Villagers allege forced labour in fresh military operation

Independent Mon News Agency
November 9, 2005

Flouting norms set by the International Labour Organization the Burmese military continues to use forced labour. Villagers belonging to Thanpyuzayart Township alleged that they were being forced to work by the troops at their base.

Wae-Ka-li villagers and Wae-Kha-Dike villagers said they were forced to fell trees and bamboo groves for constructions by the military at the base in their village. None of the villagers are being paid.

“They set up a base in our village two days ago and then started ordering us around. The troops also forced some village cars to carry troops, supplies and used the vehicles for their officers,” a villager in Wae-Ka-li said.

According to sources close to the Burmese army, the Military Southeast Region Command has launched military operations against ethnic armed groups in southern Burma , Karen State and Mon State .

Military operations were launched by Military Operation Management Command No.12 from Karen State under the command of Col.Myo Win, who has a record of human rights violation when he started military operations in Ye and Yephu township in 2003 and 2004.

When he launched military operations in Ye and Yephu, villagers claim his soldiers raped many woman in the area and at least ten villagers were killed. He forced local women to model at shows for his relaxation. He threatened and demanded millions of Kyat from villagers for his pocket money.

Recently a villager in Thanpyuzayart and Kya-in-seik-kyi claimed they had been forced to work at the base while the operations by the troops were on.