FBR REPORT: These Men Who Where Trying to Kill Each Other are Now Looking Eye to Eye: An Answer to Prayer Shan State, Burma July 3, 2010

“These men who were trying to kill each other are now looking eye to eye.”

Shan FBR Mission to the Wa

Dear friends,

Thank you for all your support and help. We thank God for how He helped us (with the help of Partners) complete a training of Shan relief teams and then for an unexpected open door to the Wa people. We saw the power of God through prayer. The Wa, have been at war with the Shan people for over 10 years. The Wa military and political organization, the United Wa State Army (UWSA), have continued to expand their control into southern Shan State and once attacked our relief team while we were on a relief mission in Shan territory they had invaded. The Wa have had a ceasefire with the Burma Army since 1989 and have fought the Shan as proxies for the Burma Army and to gain territory and business concessions.

It was the Wa people themselves that first invited Karen and me to come to Burma in 1993 and it was to the Wa State in northern Burma, that we first went. We still support Wa teachers and evangelist and through Wa pastors, conduct relief missions to Wa who have been forced by the their own government (UWSA) to move into areas captured from the Shan. As we also work with the Shan people, we are then subject to attack by the Wa if we operate in areas of Shan State where the Wa has established control.

Shan medic treats Wa

The military and political organization of the Wa , the UWSA, have their own agenda and this includes taking as much Shan territory as they can. Last month we had just completed the training of Shan FBR relief teams and our original plan was to go on a month long IDP relief mission to Shan villagers. We were initially told there was no way we could go on a mission to the area planned as the Burma Army was blocking the route and we would need an extra month that we did not have to go around them. We were also told that the areas that the Burma Army did not control were occupied by the Wa (UWSA). Close to us there were four villages that had been taken over by Wa forces of the United Wa State Army (UWDSA).

We were told that anyone who passed thru the WA territory would be attacked. (As noted above, a few years ago our relief team was attacked by the Wa in this same area and five people died.)

Shan Lahu and Wa children and GLC counselors

Wa Shan Lahu children receive GLC gifts

We prayed for an open door and to our surprise were told by the Shan commander that they had low level contact with the local Wa leaders and a relief team was welcome to their area as they needed medical help for the people there. We thanked God for this opening and prayed that we would be part of reconciliation between the Shan and the Wa. We were told that the mission would be very short and limited to the four nearby Wa controlled villages as this needed to be kept secret from higher leaders who were against any kind of reconciliation.

Our group consisted of a multi-ethnic FBR leadership and training team (Karen, Karenni and Kachin), four Shan relief teams and no security forces. Part of the condition of our visit to this Wa area was that no Shan soldiers could accompany us. We did have one guide who left us once the link up with the Wa was complete.

Once we walked into the Wa controlled area, the villagers were very excited to see us and told us that they needed medical help and also that they needed a school for their children. The four villages in this valley consisted of Shan, Wa and Lahu peoples. The Shan were the original inhabitants and now live under Wa control while the Wa and Lahu were forcibly moved from northern Wa areas to resettle this Shan area. Some of the Shan people here had lived under a succession of rulers- Chinese Nationalist in the 1950 to 1970s, Shan resistance groups such as the MTA from 1970 to 1996, Burma Army troops from 1996 to 2001 and Wa of the UWSA from 2001 to present.

The first Wa people we met were Wa villagers forced by their leaders to move into this area in 2003. They smiled at us and thanked us for coming, saying we could sleep in their homes and that they were grateful we had brought medicine. They told us that life under the rule of the Wa was much better than under the SPDC/Burma Army as the Wa did not make them do forced labor and did not steal their livestock or belongings like the Burma Army did. After introductions and prayer, we started treating patients early in the morning starting with a Wa lady that needed minor surgery. The Shan medics treated patients for malaria, dysentery, skin diseases. As the medics were treating patients the Good Life Club (GLC), counselors on each team began the GLC program for women and children, this included instruction in anatomy, health, hygiene, Bible stories and games. One Shan lady stood up and began to do a traditional Shan dance and sang a Shan song as she danced. One of the medics followed suite and sang an old Shan song which made all the people laugh. After all the medical treatment was finished the teams handed out blankets and clothes (donated by students from CMIS) to every family, GLC shorts (from Partners) to every child as well as Legos donated by the Lego company.

