Shan being put to work to keep them away from their work

Shan being put to work to keep them away from their work: a Burmese laborer

Forced Labor A Burmese hired laborer told Shans who were building a new road in southern Shan State that Burmese authorities only wished to prevent them from earning their own livelihood.

Ko Saw, 59, a Burmese worker, said he had heard the officers saying so.

Beginning 4 July, Li.-Col. Win Zaw Oo, Commander, LIB 332 of Mongpan had summoned 30 villagers from each tract to construct a dirt road from Mainiu village of Namterng tract to Wanhtam, about 9 miles long. The road, after completion, will pass though Wankoong, Longkeng, Na-ing, Holin, Mainyaung Khongkharng and LIB 520 command post near Namhu.

Each villager had to bring his own 5-day ration. There were about 100-120 Shans from the area who were unpaid and about 80 paid workers from Burma proper.

The work was overseen by Sgt. Aung Hpiu, Company 5, LIB 520, who told the Shans they did not need to speed up. "You can rest 30 minutes per hour if you like. There will be no punishment as long as you don't try to desert," he was reported to have said.

Sgt. Aung Hpiu was known for his rough treatment of the locals, said sources coming from Mongpan. "He had beaten up Kuna Nyo, 30, on 20 July for trying to collect some wood from his 63-year old father-in-law Sangkham's land that was confiscated by the army," said one.