Villagers flee to border to escape abuses by Burma Army

^{_{By Hseng Khio Fah}
26 June 2008}

Before the clash between 75-strong unit from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 524 led by Lt Aung Win and 30-strong SSA troops from Brig 759 led by Cap Sai Ywe in Kunkwe village, Kunhing township, some civilians were arrested and tortured by members of LIB 524 for not reporting information about SSA operating in the area, according to villagers who arrived in Tachilek.

Long Kaw, 62, and Long Ta, 52 together with other three villagers from Papha village were arrested by LIB 524 before clash with SSA troops for half-an-hour in the morning of June 17. They were tortured by Burmese troops for not informing about SSA movement in the area, said one of the villagers.

He said, he was not sure when the five arrested would be released. 

The next day after the clash, the LIB arrested the village headmen of Kunkwe, Sonkwe, Papha and Nagay villages, said the source. 

“They were beaten every time when they were asked about the SSA. The villagers could no longer withstand the torture and told them where the SSA was located. But the Army did not follow the SSA. Then they told us to leave the village,” the source said.

The villagers were forced to leave their villages as a punishment for not informing the Burma Army about SSA operating in the area, according to Long Mai.

Sixteen villagers from Kunhing township arrived in Tachilek and more are still on their way to the border town, said the villagers.

“We just have to lead our lives here at the border. We dare not to go to Thailand too, because we don’t have any documents,” said one of the villagers.