Serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention of ordinary Kachin civilian, forced labor and the use of “human shields”, continue unabated in Kachin war zones.
On July 1, Galau Bawm Yaw, Jau Fa Yin and Jau Fa Ning of Yihku village were arrested and detained together with 23 other villagers at a Burmese army post in Pangsai, Northern Shan State. 23 villagers, Jau Fa Yin and Jau Fa Ning were later released after being severely beaten by Burmese army soldiers. They have been repeatedly beaten by soldiers for three days and nights, and their bodies were burned with cigarettes during interrogations.
Jau Fa Ning said Burmese soldiers repeatedly asked them that whether they are Kachins and have connections with KIA. “When I replied that I am not a Kachin and have no connection with KIA, they beat me even more,” said Jau Fa Ning. He said Burmese soldiers later released them after they realized that they are indeed not Kachins.
Another fellow villager, Galau Bawm Yaw, an ethnic Kachin was left alone when all 25 villagers were released on July 4. Hpaure Hkawn Hpang, wife of Bawm Yaw, who is just 20 days after she gave birth when Burmese soldiers arrested her husband said, “I really want to know whether my husband is still alive or dead. If he is dead, I want to see his body. I want to sue those soldiers in court but I have no money to do so.”
Grave human rights violations have escalated in Kachinland after Thein Sein-led quasi-civilian government took power last March. International community has largely ignored ongoing violence in order not to upset reforms taking place in lower Burma. US President Obama announced on Wednesday that US companies will be allowed to invest in all sectors including in oil and gas ventures. Sanctions have been imposed in the first place in Burma because of grave human rights violations. Some Kachin observers questioned US’s stand on human rights as it lifted almost all sanctions while there are no signs of improvement of rights record in ethnic areas.
About 70,000 IDPs in Kachin and Shan State, and 10,000 refugees in China side of the border are in great need of assistance for food and shelter. As the rainy season approach, the need arises for safer infrastructure to prevent from the possible impact of heavy rains and strong wind gusts.
Local Chinese officials recently drove back Hkalum villagers who were staying at temporary makeshift tents in Kawngdum village in China side of the border saying that they are not allowed to build temporary tents on Chinese soil. Civilians are afraid to go back to their villages and farms because of heavy fighting in and around their villages.
