Burma Army threatens to burn down villages.
Jan 19, 2010 - An inside source has reported that villagers living in Daw Tamadu village tract, Demawsoe Township, were threatened by the Burmese commander from LIB no. 61 who are encamped in the area. They were warned that their villages would be burned down if news of forced labor by the Burma army leaked out to the media.
Burmese Major Soe Thura from LIB no. 61 is still on occasions ordering his men to force local villagers to cut wood and bamboo, collect firewood, fetch water, dig trenches and fence off the army camp, even though in recent weeks the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) agreed with the ILO to stop using forced labor.
"The Burmese troops not only force villagers to work for the military, but also frequently misappropriate the locals' domestic animals for their own use" added the source.
LIB no. 61, led by Major Soe Thura, rotated his troops with IB no. 520 under-the-command of Major Aung Kyaw Zaw on December 2009. "Major Soe Thura and his men treats the locals in the same way they were treated by Major Aung Kyaw Zaw and his troops" said the source.
Villagers from Daw Tamadu, Daw Nyi Khu, Daw Sawkleh, Daw Hsawphya, Daw Kaw and Daw Tacha are used to being forced to work for the Burmese army in most seasons of the year.
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