Karen FBR HQ medic performs surgery on Wa woman as Wa soldier looks on

After the programs were completed we prayed together and then walked to the next village. This was a settlement of newly arrived Wa people. These were families of the WA soldiers stationed in the area. Here we started with prayer and the Good Life Club program and then gave medical treatment. One woman who had a spontaneous abortion with other complications was treated by the medics and prayed for. We prayed for her in her hut and over her bed there was a picture of Jesus and a crucifix. The next day she made a remarkable recovery and was up and walking around visiting her friends. After we finished the Good Life Club program, The Wa villagers told us that many of them were Christians (less than 2% of the Wa are Christian, most are animist and due to the animist beliefs they were headhunters until 1979). We were surprised that there were Christians here and listened as they sang hymns in beautiful harmony. We prayed together and told them we hoped to be able to return to them.

Wa soldier singing joy to the World

From this village we walked to a mostly Shan village. It was in a beautiful valley with terraced rice fields, fruit trees, gardens and plenty of water. The villagers lined the trail as we entered the Buddhist monastery, part of the village and a group of men and woman were busy cooking a big meal for us. We were invited into the monastery and fed a huge feast. As they served us food the villages thanked us for coming and told us of their needs. We slung our hammocks under the monastery and that night met with local leaders.

This village had many bad experiences of abuse by the Burma Army and the worst case we heard about was the abduction in 1999 of a five year old Shan girl by Burma Army troops. We had reported this on an earlier mission but now we were in the village where it happened and we heard the story again. Below is the story told by her mother to us on the earlier mission:

“We are very poor. One day, we left our home to carry some rice and left two of our children at home. We were at the nearby village of Mai Lan when we were told that one of our children was lost. When we were coming back home, the head of the village asked fifty villagers to search for our daughter along the river just in case she drowned. But, they could not find her. The search for our little girl kept on going for seven days but they did not find her. Then the headman said that if I want to have a funeral ceremony for my daughter since they are not found. I was then told that our child might not be drowned. We were told that the SPDC troops of the Burma Army, who used to come to the temple and our home, did not come here anymore. This was because they had kidnapped our daughter. Since then, I could not eat and drink any more for nine days. Some villagers came to me and encouraged me that I had to live. At that time in 1999, some SSA soldiers arrived in our village and one of the officers found out about my situation and advised me to go and stay in a safe IDP place. We are here with the help of the SSA who are looking after us. I have mental problems because of my lost child. In the year of 2000, while we were already here I was questioned about my mental state- I cried all the time. People thought I was mad. Some people in the village answered those who questioned my sanity and told them that I had lost my child.

My situation is getting better here. The SSA is helping me and gives medical care. In 2000 I was shocked when a woman form Ho Mong village asked me about my lost child. That woman also asked me what the color of the dress was that my daughter was wearing when she disappeared. That woman showed me a picture, asking me, “Is that your child?” I was shocked when I saw the picture because it was a picture of my daughter. I asked the women where she got that picture. The woman answered that she saw my lost child in the weaving center in Ho Mong. The woman went on to say at that time the Burma Army was kidnapping children in order to sacrifice them alive in the foundation of a new Pagoda they were building. This was something that happened in other areas of Shan State.

The woman said that she saw my child being carried by a Burma Army soldier in a backpack. At that time my child was half awake and was sobbing. According to the woman, my child was given an injection of some kind by the soldiers. She thought it was anesthesia. The woman kept saying that she saw some SPDC soldiers gave my child more injections. The woman said that she ran away when the child began screaming. She went to tell the villagers and the villagers came to see that child. Some recognized her and said, “Oh! Is that the child of Nang Khi of Nam Khat village? ” She said that the SPDC soldiers injected one more anesthesia to my child and then put her in a bag pack and carried her to some unknown place.

