Mon State at War

RAPE USED AS WEAPON DURING MILITARY OFFENSIVE

(By Taramon, Kao Wao)

January 31, Sangkhalaburi -- The Burmese Army used rape as a weapon of war against civilians during military operation to wipe out Mon guerrillas in southern Ye, Mon State.

Both married and unmarried women from Mon villages near the patrolled areas of Light Infantry Battalion No. 299 have been forced by the army commanders to sleep with them at night according to local sources.

Mi San Myint from Krane Kanyeh village who fled to the border area said the commander ordered women to cook for the soldiers during the day and raped them at night. The troops took 3 women per day to stay for 24 hours in their bases.

The Army ordered 3 beautiful women from 15 villages to come for a model show early this month.

A villager from Kaw Zar said, "The performers were sexually abused, most were embarrassed and moved to other places; some came to Thailand after the show."

The villagers complained that some women were raped while staying at the military base before and after the model show.

"I stopped asking questions about the (rape) case because she was so embarrassed and depressed," said Ms Mi Yin Sein, a human rights worker from the Thai Burma border. Mi Myint who was raped by the Army stayed at her house, Halockhanee Mon Refugee Camp, on the way to Thailand with her husband to work as migrant labourer.

According to Myint's husband, she was raped several times. Even the victim was married; the commander forced her to perform in the show because she is the most beautiful lady in her village.

The Burma Army has launched a major offensive against the Hongsawatoi Restoration Party, the Mon guerrilla group that operates in the area.

Human Rights Foundation of Monland issued a statement on January 15, 2004 claiming that the Burmese Army based in southern Ye, Mon State raped local women, tortured Buddhist monks, killed villagers and used them as porters in the front-line in late 2003 and early 2004.