The Burmese army's use of the infamous “four-cuts” strategy and military build-up are driving many villagers in southern Shan State from their homes and landing them among the country's many “internally displaced persons,” observers said.
The “Four Cuts” strategy means cutting off access to food, funds, information and recruitment, often with devastating consequences. The Burmese military's use of this strategy has forced the relocation of the residents of villages located in the area controlled by the Shan State Army-South (SSA-South) Brigade 1, based in Mong Hsnu Township, and SSA-South Brigade 7, based in Kunhing Township.
Many villagers from Kunhing Township left for the border to find safer and better places to live, according to a member of the Shan Nationalities Development Party from Kunhing Township.
“Transportation vehicles are full of passengers because many locals headed to the border. At least 200 to 300 people left their native land,” he said.
In addition, the construction of a new regional command by the Burmese military has forced the residents of villages in Kyethe, Kali and Namsam townships to relocate.
“Most villagers are afraid of the threat of battles because the Burmese army has deployed more troops and tanks,” said Saengjuen Sarawin, the deputy editor of the Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN).
In Namsam Township, the Burmese army forced the residents of three villages to abandon their homes and torched at least 300 houses, according to SHAN reports.
Kham Harn Fah, the director of the Shan Human Rights Foundation, said they also heard news about village relocations but have not yet contacted internally displaced people.
“If they [authorities] build up more army forces, people will gradually move to the border. The extension of the army makes it hard for them to live in the area,” said Kham Harn Fah.
In 2009, the Burmese army forced an estimated 10,000 people in central Shan State to leave their villages and torched more than 500 homes, according to Shan human rights groups’ reports.
The SSA-S and Shan State Army-North (SSAN-N) are among the armed groups resisting the regime demand to transform their forces into members of the its border guard force. Other groups defying the regime demand include the National Democratic Alliance Army and the United Wa State Army.
Source:http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=20888
The “Four Cuts” strategy means cutting off access to food, funds, information and recruitment, often with devastating consequences. The Burmese military's use of this strategy has forced the relocation of the residents of villages located in the area controlled by the Shan State Army-South (SSA-South) Brigade 1, based in Mong Hsnu Township, and SSA-South Brigade 7, based in Kunhing Township.
Many villagers from Kunhing Township left for the border to find safer and better places to live, according to a member of the Shan Nationalities Development Party from Kunhing Township.
“Transportation vehicles are full of passengers because many locals headed to the border. At least 200 to 300 people left their native land,” he said.
In addition, the construction of a new regional command by the Burmese military has forced the residents of villages in Kyethe, Kali and Namsam townships to relocate.
“Most villagers are afraid of the threat of battles because the Burmese army has deployed more troops and tanks,” said Saengjuen Sarawin, the deputy editor of the Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN).
In Namsam Township, the Burmese army forced the residents of three villages to abandon their homes and torched at least 300 houses, according to SHAN reports.
Kham Harn Fah, the director of the Shan Human Rights Foundation, said they also heard news about village relocations but have not yet contacted internally displaced people.
“If they [authorities] build up more army forces, people will gradually move to the border. The extension of the army makes it hard for them to live in the area,” said Kham Harn Fah.
In 2009, the Burmese army forced an estimated 10,000 people in central Shan State to leave their villages and torched more than 500 homes, according to Shan human rights groups’ reports.
The SSA-S and Shan State Army-North (SSAN-N) are among the armed groups resisting the regime demand to transform their forces into members of the its border guard force. Other groups defying the regime demand include the National Democratic Alliance Army and the United Wa State Army.
Source:http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=20888
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