The woman said that one night at midnight she had once found three children who were thrown into a big hole under the foundation on which the new pagoda was to be built. The woman said that my child was one of the three children who were buried killed alive there. They woman told me that she could not remember the date of the death of the children. I told the woman that if she could bring my child back to me, I would give her as much money as much as she asked for. She said she could do nothing but in a strange way she tried to encourage me by saying, ‘Don’t be depressed, your child is lucky since she has a chance now to live in the pagoda forever’.”

We prayed with this mother and on this mission some of the team had an opportunity to talk with her again. The next morning we walked to the village at the head of the valley, where Lahu families were living along side Wa families. This was a very poor village with newly arrived families from further north at a Wa military area. Most of the people here were newly relocated Lahu but there were some Wa families too. As we walked into the village a Wa lady smiled at us and we went over to say hello. She told us she was a Christian and asked if we were also Christians. When I told her yes, she said, “Here we have some Christians but we have no pastor. Can you please try to find a Wa pastor for us?”

I told her we would do our best and prayed with her. Then using my satellite phone to call a Wa Christian leader based in Thailand. He is one of the Wa pastors we support who makes regular trips into Wa controlled areas to support local churches, baptize new believers and provide humanitarian relief. We talked and then I gave the phone to the Wa lady and she talked to him explaining where she was and that she and her people needed a pastor. He told her he would try to send a pastor and to visit her village the next time he was in that part of Burma.

Wa Christian talks to Wa pastor

We then went into the center of the village where men; women and children were gathered to greet us. When we got ready to start we realized we had no common language as the villagers only spoke Lahu. We all said the one word we knew- “Abu -A- Ja”= ‘hello’ and used the univeralslanguage of smiles, songs and acting like clowns to make them laugh and connect with them. Very quickly people were laughing and we all had a wonderful time together. There were no serious illnesses in this village but they were extremely poor and needed more clothes and blankets.

That night Wa solider came to see us and sing for us. One Christian sang hymns for us as well as Wa folk songs. We finished the night by singing’ Joy to the Word’ with them, some of us in Wa, some in Karen and some in English.

The next morning we were told that the local UWSA Wa military leaders wanted to meet us. We walked to the other side of the village to meet and were greeted by a group of Wa officers and their security force. We told them of our mission and that we were grateful to be able to come into their area. They told us we were welcome and that they needed our help. We talked together of how they had attacked us in years past and of their attacks against the Shan people. We all agreed that it was better to be together as friends. Karen told me later that it was an amazing answer to prayer for her that these men who had been trying to kill each other were now looking eye to eye. We offered to train Wa relief teams and medics. Later that day the senior Wa leader who was a four days walk away sent one of his local representatives to talk to us. He said he would consider our offer of training Wa teams and he would also would have to confer with his higher leaders.

After this meeting our FBR HQ team and the Shan FBR relief teams met to review the mission and share lessons learned and how we could improve. The Shan teams were very gracious and it was moving to see how the teams were so loving to the Wa people that had taken over part of their land. I told the teams that I was proud of them for their open minds and hearts. After walking back to the fist village to giving a final medical and dental treatment we started the walk back to the Shan controlled area. 120 patients were treated on this mission and new friends were made. We thanked God for the new open door and even though it was a short mission we hoped it was the beginning of a new friendship and understanding.

Thank you, may God bless you and please pray that the door to the Wa remains open,

Love, Dave, family and teams

FBR

Dental extraction with a Leatherman tool

Shan and Kachin medic treats Wa lady

With new Wa freinds

(Note: For more background to this report, below is an excerpt from the report we sent out after our last mission near this area in 2004. In addition to the attack by the Wa on the relief mission, it includes information about Burma Army involvement in narcotics production and trafficking.)

SHAN STATE RELIEF MISSION - MAY 2004

A joint Free Burma Ranger (FBR) and Shan (SSA) team conducted a relief mission to villagers and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in the Mong Pan area of Southern Shan State from 1-18 May 2004.  This area is delineated to the South and East by the Thai border, to the South West by the Karenni border, to the West by the Nam Sang area (Central Shan State) and to the North by Kengtung District of the Eastern Shan State. The Salween River flows south West through the southern part of this area. The purpose of this mission was to give help, hope and love to the people in this area. It was also the purpose of the team to provide information concerning the living situation of the people in this area, and the oppression they face under the Burma Army. Due to the activities of the Burma and Wa (UWSA) Armies, the mission was of limited scope.

