Government troops infringe on human rights in Kachin state’s Hpakant Township
Posted By : PNA
Post Date: Feb 5
In
the wave of violent attacks that have plagued Kachin state, reports on
human abuse by government forces continue to surface. Sources claim
government troops have “tortured” people living throughout Kachin state
by killing, seizing property, and unfairly checking those living in
Hpakant Township in Kachin state
According to a local person from Gwokar village “they [military personnel] are torturing only Kachin people”.
The
reports follow a series of incidents related to escalated violence in
Kachin state and missteps taken by military forces in high-conflict
areas. Nearly
3 weeks ago, a 46-year old mother of three, was shot and killed by
government troops on her farm in western Kachin State. The incident took
place on January 24th near Ginsi village in the Hpakant district, where
Zahkung Zung Lwi was fatally wounded while working on her field.
Hpakant
district has been subjected to heavy fighting, after a throng of
government reinforcements occupied the area as an offensive measure
against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) 6th Battalion.
Commander
of the KIA 6th Battalion Col. Nhkum Zau Doi, instructed all civilians
living in the area to pre-emptively flee for their safety, in the event
the government pushed to confiscate the area. Shortly following that
warning, the 6th Battalion headquarters in Ginsi fell to government
forces.
An
estimated 3,000 people from the region have been forced to flee the
area since the end of the ceasefire agreement between the KIA and
Myanmar government . The internally displaced are currently living in
camps throughout northwestern Myanmar.
Similar
incidents followed a few days later. On 31 January government troops
shot into Khamawkyigon village with heavy artillery, killing 4 people
and seriously injuring 17. The incident was followed by a battle on 1
February between the government troops and the KIA, which lasted 3 hours.
Many
villagers fled the area out of fear; some were able to escape, but most
were surrounded by government troops. Military personnel did not allow
those who were captured to meet with anyone, nor were injured
civilians allowed to receive proper medical care. In addition, military
forces did not allow the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), to supply
desperately needed support to those affected by the conflict. “Many are
now ill or starving. There is no food,” a displaced Gwokar villager
commented.
It
has been reported that the Myanmar military issued treats to those
in the area, claiming they would be forced to exercise aggression if
the KIA attempted to enter the village or put up an offensive front.
Government
troops successively captured vulnerable villages in the surrounding
area. In Gwokar area, they seized property throughout the region.
Traveling
in Hpakant Township, full body searches were administered to those
moving within the region. Troops performing the searches, are reported
to have confiscated the personal effects of most travellers, especially
those who were of Kachin ethnicity.
Kachin
villager Sai Ya stated “Yesterday, I went to Kanse. The government
troops checked everyone. They confiscated everything from us, but not
from the Burman people. They arrested all the Kachin,” he said.
A
military critic commented that the way in which the government is
currently treating the Kachin people , is tantamount to how the Myanmar
military “harassed” other ethnic groups between the years of 1993 -
2001. It is suggested that both the Karen National Union (KNU) , and
the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), which now have ceasefire
agreements with the current administration, were also subject to human
abuses during the peak of their unrest.
KIA
sources have commented on the issue, and have expressed frustration
with the current climate of the situation. In particular, KIA
representatives believe not enough international action is being taken
to denounce the humanitarian abuses committed by the Myanmar government.
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