Guest Comments by the Karin National Union

IN THE JUNGLE, Burma – This country's military junta has started pre-election military operations targeting Karen civilians in the Karen State and other areas.

On July 23, troops used mortars to heavily shell Tha-dah-Der village in Papun (Mudraw) District for more than four hours. Then they entered the village and burned down 57 houses, one Christian church, a middle-school building and farm huts. The villagers fled for their lives and went into hiding, leaving behind most of their possessions.

As a result, 540 people are in hiding, including 178 students and villagers from a nearby community. Concealed in the jungle, they lack proper shelters, a big problem because it's the rainy season with heavy downpours each day. Women and children face especially high health risks from the swarms of disease-bearing mosquitoes, other bugs and lack of clean water.

Villagers in Wawlay areas to the south of Myawaddy town, Doopla Ya district, started to flee a few days ago. On July 25, more than 100 families had gathered near the border, and some already have crossed into Thailand for refuge. Meanwhile, troops approach the area preparing for an offensive. It looks like they plan to attack, occupy and exert control.

On July 10, troops stopped for the night in Kay Kaw village, Papun District. A soldier from the column allegedly raped a 27-year-old married woman at about 1:30 a.m. while she was going out to the toilet.

Troops continue widespread human-rights violations against the civilians in Karen State and other Karen areas. This month, such violations increased in Papun, Kawkareik, Toungoo, Thaton and Nyaunglaybin.

We expect more attacks on Karen civilians and more human-rights violations in the Thai-Burma border areas. People should respond to this emergency so the fleeing civilians can take refuge in safe areas and receive support to survive.

The international community, including United Nations agencies, should call on Burma's military regime to immediately stop such attacks and violations against the Karen people. Our people already rank among the poorest in Burma after decades of harsh oppression by successive military dictatorships.

ARCHIVES