May 1-5

The FBR team arrives at Shan (SSA), base area by foot. This area consists of a SSA military base, a school, a medical clinic, civilian housing area and a village of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). FBR and Shan leaders meet and plan two missions. FBR team 1 will conduct a one week mission in the base area to assist in the clinic, school, with the IDPs and in other areas of need. FBR team 2 along with a Shan relief team will conduct a 2-3 week mission to villagers and IDPs in the Mong Pan area of the Shan State.FBR team 1 begins their mission; FBR team 2 makes final preparations.FBR team 2, Shan relief team and SSA troops departed SSA base area moving north and commence mission. Foot movement to sleep site.

May 5

FBR and Shan relief team continue foot movement. During this day the team crosses the Mong Hta - HoMong road in the Wa (UWSA) controlled area, with SSA troops providing security for the crossing. After crossing the road the team is attacked by a UWSA patrol of 10-15 Wa soldiers, later reinforced by one battalion of troops. The UWSA fire on the team as the team attempts to evade. (Note: The UWSA and SSA have an unofficial ceasefire and the SSA was surprised at this attack and did not immediately return fire.) During the
attack five of the attackers were killed. The relief team withdrew with no casualties.  The relief team continues foot movement and continues to evade Burma Army and Wa forces.

May 6-7

All day and a night movement. Team continues movement and passes through large opium growing area of Kong Tee Wee- Tam Bo. This area is south of the Salween River between the vicinity of N 19 50 E 098 00 to N 20 00 E 098 40 Opium harvest is over at this time but there is still one small plot not yet harvested that the team photographs. Team treats one villager from the Tam Bo area and arrives at the village of XXX XXXX. Team treated patients and slept here.

May 8

Treated 30 medical and 5 dental patients before departing XXX XXXX. Move to Salween River and prepare to cross.

May 9

Cross the Salween River (elevation 550') and climb up to 5,000' ridge to sleep. Upon crossing the Salween River the team departs Wa controlled territory and enters a Burma Army controlled area. (At the Salween River the team treats two Shan soldiers - 1 medical and 1 dental.)

May10

Move to forced relocation site of XX XXX (Name and coordinates of this site is on record but for the safety of the people who are forced to live here, this information is withheld.) General area is south of Mong Pan. Mong Pan is vicinity:  N 20 15  E 098 20.  The team treats 61 patients (1 surgery, 60 other), gives out Good Life Packs to children, and interviews some of the IDPs. (Please see interviews below in the interview section of this report.)

The IDPs describe forced relocation, destruction of villages by the Burma Army, forced labor, torture, murder and rape. The relief team distributes medical supplies to the local medics (SSA) for 2,000 people. These supplies will be used by the medics to help treat the people in this area.

May 11-13

Depart IDP forced relocation area. Movement to the village of XX XXX . (Name withheld but on record). Here the team treats 46 medical and 3 dental patients. Team moves on to the IDP site of XX XXX and treats17 medical and 1 dental patient. Team moves to village of XX XXX, treats 5 medical patients and two dental patients. Team moves on to sleep site. Burma Army co-patrols this area with the Wa (UWSA), but the team avoids all contact. This day the team picks up an IDP family that is fleeing their home of Mong Nai, Shan State because of Burma Army oppression.

May 14

Departed campsite with IDP family and move south towards Shan (SSA), base. The IDP family is very weak with a frail father, two small children and a sick mother. Due to the security situation the team and family cannot stop. The team gives medical treatment to the mother and helps to carry the children and family's belongings. The team continues to move south and crosses the Wa controlled road without incident.
Night move to sleep site.

May 15-16

Departs sleep site and arrive on perimeter of Shan base area. Relief team arrives at main Shan (SSA) base area. Conducts debrief and begins medical and dental treatment for some of the local population.

May 17

Team continues medical treatment, distributes gifts to children and begins assessment of local IDP population co-located with the Shan (SSA) base. FBR medics conduct training for local medics and nurses.

INTERVIEWS WITH IDPS:

Note; All names are on record and are available for verification. They are withheld in this report for the safety of the people who are still living under the control of the Burma Army.

