The Irrawaddy – By KO HTWE Friday, August 19, 2011

Human rights violations committed by Burmese government troops in Lecha Constituency in Southern Shan State have been documented and sent to the cabinet of the new government by Sai Maung Tin, a Lower House MP from Lecha Township.

In his letter, he addressed cases of rape, the looting of rice and livestock, and the interrogation, beating and murder of villagers by the Burmese army during its ongoing campaign against the State Army in July in Mong Su and Kyesee townships.

“Candidates from respective areas sent data to me containing complaints of abuses against local residents,” said Sai Maung Tin. “These cases are to be discussed in parliament. I have confirmed data to present if they question me.”

He urged the government to form a peace commission.

Among the complaints made to Sai Maung Tin by villagers is an accusation against Loilem-based Infantry Battalion (12) and Lecha-based Infantry Battalion (64) that their soldiers raped a Palaung woman and her 13-year-old daughter in Hai Par village in Koon Nim, and that a 50-year-old woman was raped then killed in Ta Sarm Poo village in Mong Su Township.

In addition, relatives of a 15-year-old Palaung girl in Nam Pu village in Kyethee Township said they were worried because she was arrested by government troops and has not returned home.

“I’m collecting the data and can confirm several cases of violations by government troops,” said a local member of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP).

Government troops reportedly destroyed rice mills in Nar Pe and Hai Par villages in Mong Shu Township, and also killed a villager who had an SNDP pamphlet in his hands.

On July 18, government troops allegedly destroyed a Buddhist monastery in Wan Mit village in Kyesee Township with a rocket attack. Observers believe some form of chemical weapon was used in the attack because seven monks and a novice were rendered unconscious for several days.

Since government troops launched attacks on the SSA in March, nearly 20 villagers from Mong Out in Mong Su Township have been forced to works as porters for the Burmese army, and at least three local trucks and motorcycles are commandeered by the Burmese army every day, reports say.

Sai Maung Tin’s letter was sent at the end of July to President Thein Sein and to the country’s two vice- presidents, as well as to all the State and Region ministers, Speaker of the Lower House Thura Shwe Mann, and the heads of 17 government ministries, including the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Home Affairs. No response has been received to date, according to Sai Maung Tin.
Recently, a Thailand-based NGO, the Shan Women’s Action Network, released a report that highlighted over 30,000 displaced people and numerous cases of rape by Burmese soldiers in northern Shan State.