An Independent Report by the
Karen Human Rights Group
July 2, 1995 / KHRG #95-22
Following are the direct translations of SLORC written orders sent to Karen villages in areas south of Kawkareik (central Karen State) and east of Thanbyuzayat (in southern Karen State). Most of the orders were handwritten, except the anti-KYO orders, which were typed. All of them were signed by SLORC officers, and most are stamped with the rubber stamp of their units. Photocopies of the original orders are available on request. Most of them relate to extortion of money from villagers, threats to arrest village leaders or destroy villages, and SLORC's attempts to block the formation of Karen youth groups in the villages. Most of these orders were issued in the latter half of 1994, but virtually identical orders are still being constantly issued to the same villages; however, the most recent orders are normally kept on file by village leaders and are therefore not available as yet.
Many of the orders mention "servants' fees" (porter fees), "sentry fees", "video fees", etc. These are fees which villagers must constantly pay to local SLORC units. These fees do not make the villagers exempt from forced labour as porters or sentries; they are just excuses for the officers to steal money. Similarly, "video fees" must be paid if the village owns a VCR, "ricefield fees" must be paid by ricefield owners, "saw fees" must be paid by any villager who owns a hand saw, etc. Millions of Kyat of this dirty money flows every month to the families of soldiers in Rangoon and other cities, helping to create the false illusion of prosperity which fools some visitors. They do not see these villages, where people must even sell their livestock just to pay "fees" - and when even that is gone, they must flee their village or face arrest and torture.
In this report cash amounts are given in Kyat. At official rate, US$1 = 6 Kyat, but at
market rate US$1 is worth 110 to 150 Kyat (at the time of printing). However, these
villagers are subsistence farmers and have no money regardless of the exchange rate. Some
details must be blacked out to protect villages - names of people and places which have
been omitted are denoted by 'xxxx' or 'yyyy'. All numeric dates are given in DD-MM-YY
format, which is the standard in Burma. Please feel free to use this report in any way
which may help the people of Burma, but do not forward it to any SLORC representatives.
TOPIC SUMMARY
Extortion of cash and goods (#2,3,5-14,17,18,20), extortion of timber (#7,8, 10,11), arrest (#3,15,16), threats to arrest (#1,6,8,21,24), threats to destroy villages (#2,13,19), forced labour (#4,22,23), coverup of a Tatmadaw shooting (#25), attempts to block the Karen Youth Organization (#26-28), restrictions on Mon language education (#29), speech censorship (#30).
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Order #1
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman / Mr. xxxx
28/10/94
#1 Company
xxxx village
You didn't come when we called. The Army column is angry. Your village and us have a relationship [the wording implies "sometimes we need you and sometimes you need us"]. If we meet your villagers we will punish them. If you don't come see us, it will be worse. That is all.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #2
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman / Mr. xxxx
26/10/94
#1 Company
xxxx village
You didn't come and give servants' fees and sentry fees from your village. If you don't give, okay. But villagers from xxxx will be punished if they meet with the Army column. If you don't come, when the column arrives in your village we will crush your village into many many pieces. But I'm not telling you to come. That is all.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #3
Stamp:
15-11-94
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman / Secretary
Column 1
xxxx village
(1) Five days ago we sent a villager to report to you about the case of taking pigs, chickens and ducks. So now xxxx village owes 7,000 Kyat compensation to yyyy camp. As soon as you receive this letter come with the money.
(2) Bring along 5,000 Kyats servants' fees for 10/94 to give to the army column.
(3) xxxx village headman Saw yyyy is already arrested. If you don't come and the Army column arrives [at your village], action will be taken against another village leader. If you don't come quickly, another xxxx village leader will be sent to the police station.
[Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. 31 Infantry Battalion
[Note: later, someone from KNU wrote on the order "Our column entered and occupied, that's why they grabbed civilians". It appears that SLORC troops looted livestock from the village and the villagers reported it to the military command. As a result, instead of being compensated they are being forced to pay 7,000 Kyat compensation to the Army. This may also be the reason for the arrest of the village headman.]
