SAC shelling, arbitrary arrest, and torture

At around 4:00 am on March 30th 2022, State Administration Council (SAC)[2] Infantry Battalion (IB)[3] #267 fired mortar shells into K--- village, The Chaung Gyi village tract[4], Taung Pyauk Taik area, K’Ser Doh (Thayatchaung) Township, which is under Karen National Union (KNU)[5] control. According to U A---, a village head who was appointed by the National Unity Government (NUG)[6], the SAC conducted shelling [into the village] because of the opening of an NUG-administered school [no prior warning about the shelling was given, nor were there any threats or warnings about opening a new school]. People who were affected by this were villagers. The shelling was conducted during the time when villagers, who are day labourers, were working in the village.

After the shelling, the SAC soldiers [from IB #267] entered the village. When the SAC soldiers entered the village, they arrested some villagers. According to U B---, who was among the arrested villagers, “During the interrogation, they tortured me very badly. They asked me questions, punched me, kicked me, and I could not move any part of my body because they tied me tightly. It’s a serious violation of my rights. I escaped the day before they planned to kill me. Is the international community just going to stay and watch while civilians have to go through things like this? Is there no longer anything they can do to help us?” Due to this kind of SAC military activity, villagers were afraid to stay in their village. Some villagers went to stay in C--- monastery, while others went to stay in D--- village, Kyaw Khay Toh Praw area, K’Ser Doh Township. Some villagers went to stay with their relatives in other places and some stayed in the forest.

SAC extortion

Since March 2022, SAC soldiers at roadside checkpoints have been demanding 450 kyats [USD 0.24][7] for each viss [1.6 kg or 3.52 lb] of betel nut that villagers sell [the average selling price of one viss of betel nut is 3,500 kyats (USD 1.89)], and villagers had to give them [SAC soldiers] half a litre of oil when they bought one litre. Villagers had to give whatever they were asked to give out of fear.  Due to the extortion and oppression by the SAC military, villagers have been facing many difficulties and challenges.

Looting

At 9:00 am on March 26th 2022, SAC soldiers from IB #267 entered Kywe Cha village, The Chaung Gyi village tract, Taung Pyauk Taik area, broke into Ma E---’s shop and stole goods from the shop. Ma E--- saw the looting that happened in her shop from a distance when she came back from her work between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. According to Ma E---, the goods that were taken from her shop were worth more than 200,000 kyats [USD 108.02]. Ma E--- is currently seeking refuge in another place. 

Further background reading on SAC activities and human rights violations in Mergui-Tavoy District in Southeast Burma can be found in the following KHRG reports:

• “Mergui-Tavoy District Situation Update: Fighting and displacement, property damage, deaths caused by landmine explosion, travel restrictions, and the COVID-19 situation, December 2021 to February 2022”, June 2022.
• “Mergui-Tavoy District Situation Update: SAC militia shoots teenage villager, CDM and protester protection, SAC troop movement, arbitrary taxation and livelihood, healthcare and education challenges, March 2021”, January 2022.