KHRG Photo Gallery 2008

KHRG Photo Gallery 2008 presents a selection of 307 photos and 7 video clips received from KHRG field researchers since the final instalment of Photo Gallery 2007 in November 2007. While most of the photos included in this set cover the period from January 2008 to January 2009, some photos from 2007 which were only received at the start of 2008 have also been included.

The most recently updated photos are all included within the latest additions section and have also been incorporated, along with the rest of the gallery, into the six main thematic sections. The six thematic sections are Forced relocation and forced displacement; Attacks and killings; Health and education; Militarisation and abuse under SPDC control; Landmines, mortars, army camps and soldiers; and Land and livelihoods. Many of these photos - those showing scenes from Toungoo, Nyaunglebin and Papun District - should also be understood as comprising documentation of the SPDC's Northern Karen State Offensive against villagers, an offensive which continued through the whole of 2008.

The contents of these photos show the continuation in 2008 of trends that were prevalent throughout 2007. In areas of northern Karen State where the SPDC has established a stronger hold over the civilian population, Burma Army attacks against civilians have slightly declined. However, this decrease does not hold for the entire region and many local civilians continue to face an unabated military offensive coupled with crop, village and rice destruction, shoot-on-sight killings and the brutal use of convict porters. Furthermore, the second half of 2008 saw an upsurge of military attacks in sections of eastern Pa'an and north-eastern Dooplaya District between SPDC, DKBA and KNLA forces.

Those communities living under SPDC control confront pernicious demands for labour, money and supplies which undercut their livelihoods and make it more difficult for them to address health, education and other social needs. In the face of consistent military aggression, villagers nevertheless continue to employ various measures to resist abuse and take control of their lives.

Photos included in the Photo Gallery are identified with alphanumeric characters shown below each image. Identification numbers beginning with 'A' were part of the initial instalment of photos published in June 2008, those beginning with 'B' are part of the final instalment published in February 2009.

All photos are by KHRG except where specifically noted otherwise.

Top of Report Latest additions to the Gallery Forced Relocation and Forced Displacement Attacks and killings Health and education Militarisation and abuse under SPDC control Landmines, mortars, army camps and soldiers Land and livelihoods | Map Room

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