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Order #4
To: Chairman / Mr. xxxx 20/11/94
xxxx village
Do as I say. Handle the issue of servants and come to the camp together with this messenger.
[Sd., xxxx camp]
Company Commander
No. 3 Company
No. 106 Infantry Battalion
[Note: "Handle the issue of servants" means "arrange some porters for us".]
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Order #5
Stamp:
#106 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
#3 Company
xxxx village
As soon as you get this letter, come quickly and give sentry fees, video fees and servants' fees. This is the last notice. If you fail, we do not take any responsibility for what will happen. 23-11-94 is the deadline date. Come and bring it.
[Sd., xxxx camp]
Company Commander
No. 3 Company
No. 106 Infantry Battalion
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Order #6
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
16/10/94
#1 Company
xxxx village
Chairman, come quickly yourself. If you fail, we will arrest people from xxxx village. The Army column is demanding servants' fees and sentry fees. Come and bring them quickly to yyyy camp.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
yyyy camp
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Order #7
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
16-9-94
#1 Company
xxxx village
As soon as you get this letter, come quickly with sentry fees of 1,000 Kyats and servants' fees of 6,000 Kyats. Now it is 16 days overdue. As punishment, bring one duck. Also bring us the timber. If you fail, we will take action within 2 days.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #8
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
21-9-94
#1 Company
xxxx village
Five letters have already been sent. You didn't come and bring the timber. Gentlemen, if you fail we will come and arrest you.
(1) Servants' fees 6,000 Kyats, sentry fees 1,000 Kyats - Total 7,000 Kyats. You have to pay. It is now 21 days overdue. Come and bring it quickly.
(2) We will confiscate illegal timber. Come yourself to discuss this. Come quickly, and bring the timber we ordered.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #9
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
16/10/94
#1 Company
xxxx village
Come in person and pay month 7/94 for July. Mr. xxxx, come and pay month 8/94 for August. You need to pay month 9/94 for September. The Army column is now demanding 10/94 for October. You are one month overdue. Come quickly and pay. Quickly prepare yourself and come.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #10
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
7-10-94
#1 Company
xxxx village
We have already received sentry fees and servants' fees for the month of 8/94, August. Now it is already the end of September, 9/94. The Army column demands servants' fees for September, together with timber. Come and bring it quickly.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #11
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
7-10-94
#1 Company
xxxx village
The Army column demands sentry fees and servants' fees for 9/94, September, together with timber.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #12
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
10/10/94
#1 Company
xxxx village
We already received sentry fees and servants' fees for the month of 8/94. For the month of 9/94, come quickly and bring [the money].
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #13
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
13/10/94
#1 Company
xxxx village
We already received servants' fees for the month of 8/94, August. But we haven't yet received servants' fees and sentry fees for the month of 9/94, September. If you don't come, we will take action when the Army column arrives [at your village]. Chairman, come quickly.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #14
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
19/10/94
#1 Company
xxxx village
We have sent many letters. Chairman, come in person and bring quickly 7,000 Kyats for servants' fees and sentry fees.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #15
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman / Secretary
Column 1
xxxx village
Subject: Come and see us quickly
Regarding the above subject, we have already called and held the Pastor from xxxx village in yyyy camp. As soon as you get this letter, the Chairman/Secretary yourself must come and see the army column without fail.
Date: 23-8-94
[Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. 31 Infantry Battalion
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Order #16
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Abbot [of the monastery]
22-8-94
#1 Column
xxxx village
We have arrested all the people connected with xxxx village. If the Chairman and Secretary from xxxx village come and see us at yyyy camp, we will release all the people. If they fail to come we won't release them, and the Chairman and Secretary will be responsible.
[Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. 31 Infantry Battalion
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Order #17
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman / Secretary
18-8-94
#1 Company
xxxx village
As soon as you get this letter, come quickly and bring servants' fees of 6,000 Kyats and sentry fees of 1,000 Kyats for the month of 7/94. I have already sent 4 letters. You are 18 days overdue. Come quickly.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 1 Company
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Order #18
To: Chairman
15-8-94
xxxx village
For Frontline Infantry Battalion 31, Column 1, you have to pay servants' fees of 12,000 Kyats (twelve thousand Kyats). Come and give it to Company 5 at yyyy village.
Chairman / Secretary / village leaders, come and see us at yyyy tomorrow without fail.
[Sd.]
Company Commander
No. 5 Company
No. 31 Infantry Battalion
yyyy village
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Order #19
Stamp:
#31 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman / Secretary
Column 1
xxxx village
Subject: Come and see us
Regarding the above subject, the Army column has already called the Chairman / Secretary from xxxx village but they haven't come. When you receive this letter, come and see us quickly or the village will be damaged if you don't.
Date: 11-8-94
[Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. 31 Infantry Battalion
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Order #20
Stamp:
#106 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
xxxx village
I heard you will come on the 10th day after full moon of De Zow Mon month [i.e. November 27]. If you come bring the video fees, sentry fees and servants' fees with you. I hope, gentlemen, that you keep your promise and come the 10th day after full moon.
[Sd., xxxx camp]
Company Commander
No. 3 Company
No. 106 Infantry Battalion
[Note: the words shown in bold italics were written in red ink on the order.]
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Order #21
Stamp:
#106 Infantry Battalion
To: Chairman
13/11/94
#3 Company
xxxx village
Subject: Invitation to a meeting
Regarding the above subject, we already sent a message telling you to come to yyyy camp on 11-11-94 but you failed. So we remind you now. As soon as you get this letter, come to yyyy camp quickly, without fail. If the Chairman is not there, one of the village leaders should come and see us. If you fail, you will be responsible and we will take severe action.
[Sd., yyyy camp]
Company Commander
No. 3 Company
No. 106 Infantry Battalion
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Order #22
To: Mr. xxxx (xxxx village)
One: We will have a meeting on 5-12-94 about construction of the Three Pagodas Pass
road. Come to yyyy camp without fail.
Two: If you fail, it will be your responsibility.
[Sd.]
Camp Commander
yyyy village
[Note: this will be a meeting to assign forced labour duties to the village.]
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Order #23
To: Village headman
Date: 26-12-94
xxxx village
Subject: To come and see us at the camp, again
Regarding the above subject, gentlemen, we already sent a letter on the 24th to come and discuss labour for your village, but up to now you have failed to come. As soon as you get this letter, come quickly and see us at the military camp.
If you fail, we will take serious action.
[Sd.]
Camp Commander
xxxx Military Camp
I.B. #97
Date: 26-12-94
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Order #24
Stamp:
#101 Infantry Battalion
To: xxxx village
Column 2
Chairman / Secretary
Subject: As No. 101 Battalion column commander Major Thet Oo has told you, both of you must come to yyyy village to meet the Major on 13-3-95 without fail. If both of you fail to come to see the Major on the set date, then don't remain in your village.
Date: 13-3-95
(for) Column Commander
Place: yyyy village
[Sd.]
[Note: "Don't remain in your village" essentially means "We'll arrest or kill you if you remain".]
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Order #25
Stamp:
#231 Infantry Battalion
Recommendation
Column 1
To: Township Public Hospital
Date: 9-12-94
xxxx Town
1) Mrs. xxxx and her daughter from xxxx village, xxxx township,
were wounded by insurgents coming to burn their house on December 8, 1994 at about 12 a.m.
[midnight]. We have sent them for emergency treatment.
(a) Mrs. xxxx, age 55, Father's name xxxx
(b) yyyy, age 35, Father's name yyyy
2) The first recommendation was a mistake. This is the correct one.
[Sd.]