May 10 /04

Name: Sai XXX
Age: 29   male
Ethnic: Shan
Village: XXXX XXX
Occupation: farmer

"These are the Burma Army activities- a village headman named Lou Mow was taken by the Burma Army 3 years ago. He is in prison in Dawng Loi Lo. They also regularly take farm animals either for food or for carrying. They also arrested two women named XX XX and Xx XX. They were accused of being wives of SSA soldiers and were imprisoned for 7 days. The Burma Army commander's name is Major Thom Yit". 

"I want to tell the world that we need no more Burmese troops and I ask for international assistance in this area"

"Also, outside Mong Pan town a pagoda is being built, but behind the pagoda is a met-amphetamine factory. Also, there are opium fields in Mai Po, Nong Ler, Pong Pi, and when the opium is harvested the Burma Army comes and collects it."

Name: Xxx Xxx
Age: 60 female
Ethnic: PaO
Village: XXx XXX (IDP originally from Bet Heng)
Occupation: farmer

She was forcibly relocated by the Burma Army and given 5 days to move. " In the village of Kang Po He they would often come in and shoot their guns in the air and about 6 years ago they shot a 4 year old child."

"Burma Army soldiers raped a deaf and dumb girl here. Now she is very troubled and afraid."

"Now they order forced labor to help build their camp in XXx XX village. They also force the villagers to carry water to them or else be beaten."

" My son was beaten and forced to wear a horse harness and bear the horse's load when the horse fell and couldn't carry anymore. This occurred last rainy season. He is 24 and his name is Xx XXXX".

Her message to the world is "I want the world to help us since we are in trouble and we would like help with the agricultural so we can grow better crops and fruit."

Name: Sai XXXXX
Age: 41 male
Ethnic: PaO
Village: XXXX XX X
Occupation: farmer

" I now live in XXX XXX as his wife is from there. One of his family members must porter once or twice a month. He was last forced to porter 3 years ago, but this year he used his horses to carry the loads for the Burma Army."

"I hope and want to live freely and also want to do my agriculture freely."

"Lat year a man from this place (forced relocation site) was accused by the BA of helping the rebels. He was beaten to death. His name was Ban Tha and he was 43 years old."

INTERVIEW WITH A SHAN-SSA SOLDIER

May 12 /04
Name: Sai XXXX XXX
Age: 27, Male
Ethnic: Shan
Occupation: SSA soldier for past two years

His parents fled as refugees to Thailand, but he returned because he wanted to help his people. He feels being an SSA soldier is the best way he can help his people.

"My hope is that if we work hard together to get freedom and justice. and that we can all live together in our land"

"My message is to come and see for yourself the real situation and the oppression we live under. and you can decide for yourselves"

His parents fled when he was three years old, but he visited Shan State when he was young, and thought "you can die anywhere, better to die helping thousands of my people"

He joined the SSA because they are the best. "Good leader, organization, and objectives"

Interview with Shan Commander of SSA battalion 756 of the Mong Pan area command.
Col. Chao Ku Lao, 38 yrs old. SSA Commander of the Trans Salween - Mong Pan
area. Interview conducted on 10 May 2004, at XX XXX.

"Our duties are many and I would like to tell them to you",

1)      "We want to unite the population and develop leaders, men and women who can unite and lead their people. This is very difficult because the Burma Army chases the population and chases us too."

2)      "In Mong Pan district there are many ethnic peoples; PaO, Shan, Palaung, Lahu, Lisu, Chinese and we need to develop understanding and unity. We try to teach and encourage the people."

3)      "We try to correct people who do the wrong things and this includes our own people."

4)      "For many years we have been oppressed by the Burma Dictators. We must stand up to them."

5)      "People here are killed, tortured, raped and suffer many abuses. all these we find and report. We want to let the news out that our people suffer under the Burma Army. The Shan are oppressed. If we can help the people and intervene, we will try to do that." 

"Our fighting with the Burma Army"

"We try to avoid contact with the Burma Army but sometimes we meet them and fight. These contacts occur about every 2-3 months. If we do not have orders or if the Burma Army is quiet and doesn't bother the people, we try not to fight."

