Over 100 villagers flee Burma Army abuses amid mounting tension in central Shan State

CHIANG MAI. Over one hundred villagers fled to Wan Wap Temple, Kehsi Township on July 6, 2014, due to mounting tension between the Burma Army and Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).

Hundred of villagers, mostly children got humanitarian aid by local MPs at Wan Wap temple. (Photo: Sai Harn)

The Burma Army hascontinuously reinforced its troops closer to areas under the control SSPP/SSA in Mongsu and Kehsi townships since the two sides exchanged fire in mid- June, causing the SSA to lose a camp in Mongsu.
“After the Burma Army started deploying their troops closer to us, they have been patrolling around Wan Wap village, trampling on villagers’ crops, breaking farmers’ fences, and building bunkers”, said an SSA officer.
A villager said: “We were told by the Burma Army that we must stay in our houses, must not visit each other, and must not take rice out of the village. If we want to eat, we must eat at home”.

Hundred of villagers, mostly women and children got humanitarian aid by local MPs at Wan Wap temple. (Photo: Sai Harn)

According to the villagers, the Wan Wap school has been closed, affecting 125 students, because the Burma Army has set up the camp there.
Local MPs from the Shan Nationalities Development Party (SNDP) and Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) have provided 10 sacks of rice, salt, oil and water to the villagers.
An SSPP/SSA officer said: “We told the villagers they can take refuge in our headquarters or in big towns and warned them not to flee into the jungle, because the Burma Army can shoot them on sight”.
The Burma Armytroops which have recently been deployed to SSA areas were under Battalion 516 in Namjarng, Battalion 287andBattalion 9 in Mongnawng, Battalion 297 in Mongpan, Battalion 12 in Loilem, and Battalion 249 at Tahsang.

http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5867:over-100-villagers-flee-burma-army-abuses-amid-mounting-tension-in-central-shan-state&catid=87:human-rights&Itemid=285