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Day: June 22, 2011
KNLA attack kill 8 and wound 7 Burmese soldiers
Karen National Liberation Army sources confirm that in clashes on June 10 in the area of Lamphan village – 19 miles south of Kawkreik town, Karen fighters had killed eight Burmese soldiers and wounded seven.
The Burma army Light Infantry Brigade 201 operating in the Lamphan village area was ambushed by a combined force from the Karen National Liberation, Battalion 17 and soldiers from a breakaway faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Brigade 5.
Lieutenant Colonel Paw Doh, commander of KNLA Battalion 101 said.
“Our forces confronted the Burma army operating in Lamphan village, the fighting lasted about two hours. We killed eight of the enemy soldiers and wounded another seven. We had no casualties on our side.”
Unlike the Karen army the Burma army has yet to issue a statement.
A villager from Kaw Hsaing, close to Lamphan village, who asked not to be named, told Karen News that the fighting in the area has frightened villagers who worry for their safety. The villager said telephone lines in the area had been suspended and villagers were unable to communicate with the outside world.
“Karen forces have been waiting, near Lamphan village to attack the Burma army troops that are coming here. Yesterday there was fighting and everyone in the village is frightened. Because of the conflict, telephones are suspended.”
In recent months, Karen forces have been increasing their military activities in Kyain Seikgyi Township in response to the build-up of Burma army soldiers in the area. The Burma army has increased its
forces in an attempt to wage war against the recent reunification of different Karen forces in the region – as a result, fighting has increased in the area.
On June 6, combined Karen forces and the ABSDF, a Burmese student army, made a statement that they would counter the Burma army offensive by launching a joint offensive called ‘Ma Ner Soe’ [winning in advance]. Regional military specialists warn that the current situation is primed for more conflict erupting across Karen State.
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Karen National Liberation Army sources confirm that in clashes on June 10 in the area of Lamphan village – 19 miles south of Kawkreik town, Karen fighters had killed eight Burmese soldiers and wounded seven.
The Burma army Light Infantry Brigade 201 operating in the Lamphan village area was ambushed by a combined force from the Karen National Liberation, Battalion 17 and soldiers from a breakaway faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Brigade 5.
Lieutenant Colonel Paw Doh, commander of KNLA Battalion 101 said.
“Our forces confronted the Burma army operating in Lamphan village, the fighting lasted about two hours. We killed eight of the enemy soldiers and wounded another seven. We had no casualties on our side.”
Unlike the Karen army the Burma army has yet to issue a statement.
A villager from Kaw Hsaing, close to Lamphan village, who asked not to be named, told Karen News that the fighting in the area has frightened villagers who worry for their safety. The villager said telephone lines in the area had been suspended and villagers were unable to communicate with the outside world.
“Karen forces have been waiting, near Lamphan village to attack the Burma army troops that are coming here. Yesterday there was fighting and everyone in the village is frightened. Because of the conflict, telephones are suspended.”
In recent months, Karen forces have been increasing their military activities in Kyain Seikgyi Township in response to the build-up of Burma army soldiers in the area. The Burma army has increased its
forces in an attempt to wage war against the recent reunification of different Karen forces in the region – as a result, fighting has increased in the area.
On June 6, combined Karen forces and the ABSDF, a Burmese student army, made a statement that they would counter the Burma army offensive by launching a joint offensive called ‘Ma Ner Soe’ [winning in advance]. Regional military specialists warn that the current situation is primed for more conflict erupting across Karen State.
ATTENTION-Thailand: Groups of academics and readers have launched online petitions to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code.
Mon, 20/06/2011 – 15:54 | by prachatai
Groups of academics and readers have launched online petitions to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code.
The Santi Prachatham group, which includes prominent academics like former Rector of Thammasat University Charnvit Kasetsiri and historian Thongchai Winichakul, has urged politicians to show their position on the lèse majesté law in the run-up to the general elections on 3 July.
They say in their statement that after the coup in 2006 the number of arrests under the lèse majesté law, or Article 112 of the Criminal Code, coupled with the 2007 Computer Crimes Act, has shown an unprecedented increase and tends to escalate further, under the impetus of the Department of Special Investigation.
Those alleged of committing lèse majesté have often been subject to a legal process which denies their fundamental rights, while most media chooses to censor itself, resulting in little or no scrutiny at all on the issue.
They believe that amendment of the lèse majesté law is the only way to ensure the stability of the institution and guarantee the rights and freedoms of the people.
In the meantime, a group of readers is also running a similar campaign in support of the call recently made by a group of writers to amend the law.
According to their statement, persecution under the lèse majesté law has created a climate of fear in society, causing many to silence themselves. Over 300 writers who have signed the petition to amend the law have been subject to a ‘cyber witch hunt’, which includes verbal attacks and threats to burn their books.
They say that those in power should be aware that readers have their own judgment. To ban books and censor content in the internet is a severe restriction of the freedom of human beings.
They urge other readers to support the writers’ call to amend Article 112.
Forced Labor in Arakan Under New Government
Rambree: Residents in many villages in Rambree Township have been used by high authorities in Arakan State as forced laborers to repair motor roads throughout the township, said villagers.
Local residents said the local authority has forced villagers to reconstruct roads under the instruction of Colonel (retired) U Kyaw Khin, who is an elected representative from Rambree Township, as well as the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in Arakan State.
A local elder said, ” U Kyaw Khin is now arriving in Rambree from Sittwe. He ordered the township municipal authority to use villagers as laborers in the road construction in the rainy season to avoid damage. So, local authorities have widely used villagers as forced labor in road construction.”
The municipal authority is now rebuilding three roads in Rambree Township using forced labor because there are no government funds budgeted for the work. The roads being rebuilt are Rambree – Kyauk Ni Maw Road, Rambree – Lay Daung Road, and Rambree – Kyauk Chaung Road.
“The authorities have forced villagers who are living in the villages located beside the motor roads to repair the roads. U Kyaw Khin told villagers that they have a duty to maintain the roads because the villagers use the roads every day,” the elder said.
The municipal authority has been working on rebuilding the roads for ten days. Since construction started, authorities have been using villagers as forced labor widely in road construction.
Another youth from a village said that village administrators summoned villagers to work on road construction whenever they are needed. Village administrators have been pressured by U Kyaw Khin to use villagers for labor.
According to sources, the Rambree – Kyauk Ni Maw Road was built by the government last year but the allotted budget was inadequate and suffered misappropriation by authorities. Villagers along the road had pay 7,000 to 10,000 kyat per family for the road construction. Continue reading “Forced Labor in Arakan Under New Government”
Burmese Army forces civilians to ensure security of Myitkyina-Namti rail road
In a situation fraught with risks, the Burmese government has ordered residents of Myitkyina capital of Kachin State to take charge of security of the Myitkyina-Namti railway road, given the ongoing war between Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese Army.
It has been made mandatory for at least 10 civilians from each quarter in Myitkyina to monitor the railway road for security reasons in rotation.
“People from our quarter have to do duty between our place and the Janmai Kawng quarter,” said residents of the city.
The railway road passes through from Myitkyina station to Min Yat, Myo Thit, Aye Yar, Yan Gyi Aung, May Myint, Du Kahtawng, Jan Mai Kawng and San Pya quarter and heads towards Namti, Mogaung Township.
If people are reluctant and do not want to go for the security detail then they will have to pay a fine or send a substitute for the duty. The quarter administrative department will collect the money from every house in the quarter.
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