Extreme Measures: Torture and Ill Treatment in Burma since the 2010 Elections

This report documents the Government of Burma’s torture and ill treatment against its own people since the 2010 elections. This report demonstrates that the Burmese government continues to commit these abuses despite being bound to international human rights treaties and norms. Furthermore, the lack of domestic legislation prohibiting torture, the absence of an independent judiciary, and an ineffective Human Rights Commission contribute to a climate where torture and ill treatment are perpetrated with impunity.

From January to December 2011 alone, ND-Burma’s member organizations documented 371 cases of human rights violation across the country of which 83 cases, or 22 percent constitute torture and ill treatment. Torture and ill treatment in Burma takes place in two distinct places: (1) in detention centers where political prisoners are interrogated and held, and (2) in ethnic nationality areas where the Burmese military is present.
Torture of political prisoners generally takes place shortly after an individual is arrested during interrogations. It can, along with ill treatment, continue for years – even decades – while political prisoners serve inordinately long sentences
In ethnic nationality areas torture seldom takes place in formal detention centers but is meted out in military bases or remote rural villages. Shan State and Kachin State are particularly hard hit. Evidence gathered by ND-Burma shows that torture and ill-treatment in ethnic areas often takes place within the context of other human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest, forced labor, forced portering, confiscation of property, restriction of movement, and sexual violence.
The report makes a number of recommendations to the Government of Burma and the international community. Chief among these are calls for the adoption of legislation guaranteeing basic rights for the people of Burma, particularly the internationally recognized right to be free from torture and ill-treatment, and laws that ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes face justice. There are also calls for more education, training and public awareness about torture in order to prevent future violations as well as calls to institute safeguards and programs that guarantee that victims have available, credible, accessible remedies to deal with torture should it take place. This report also raises concerns regarding the new National Human Rights Commission, including its lack of full independence, its inability to investigate crimes committed by the military, and its failure to comply fully with best practices for national human rights commissions as described in the Paris Principles.
Torture and ill treatment have a ripple effect, with potentially long lasting negative consequences for individuals, families and society as a whole. This report serves as a reminder to the Government of Burma and the international community that significant hurdles remain for Burma to emerge as a functioning democracy that respects the Rule of Law and the rights of the people of Burma, particularly ethnic nationalit
Full report: download 

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The main road from Lashio to Muse closed

On 27^th May, a member of an armed group sent a message to all bus stations and drivers that they will close the main road which connects Lashio to Muse. The reason for the road closure is the ongoing conflict between the KIA and Burmese Military.

According to a villager “Many cars and buses use this road and it is usually extremely busy. However, last night, I didn’t see any buses running. The road was so quiet.”

 “We are worried that fighting will start again, also I saw no one on the road last night. We couldn’t access electricity for the past two nights and the area was too quiet. Villagers had to try to generate their own electricity by using diesel motors but are afraid that by doing this as they will attract the unwanted attention of the Burmese soldiers stationed nearby, it so quiet in Kutkai Township” according to villager said.

Another villager added “I saw a few cars ware traveling on the road this afternoon, I noticed that it was very different from how is normally is. Transportation fees have also increased, in the past they asked that we pay 10,000 Kyat per person but currently the drivers are asked to pay 15,000 Kyat each.”

Many traders are asking the Burmese authorities to address this problem. If the road remains closed the cost of importing goods will increase and at the same time exporting goods will take longer and this could damage export relations and ultimately lose the traders a lot of money, and the price of local goods will also increase.

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Notions of Peace shattered in the Ta’ang (Palaung) self-autonomous areas

On May 26^th 2012, ethnic rebel troops blocked the road from Mantong to Namtu, the local authorities failed to keep the situation under control and as a result local Mantong residents are finding it difficult to maintain their livelihoods and have suffered price increases from the road blockage and continuing conflict.

In response to the actions of the rebel group, the Burmese army deployed 200 armed soldiers to block access to the road between Mantong to Namhsan . Due to their actions local peoples’ rights were impinged upon as it restricted their right to travel and to earn their living.

The impact of the blocking every possible access route to the Town affects people from both the urban and rural areas who are worrying for coming challenges with regards to the ongoing civil war. At the same time, they are faced with rising of prices of commodities for their survival.

On May 27^th, one of the residents from Manton town spoke about their personal situation “5 local trucks were driving along the Mantong – Namtu road when they encountered the rebel group and they had to pay 50,000 Kyats for each tuck to continue to Lashio”.

Not only did the Burmese army control the road between Mantong to Namhsan but also the road between Mantong to Moe Make were their armed troops were in transit in order to control as much territory around Mantong as possible.

Mantong Town is the former headquarters for the Palaung State Liberation Army (PSLA). It was one of the two provincial towns listed under self autonomous areas since 2010. Infantry Military Battalion No.130 is located in the town and it is a base for the training for the local’ militia.

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KIA blocks the road from Mantong to Namtu

On May 26^th 2012, the Kachin Independence Army blocked the way between Mantong to Namtu citing reasons of civil war. They sent a letter to the local bus station to inform them of their actions.

