{"id":63624,"date":"2005-10-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2005-10-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/freeburmarangers.org\/2005\/10\/19\/new-spdc-offensive-drives-out-hundreds-of-idps\/"},"modified":"2005-10-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2005-10-19T00:00:00","slug":"new-spdc-offensive-drives-out-hundreds-of-idps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/2005\/10\/19\/new-spdc-offensive-drives-out-hundreds-of-idps\/","title":{"rendered":"New SPDC offensive drives out hundreds of IDPs"},"content":{"rendered":"<table width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" bordercolordark=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"662\">\n<table width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" bordercolorlight=\"#b7c494\" bordercolordark=\"#333333\" bordercolor=\"#003333\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"99%\" class=\"bodybox\"><span class=\"title1\">FBR REPORT: New             SPDC Offensive Drives Out Hundreds of IDPs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"99%\" class=\"greytext\">Karen State, Burma<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"99%\" class=\"greytext\">19 October, 2005<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"99%\" class=\"title1\">\n<div align=\"left\" class=\"title2\">\n<div class=\"divdashedline\"> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table width=\"90%\" border=\"0\" bordercolor=\"#FFFFFF\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\">\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table border=\"0\" bordercolordark=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\" width=\"100%\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"5\" bgcolor=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td width=\"660\">\n<table width=\"100%\" border=\"0\" bordercolorlight=\"#b7c494\" bordercolordark=\"#333333\" bordercolor=\"#003333\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"1%\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" height=\"26\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td width=\"99%\" height=\"26\">\n<div align=\"left\" class=\"title2\">KEY DEVELOPMENTS<a name=\"0\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"1%\" height=\"2\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" height=\"85\" class=\"linkMenu\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#1\" class=\"linkMenu\">NEW SPDC OFFENSIVE DRIVES OUT                 HUNDREDS OF IDPs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#2\" class=\"linkMenu\">SPDC ORDERED: \u0091DESTROY EVERYTHING\u0092<\/a>               <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3\" class=\"linkMenu\">IDPs SUFFER AS GOLD MINING INCREASES<\/a>               <\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4\" class=\"linkMenu\">CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND: BURMA                 ARMY ATTACKS<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"title2\">INTRODUCTION<span class=\"title2\"><\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\">These reports have been relayed directly from a team   now in the field in Ler Doh Township, Nyaunglebin District, Karen State on the   8th October, 2005. They include information on Burma Army patrols, attacks and   Gold mining operations in Nyaunglybin Distirct, Karen State, Burma as recently   as September 2005. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> Below is a map of patrols and attacks by the Burma   Army. Also found below are photos of a relatively new gold mining operation   (established in late 2002). <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"title2\"> MAP OF BURMA ARMY ADVANCES <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/10\/20051019_01.jpg\" width=\"553\" height=\"415\"><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<table width=\"95%\" border=\"0\" bordercolordark=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"5\" bgcolor=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<td class=\"bodyCopy\" width=\"731\">\n<table width=\"99%\" border=\"0\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"1%\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td width=\"82%\"><span class=\"bodyTitle\">NEW SPDC OFFENSIVE DRIVES OUT             HUNDREDS OF IDPs<\/span><i><a name=\"1\"><\/a> <\/i><\/td>\n<td width=\"12%\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"3%\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p> <span class=\"bodyCopy\">The Burma Army have occupied two IDP village sites   as well as the Karen National Liberation Army\u0092s 9th Battalion headquarters in   Ler Wah, Ler Doh (Kyauk Kyi) Township, Nyaunglebin District, Western Karen State.   <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> The attacks, which took place in September 2005, drove   out hundreds of IDPs. Burma Army troops LIB 12 and Battalion #42, and one column   from Tactical Operations Command (TOC) 322 were responsible for the assault.   <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> The units have set up patrol bases in this area to   secure their position. (Burma Army IB 4 has rotated out from patrolling this   area and returned to their base). <\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"bodyCopy\">\u0094These attacks not only violate the terms of the unofficial   cease-fire between the SPDC and the KNU but are further human rights violations   of the already displaced Karen. Similar activities by the Burma Army are being   conducted in other parts of Nyaunglebin District as well as Toungoo District,   Northern Karen State,\u0094 a Free Burma Ranger spokesman said. