Villagers in Shan State South’s Kunhing township, where military junta expands its newly installed ‘Middle East’ regional command, have been severely suffering abuses from local Burma Army soldiers when the project is conducted again, according to report from local sources.

“They [the soldiers] would wait for the villagers on their way to work in the farms, and demand money.

Sometimes, the villagers were arrested and their family members ordered to bring poppy or money in exchange with the victims's freedom." said a local villager asking not to mention his location and name. “This happens every day since they came to construct their buildings.”

The incident took place in Pangwi, Kawnkha and Wan Mai villages located on the way between Kali and Namzang road construction, which is part of the military expansion project.

The Burma Army’s project is to oversee areas between Shan State South’s Taunggyi and Shan State East’s Kengtung, and has been conducted since January 10. Its HQ will be based at Kali, 8 miles east of Kunhing township.

According to local villagers, since the start of the Burma Army's projects villagers living in the areas have to take in turn to provide the soldiers who guard the project with livestock such as chicken, rice and pocket money. Otherwise, villagers or village headmen would be arrested and asked for payment for the release.

For instance, a village headman of Pangvi village in Hopan village tract was taken on 24 January by soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #524 based in Kunhing that provided security for those workers constructing the roads in Kali and Namzarng. The villagers were later informed to bring 3 chickens for the exchange of their village headman, said another villager.

Human rights situation in Shan State are reported monthly by the Shan Human Rights Foundation based in Chiangmai.