The Burmese Army continues to use forcibly not only prisoners but also civilians as porters in contravention of the norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said an official of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).
The Burmese Army continues to use forcibly not only prisoners but also civilians as porters in contravention of the norms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said an official of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).
Fifty civilians from Chit Kehk and Pann Laung villages in Loi Kaw Township, capital of Kayah State were forced to work as porters by the Bawlakhe based Light Infantry Battalion N0 (429) since September 7 and 8, Khoo Daniel, a KNPP official told KNG.
"The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) proclaims that they [SPDC] don't use prisoners as porters and has shunned forced labour but the fact remains it continue to do so for its army. I want the international community to take note," Khoo Daniel said.
Scores of civilians have been killed and thousands more conscripted for forced labour. Prisoners are regularly used forcibly as porters. Worse many of them were summarily executed during operations, according to the New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) World Report 2007.
On September 10, around 12:40 p.m. there was a firefight between the armed wing of the KNPP and the Burma Army's Light Infantry Battalion N0 (429) at a place between Salween River and east of Shar Daw Township. Two villagers from Pan Lo village, where the clash ensued, were arrested by the Light Infantry Battalion N0 (429).
"The clash was between KNPP and the Burmese Army but they took away innocent villagers. They have not been released yet," said Khoo Daniel.
The KNPP is based along the Thailand-Burma border and was founded in 1955 for independence from Burma.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