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> In Mone Township (North of Ler Doh Township), the SPDC   has set up a new group, called the &#8216;Peace Group&#8217;, This is a civilian militia   group, and they have established a chairman, a secretary and a joint secretary.   The SPDC told the Peace Group that they will arm them and once armed, they will   change their name to the &#8216;Special Militia&#8217;. This peace group\/Special militia   are currently building a new camp at Thpyinyut in the Mone area. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 <\/p>\n<table width=\"95%\" border=\"0\" bordercolordark=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"5\" bgcolor=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<td class=\"bodyCopy\" width=\"731\">\n<table width=\"99%\" border=\"0\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"1%\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td width=\"82%\"><span class=\"bodyTitle\">SPDC SOLDIERS ORDERED: DESTROY             EVERYTHING<\/span><i><a name=\"2\"><\/a> <\/i><\/td>\n<td width=\"12%\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"3%\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\">Recent Burma Army attacks which have targeted IDP populations   no where near their outposts or roads have clearly violated an unofficial agreement   between the SPDC and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> The Burma Army Southern Command gave the following   orders to the troops in this area, &#8220;Don&#8217;t obey the ceasefire, it is not your   duty. You must do your regular duty.&#8221;, and &#8220;You must destroy everything in this   area.&#8221; <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> Unofficial cease fire talks between the Burma Army   and KNLA had resulted in an agreement that the Burma Army would not attack KNLA   or Karen civilian locations. In return, the KNLA agreed not to attack Burma   Army positions and in Ler Doh Township to allow safe travel for the Burma Army   along the Kyaukkyi Road that runs East into Karen State servicing Burma Army   outposts. The KNLA have allowed the Burma Army freedom of travel on this road   to re-supply their outposts. The Burma Army agreed to travel only by this road   when in the eastern Ler Doh Township. (see map below). <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> However, in violation of these agreements, the Burma   Army has conducted regular patrols and attacks in the Ler Doh area, most recently   in April and May 2005. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> At this time the Burma Army has two battalions stationed   at Bawgawta, South of Kyaukkyi. LIB 351 base security and LIB 111 (detached   from Division 11) that is patrolling and attacking IDPs. At Peinzaloke LIB 264   conducts patrolling operations in the plains. Along the Kyaukkyi &#8211; Hsaw Hta   Road are numerous Burma Army outposts, including the tactical operations headquarters   at Ler Wah Jo. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> Units are now rotated on an irregular basis of between   three weeks to two months. It is reported that these irregular and rapid rotations   were put in place by the Burma Army to make it more difficult for soldiers to   desert and to cut down on corruption of local troops. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> From Shweygyn North along the Shweygyn River, the Burma   Army applies very strict control over the populous. For example, no flashlights   or batteries may be used by anyone along the Shweygyn River. Also, no medicine   or large quantities of foodstuffs may be transported. There is a nightly curfew   of 9pm where no one can leave the towns or villages. The SPDC is attempting   to stop all support to the KNLA and to keep tight control over the civilian   population. Along the Shweygyn, roads can only be used during daylight hours.   In the event of any wounded Burma Army soldiers from clashes with the KNLA,   all lights in every village and town in the area must be extinguished so that   the Burma Army can transport their wounded without anyone seeing the injured   troops. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"bodyCopy\">\u0092The stranglehold that the Burma Army has in this area,   as severe as it is, has not stopped the IDPs continuing to cultivate farms in   hidden areas, to start schools and to continue to survive in their homeland.\u0092   A Free Burma Ranger spokesman said. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<table width=\"95%\" border=\"0\" bordercolordark=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"5\" bgcolor=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<td class=\"bodyCopy\" width=\"731\">\n<table width=\"99%\" border=\"0\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"1%\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td width=\"82%\" class=\"bodyTitle\">\n<p> IDPs SUFFER AS GOLD MINING INCREASES<i><a name=\"3\"><\/a> <\/i>           <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td width=\"12%\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"3%\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/10\/20051019_02.jpg\" width=\"380\" height=\"252\" align=\"middle\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"caption\">This picture was taken on 11 May 2005 by an FBR relief   team in the Ler Doh area. It shows a gold mine under the control of the Burma   Army. This particular mine is located north of the town of Shwygyn and west   of the Shwygyn river, vicinity N 18 08 46.6 E 096 55 26.2. The Burma Army receives   payment from the gold mine operators (details below). <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/10\/20051019_03.jpg\" width=\"232\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"caption\">Burma Army offensives in this area have enabled them   to expand mining operations into lands traditionally held by the Karen people<\/span>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"title2\">REPORT <\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"bodyCopy\">Gold mining on the Shweygyn River has increased since   2003, when Burma Army offensives gave the SPDC more control of the Shweygyn   River area, North of Shweygyn town. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> Private companies operating under license of the SPDC   have now placed 20-30 hydraulic gold mining machines on the Shweygyn River,   North of the town of Shweygyn. Each mining operation recovers an average of   1.5 kilograms of gold per month. Each operation must pay 500,000 kyat per month   per machine. Payment is made to the Burma Army representative, Thura Maung Nyi   of the Southern Command. Southern Command Headquarters is based in Toungoo,   to the North. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> The Burma Army is currently exploring mining operations   in the Kushaw area east of Shweygyn along the Nyaunglebin District and Papun   District borders of Karen State. Karen people in these areas believe that one   of the motivations behind continuing Burma Army operations is to secure and   expand gold mining in these areas. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"bodyCopy\">\u0091Not only does the Burma Army profit from these mines   and rob the Karen people of their own resources, the mines also cause significant   environmental damage\u0092. A Free Burma Ranger spokesman said. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 <\/p>\n<table width=\"95%\" border=\"0\" bordercolordark=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"5\" bgcolor=\"#b7c494\" bordercolor=\"#b7c494\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/p>\n<td class=\"bodyCopy\" width=\"731\">\n<table width=\"99%\" border=\"0\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"1%\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<td width=\"82%\" class=\"bodyTitle\">\n<p class=\"bodyTitle\"> CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND<i><a name=\"4\"><\/a> <\/i>           <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td width=\"12%\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"3%\">\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> In May 2005, LIB 111 had been patrolling the area Southeast   of Bawgawta camp, threatening the IDP population who live in these hills. Throughout   the month of April the Burma Army conducted numerous patrols in the Eastern   Ler Doh area, twice resulting in attacks on the civilian population. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"title2\"> Recent Attacks include: <\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"bodyCopy\">*On 2 April 2005 Burma Army Battalion LIB 111 attacked   villagers in the vicinity of Mu Kee Village, Gkeh Der Village Tract, Ler Doh   Township. At 7pm on 2 April, the battalion opened fire on a group of villagers   on their way to collect food. The villagers fled, but one man, Saw Day Day,   was shot by the troops and was wounded. The wounded man&#8217;s condition is unknown   at this time. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> *On 4 April 2005, villagers from Ler Kla Village Tract   fled fighting in their area. BA troops from Ka La Wah Lu camp attacked KNLA   troops in this area. Total new Ler Kla IDPs at this time are over 100. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> *BA troops from Mu Theh (Ka Baw Jo) camp troops attacked   KNLA security forces in the vicinity of Hsaw Ka Der. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> *On 22 April 2005, the Burma Army extended their operations,   attacking villagers at Kwee Lah Village Tract, Ler Doh Township. The villagers   fled are now still in hiding. The operation is ongoing as of this date, 4 May   2005. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bodyCopy\"> *Late April: Over 100 villagers fled from Kwee Lah   Village Tract area and are still in hiding. On 20 April, Burma Army (BA) Light   Infantry Battalion (LIB) 111 troops from Ga Baw Tu Camp clashed with Karen National   Liberation Army (KNLA) troops three times. One fight was near Kwee Lah Village   Tract. This area is a free fire zone. <\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"bodyCopy\">ENDS <\/p>\n<p>\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div> <\/div>\n<script type='text\/javascript'>\nvar post=eval({\"id\":63624,\"title\":\"New SPDC offensive drives out hundreds of IDPs\",\"subject\":\"FBR: New SPDC offensive drives out hundreds of IDPs\",\"admin_email\":\"info@freeburmarangers.org\",\"admin_name\":\"FBR\"});\n<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FBR REPORT: New SPDC Offensive Drives Out Hundreds of IDPs Karen State, Burma 19 October, 2005 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 KEY DEVELOPMENTS \u00a0 NEW SPDC OFFENSIVE DRIVES OUT HUNDREDS OF IDPs SPDC ORDERED: \u0091DESTROY EVERYTHING\u0092 IDPs SUFFER AS GOLD MINING INCREASES &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/2005\/10\/19\/new-spdc-offensive-drives-out-hundreds-of-idps\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":63613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reports","state-karen3-nyaunglebin","state-karen","state-magwe","state-pegu"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"2.7.8","language":"my","enabled_languages":["en","my"],"languages":{"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"my":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63624"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63624\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}