karenni (www.karenni.org/about_the_karenni.php) base on the Thai-Burmese border, near Mae Hong Son.
CSW also reported that according to the Thai newspaper The Nation, about 20 mortar shells landed in Thai territory two kilometers from the Burmese border. The Burmese junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has requested cooperation from the Thai authorities to help them capture the Karenni base.
Continuing military action in northern Karen State has resulted in the capture and murder of villagers, widespread use of forced labor and systematic violations of human rights in Toungoo District, CSW reported in the same news release.
At least 440 new Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP's) are now in hiding, and in urgent need of rice supplies. A relief team has been able to reach them and provide limited food and medical supplies but, according to the team's report, "the need for sustained food supply is critical."
There are a total of over 20,000 IDP's in Toungoo District, and more than one million in eastern Burma. "Almost every village has been attacked at one time or another, and even those able to return to their villages are forced to flee again and again," claimed the relief team's report.
The Burma Army has seized new land in the area between Liet Tho and La Pae villages, to build a new military camp.
CSW reported that KNU Central Committee member and spokesman in Europe, Saw Sarky (aka Saw Hsar Hgay) said, "In spite of our ‘gentleman's agreement' ceasefire, sustained major operations in Nyauglebin and Toungoo districts continue, with forced relocation of civilians, torching of Karen and Karenni villages, rape, torture and extrajudicial executions of civilians."
Meanwhile, the junta has issued a fresh invitation to the KNU for another round of ceasefire talks, which first started a year ago. But rumors persist of continued infighting among the SPDC's senior leaders.
Reports are also coming to light about severe harassment of dissident Min Ko Naing, who was released two months ago after almost 16 years in jail.
CSW reported that according to the US Campaign for Burma, "for the past few weeks, Burma's military intelligence has followed and harassed Min Ko Naing as he attempted to recover from serious health problems he had developed during his time behind bars."
Naing has been suffering heart problems since his release, due to his long imprisonment and lack of medical care in prison.
Speaking in a news release CSW's National Director Stuart Windsor said, "The situation in Burma continues to be appalling. Gross violations of human rights continue on a daily basis. We urge the regime that if it is serious about peace talks, it must immediately end the military offensives against ethnic groups and stop harassing dissidents."
CSW also backs Burma Campaign UK's launch of a new boycott of tourism in Burma, called "I'm Not Going" (www.burmacampaign.org.uk/action_holiday.html).
This campaign won the support of over 70 British celebrities and politicians, including Prime Minister Tony Blair, Opposition leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy.
Windsor said, "CSW firmly and unreservedly supports the tourism boycott, and we urge all our supporters not to go on (vacation) to Burma until democracy is restored and human rights are respected."
BACKGROUND
Burma (officially called Myanmar) has been ruled by a military regime which took power in a coup in 1962. Elections were held on May 27 1990, and the National League for Democracy (NLD) won over 80 percent of the parliamentary seats. However, CSW reported in a news release, the military ignored the results, imprisoned many of the victors and continued its reign, changing its name to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
The Burma Campaign agreed, writing (www.burmacampaign.org.uk/action_holiday.html), "Burma has been ruled by one of the world's most brutal military dictatorships for the last forty years; a dictatorship charged by the United Nations with a ‘crime against humanity' for its systematic abuse of human rights.
The SPDC has pursued a policy which CSW said may amount to genocide and crimes against humanity against the Karen, Karenni, Shan and other ethnic nationalities.
CSW reported that it along with other human rights organizations has extensively documented crimes by the Burma Army which include the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war, forced relocation, forced labor, forced conscription of child soldiers, use of human minesweepers, torture, extrajudicial killings, destruction of villages, crops and livestock and religious persecution.
CSW is a human rights organization that promotes religious freedom (www.csw.org.uk/AboutCSW/whoweare.htm).
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