No. xxxx
Major xxxx
[Note: the story related to this letter is given in "Field Reports: 6th Brigade Area", 31/5/95, KHRG #95-20. Two SLORC soldiers deserted, so SLORC troops arrested and tortured a whole family in a nearby village. They were later released and sent home to sleep. Then at about midnight SLORC soldiers called them to wake them up and then immediately opened fire from outside the house, killing one woman and wounding her mother and sister. The SLORC commander wrote a letter so they could get into hospital, saying he "didn't know" who had shot them - then he changed his mind and wrote this second letter, blaming it on "insurgents". At the hospital, doctors removed a G3 bullet (only used by the Tatmadaw) from the young woman. Situations and letters like this are common - hospitals are under orders not to treat gunshot victims unless they sign papers blaming their wound on "insurgents" or carry letters like this one from the Tatmadaw, and villagers shot by the Tatmadaw are often too afraid to go to the hospital (especially if the bullet remains inside), because they may be arrested as "insurgents".]
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Order #26
Stamp:
#231 Infantry Battalion
To: Headman
24-11-94
Column 1
xxxx village
As soon as you get this letter, yourself, the religious head, and the head of the young boys and girls (youth), come together and see us at yyyy on 24-11-94 [today], without fail.
Remark: If you fail we will take severe action. Bring one duck or chicken and one pumpkin.
[Sd.]
Intelligence Officer
No. 231 Infantry Battalion
[Note: this is presumably to discuss the anti-KYO orders listed below (#27 ).]
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Order #27
This order was duplicated and sent to all villages in the "33 Pagodas" area.
Stamp:
#231 Infantry Battalion
Frontline No. 231 Infantry Battalion
Intelligence Dept.
Column 1
xxxx [camp]
Date: 1994 November 21
To: xxxx village religious head
village
head
village
youth group
Subject: Notification
1) On 19-11-94, the KNU destructive elements called a meeting for some of the village
youth and made the following decisions:
(a) To form the Karen Youth Organization
(b) To recruit members in every village
(c) To put up the Karen Youth Organization sign
in every village
(d) To learn Karen songs / Christian songs
2) We heard that the KNU destructive elements pressured the villages to found a youth organization. This is not a social organization but a Stick in the Hand [Burmese expression meaning a normally harmless object being used as a weapon] for the KNU. Also, this is against National Unity. This is to be used to suppress the Buddhist religion. Don't allow it to form.
3) Some headmen have declared that last year the weather changed and now the harvest is not so good, so the villagers have a lot of troubles and they should not spend money in useless ways [implicitly meaning membership or donations for KYO].
4) According to the history of 33 Pagodas [the name of the area], people from different religions tried to kill the 33 monks, so the people gave a ransom in gold. This history is told by the village head and the monks.
5) Now the youth are told that this [KYO] is just for social welfare, but this is only a cover. Their inner aim is religion / lack of national understanding [meaning inciting misunderstanding between ethnic groups]. Karen youth pay no attention to this, and elders who understand the past and the future understand what they ['destructive elements'] are doing.
6) In Kawkareik Township, these kinds of organizations and meetings are not allowed. If anyone gets involved in this kind of organization or meeting, we will take severe (severe) action.
[Sd.]
Battalion Commander
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Order #28
This order was duplicated and sent to all villages in the Kawkareik Township area.
Stamp:
#231 Infantry Battalion
Frontline No. 231 Infantry Battalion
Column 1
xxxx - Kawkareik Township
Ref. No. 231 / 1005 / U 4
Date: 1994 November
To: Headman
xxxx village
Subject: The Karen Youth Organization was formed by KNU destructive elements. This
is an illegal organization and must be
stopped quickly.
1) Karen destructive elements want to spread their power in Kawkareik Township and want to change from Buddhism to other religions in Kawkareik Township. So we have heard that they tried to form the Karen Youth Organization in villages to work for social welfare (building bridges / repairing roads / clearing ground). This is just pretend. Actually they want to organize to make gains in politics and warfare.
2) According to the district report, this organization is not formed according to the legal rules and regulations of the State. However, in accordance with the enemy's situation, they want to use the Youth for military purposes, but actually the Youth are not interested in this. So every village must stop this organization quickly as soon as they receive this letter.