"There are 7 Burma Army Battalions in Mong Pan district. These 7 battalions are under the Nam Sang HQ, Division 66. The Burmese tries to separate the population and divide all groups. Also they do not let the resistance be supported. Burma Army tries to recruit minority groups like Lahu, Pa-O and make them into a militia. They direct them to fight each other and the SSA. The Burma Army puts a spy in every village to monitor the situation and to coordinate attacks against the SSA. The Burma Army visits all the local villages and forced relocation sites every week." 

"In this area alone, over 27 villages have been forced to relocate since 1996-1997. 

Over 5,000 people from these villages were displaced. Of the people who were forced to relocate, 70% fled to Thailand, but 30% were forced to move to the Mong Pan town area or other nearby villages. For example, there were many Lisu people here before, but they fled to Thailand. Now there are only PaO who have been consolidated into relocation sites like the one near here."

"The Burma Army unit at XX XXX-over there-, force villagers to do labor for them. Every day of the year villagers must send one horse with 12 cans of water, (6 trips) to resupply the BA camp. The troops have been in that place over there since 1998."

27 relocated villages

The following villages were forced to relocate by the Burma Army:

1)      Tong Kai
2)      Tong Kai Tai (school)
3)      Pa Ka
4)      Nong Han
5)      Nam Maw Pong
6)      Wan Jung
7)      Kan Kan
       Nong Hang
9)      Nam Tong
10)     Nong Long Tan Tok
11)     Huay Naw
12)     Nong Yang
13)     Nong Sam Pu
14)     Tong Htsu
15)     Hung Choy
16)     Na Won
17)     Lan Nae
18)     Thong Mon
19)     Wo Lai
20)     Ma Ker Jae
21)     Wan Kok
22)     Long Keng
23)     Na Eng
24)     San Pak Mon
25)     Uk Mong Mau
26)     Sao Wa
27)     Wan Lan 

Narcotics and the Burma Army:

"In this area the Burma army controls the Opium, Heroin and Met amphetamine production."

"25% of the population in the hills around Mong Ton grows opium. The Burma Army taxes the opium. One Rai (about .5 acre), is taxed 40,000 Kyat  (2,000 baht or $50) twice a year as there are two opium harvests. North of Mong Pan 30-40% of the villages in the mountains cultivates opium. South of Mong Pan to the Salween 20-25% grows opium.

Amphetamines: "Amphetamines are produced at Loi Noi, on the road 1 km west of Mong Pan. The Burma Army controls the production. Only the Burma Army is allowed in this site which itself is located in a Burma Army camp. Anyone else who goes in is killed. There is a monastery there as well. After the amphetamines are produced, they sent Thailand. The routes are many and are generally through Homong and on to Mae Hong Son, Thailand and all along the Thai border, especially in the Wa (UWSA), controlled areas. The Burma Army produces the narcotics-with the help of Chinese and the Wa take it across the Thai border."

"Opium is sent to Thailand, Bangladesh, China, and Laos."

"Opium traders who are mostly Chinese, (but also some are Thai and others), coordinate this trade. The Wa receives most of the opium and they produce heroin from this. The Wa also makes amphetamines and ecstasy. In 15 minutes can produce 500 amphetamine tablets. They sell opium, #3 Heroin, #4 Heroin, ecstasy, and amphetamines. The Burma Army moves the narcotics to the Wa controlled border areas, often in 8 wheel trucks. These are old Japanese heavy duty trucks."

Message from Colonel Chao Kulao-SSA Mong Pan area Commander:

"I want the world to know that the Shan people are under oppression and have no opportunity to build their future. Please let the world know that the Burma Army destroys the people of our land. May the world help us change the situation in Burma."      

We thank all of you who pray and help.
The Free Burma Rangers

The Free Burma Ranger’s (FBR) mission is to provide hope, help and love to internally displaced people inside Burma, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Using a network of indigenous field teams, FBR reports on human rights abuses, casualties and the humanitarian needs of people who are under the oppression of the Burma Army. FBR provides medical, spiritual and educational resources for IDP communities as they struggle to survive Burmese military attacks. For more information, please visit www.freeburmarangers.org

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