A local resident and bus station manager said "the KIA  released a letter sayingthat due to the civil war they would block access to the road between Mantong and Namtu and that this would have an affect on passengers ability to travel and that it would be advisable for buses and trucks to avoid taking this route.”

Local people feel that the reason for the road block is to prevent Burmese military soldiers reaching Lashio as they have to take this route to get there. It is one of the main cities in northern Shan State and important for trade.

The letter was sent to the bus station so they would inform the local authorities of the road block. The KIA letter advised local traders to avoid travel at this time as they could possibly get caught in the cross fire in fighting between the KIA and the Burmese Military. The KIA strategy is to block the road in order to prevent the advance of Burmese Military troops.

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Mantong Villager Shot

Fighting has been ongoing in the Namhsan area between the Burmese Military and the rebel insurgency groups, KIA and TNLA. Travel for local people has been made difficult as armed forces have blocked access to local roads in order to gain control over the area.
On May 20th the Burmese Military had blocked a local road and set up a security check point. Two local residents who were traveling by motorcycle were asked to stop and ordered by the soldiers to turn off their engine. The two men were terrified about what the soldier would do and so made an attempt to drive off in order to escape the wrath of the soldiers. The soldiers shot at the motorcyclists. The passenger was shot to the head and fell off the bike and the driver escaped unharmed and drove to a nearby house to tell them of the events that just happened. The dead mans family waited three days until the soldiers had moved on to find the body and only then could they perform a traditional funeral. The family was distraught when they saw the extent of the damage the bullet wounds had to the head. The Infantry Battalion responsible for this was Infantry No. 501 which is normally based in Kyaukmae Township.
Local people are outraged at the continual blocking of roads and the interrogation they face when trying to travel from one place to another. Local people say the situation is becoming worse “when they stop to check people their behavior and attitude is often wild and unpredictable. They can be extremely rude and attack people without reason and often demand payment from local people in order to pass. The Burmese soldiers are unhappy about losing fellow soldiers in the conflict and take their vengeance out on innocent people” Most travelers and traders try to avoid these checkpoints but often have no choice if they wish to go about their daily business.
In relation to the above case in May this year it has been reported that two more villagers were murdered by Infantry Battalion No. 130 near Moe Nwe village, Mantong Township. There have been multiple reports of murders perpetrated by Military soldiers that have been covered up by the authorities and many villagers have been threatened by the soldiers not to speak out about these events and are afraid about what will happen if they talk.

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Investments cause renewed war, threatening Ta’ang communities in northern Burma

Foreign investments are causing increasing conflict and abuses in northern Burma despite recent ceasefire agreements and talk of reform in the country, according to a briefing paper released today by an ethnic Ta’ang group.

Catalyst for Conflict by the Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization (TSYO) documents how Burma Army soldiers deployed to secure Chinese mega projects, including oil and gas pipelines and hydropower dams, have been threatening, extorting money from, and killing local villagers since January this year. In March, two villagers coming back from fishing near a Chinese dam site were interrogated and killed by Burmese soldiers patrolling the site.

The briefing also details how Chinese companies are paying 5,000 kyat (US$6) per day to Burma Army soldiers from local battalions for security around pipelines which will carry oil and gas to China.
Control over natural resources and abuses by the Burma Army have been core grievances in both Kachin and Shan states where conflict erupted last year. In July the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) was formed and has since launched several attacks against Burmese troops patrolling in Ta’ang areas.

Since December 2011, over 1,000 men, women and children have become internally displaced, sheltering in Nam Kham and Mantong. Many have also fled to China to escape the war.
“Foreign investors are cold-bloodedly fuelling war in Burma” said Mai Khroue Dang of TSYO. “All mega projects should be suspended until Burmese troops withdraw and political dialogue leads to a meaningful resolution of conflict.”

The Ta’ang, also known as Palaung, are an ethnic group numbering an estimated one million living in the hills of Burma’s Shan State and China’s southern Yunnan province.

Contact: Mai Aung Ko, Lway Phoo Reang, Mai Khoure Dang
Phone: 080118 4479, 0800 580 720, 0845 739 331

Full download for briefing paper: English Version

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Shwe Gas pipeline security soldiers demand money from locals

The Burmese soldiers, who take responsibility for the security of the Shwe Gas Pipeline from Namtu to Maimaw, are demanding money from local people travelling around the Pipeline. On April 28th 2012, three tea traders were threatened by soldiers of Lashio Battalion 68, who demanded money from them, on their way from Namtu to Takhalat village.

“The three of us were carrying tea back to Takhalet village by motorbike. When we arrived at the entrance of the village, the Burmese soldiers, who are responsible for the Gas pipeline security, demanded money from us for Alcohol, they were already drunk. We begged them to leave us be because we didn’t have much money and each of us only had 5oo Kyat but they didn’t accept our pleas. They said that if we couldn’t pay for their alcohol, we would not be allowed to pass. Finally, each of us had to pay our last 500 Kyat to the soldiers” said by the victim.
The soldiers are not only demanding money from the motorcyclists, but also from local people on foot and in cars. In Northern Shan State, local people are often subjected to being threatened and being stopped and checked without any reason and having to pay money under the intimidation of Burmese soldiers who take responsibility for Shwe Gas Pipeline security which pass across from Arakhan State to China.

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