3) They have a fund of 3,000 Kyats [the amount they have presumably given each village to organize youth activities]. So buy something and donate it to the monastery immediately, and then close the fund. The village religious committee should receive it, and then come to inform the military column themselves.
4) As soon as you get this letter, change the village youth leaders for both boys and girls, and replace them with someone who is not involved with the Karen Youth Organization. Then come and inform the military column together with the religious leaders.
5) 27-11-94 is the deadline. Villages which do not act in response to this order will face severe action.
[Sd.]
Battalion Commander
Distribution One village two copies
Copy to: Chairman, District LORC
Chairman, Township LORC
Township People's Police office
Military Regional Command office
No. 97 Infantry Battalion
[Note: the aims of the KYO are to promote youth activity in areas of Karen culture and social welfare at the village level, including health care and farming projects. It is interesting to note in this order that SLORC's idea of social welfare projects is "building bridges, repairing roads and clearing ground", because this is certainly not the KYO's nor the villagers' idea of what "social welfare" means.]
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Order #29
Stamp:
Township Law & Order Restoration Council
Township Law & Order Restoration Council
Mudon Town
Mudon Town
Ref. No. 1 / 1-3 / TLORC
Date: 1995 March 20
To: Chairman
Mon Literacy and Buddhist Culture Training
Controlling Committee
Mudon Town
Subject: Regarding commencement of training
In order to begin Mon literacy and Buddhist culture training in Mudon Township, you must include the following items with your application form and you must send it to the Township Law & Order Restoration Council, Mudon Town. You can begin your training only when the Township Law & Order Restoration Council gives you permission.
1) Details of how the teaching committee is organized.
2) Photographs of teaching committee members.
3) Short biographies of teaching committee members.
4) Photographs of male and female teachers.
5) Short biographies of male and female teachers.
6) Photographs of male and female students.
7) Subjects which are going to be taught and timetable.
8) Duration period.
9) Location where training will occur (must not be a school, but a building connected with religion).
10) Recommendation paper from the owner of the location.
11) Number of male and female students and their respective addresses.
12) Details of how male and female teachers will be paid.
13) Teaching committee members and male and female teachers must be clear of politics or connections with insurgent groups.
14) If there are any principals [overseers, above the level of a headmaster] then they must give their photographs and short biographies.
[Sd.]
(for) Chairman
Copies to:
State Law & Order Restoration Council, Mon State, Moulmein
District Law & Order Restoration Council, Moulmein
All Village and Quarter Law & Order Restoration Councils, Mudon Township
Office Copy
File Copy
[Notes: This order follows a recent clampdown against Mon language education in public schools, in which the SLORC's complete ban against Mon language education in Mon State schools became rigidly enforced. The Mon people were told that Mon language, literacy, culture and literature could only be taught in monasteries. Then this order enforced strict SLORC control over even the teaching in monasteries. Its terms are extremely intimidating, because asking for photographs and biographies of all committee members, teachers and students is SLORC's way of telling them that they will be arrested on the slightest suspicion of any 'subversive' thinking or action (furthermore, Item 10 forces the abbot of the monastery to join the list of those liable to arrest). This order is intended to frighten most people away from participation in Mon cultural education programs, and to strictly control those who are brave enough to meet its conditions. Many villages would have a difficult time even finding a camera so they could submit the required photographs. Keep in mind that what all these restrictions are being targetted against is the simple right of Mon children to learn to speak, read and write their own language and understand their own culture. The New Mon State Party has reportedly indicated its hope that this order will be rescinded under the recent ceasefire with SLORC, although this is unlikely.]
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Order #30
Stamp:
#231 Infantry Battalion
To: Mr. xxxx
Date: 30/12/94
Column 1
xxxx village
Gentleman, you have to give a speech for the Karen New Year opening ceremony as "New Year greetings". Write it in Karen and Burmese.
Come today in per