Statement by the Shan Human Rights Foundation
*Shan Human Rights Foundation *
*Email:* shrf@cm.ksc.co.th, shrf@shanhumanrights.org
*Website:* www.shanhumanrights.org
April 22, 2013
*Statement by the Shan Human Rights Foundation*
*Thein Sein government must be held accountable for fresh Burma Army
atrocities in Shan State*
The Shan Human Rights Foundation is gravely concerned at fresh
widespread atrocities by the Burma Army against civilians in Tangyan,
northern Shan State, and is calling on the international community to
hold the Burmese government accountable for these abuses.
Despite ongoing peace talks with the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N),
troops from nine Burmese battalions have since last month been
conducting a fierce offensive to drive the SSA-N from their bases south
of Tangyan. On April 15, during the annual Water Festival, Burmese
troops launched new attacks, deliberately targeting civilians in several
village tracts.
Mortar ****ls were rained on two villages, injuring two children, and
damaging a school and several houses. Burmese troop patrols detained and
beat civilians in at least nine villages, causing serious injury. This
included children, who were kicked and beaten with rifle butt.
A group of about fifty young men and women travelling to celebrate the
Water Festival were apprehended by Burmese troops, and forced to walk in
front and behind them as human shields, to ward off attacks by Shan troops.
Burmese troops have burned vehicles of villagers attempting to flee, and
have also threatened to burn down entire villages where fighting takes
place with Shan troops.
As a result of these abuses, it is estimated that nearly 2,000 villagers
have now fled to Tangyan, where they are taking refuge in temples and in
relatives houses. Some have also fled east across the Salween River to
Wa-controlled areas.
The Burma Army attacks are in direct contravention of their ceasefire
with the SSA-N, and call into question the viability of the ongoing
peace process between the Burmese government and the ethnic armed groups.
In the interests of promoting sustainable peace in Shan State, the Shan
Human Rights Foundation urgently calls on foreign governments to
publicly condemn these attacks and atrocities by the Burma Army, and to
make further engagement with the Thein Sein government conditional upon
genuine efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Burma.
Details of abuses can be seen in the attached Summary of human rights
violations committed by Burma Army during military offensive in Tangyan,
Shan State, April 14-15, 2013, and on www.shanhumanrights.org
*Contact persons:*
Kham Harn Fah: +66 86 184 2430
Ying Harn Fah: +66 89 262 7848
Sai Khur Hseng : +66 80 847 6538
*Shan Human Rights Foundation *
*Email:* shrf@cm.ksc.co.th, shrf@shanhumanrights.org
*Website:* www.shanhumanrights.org
April 22, 2013
*Statement by the Shan Human Rights Foundation*
*Thein Sein government must be held accountable for fresh Burma Army
atrocities in Shan State*
The Shan Human Rights Foundation is gravely concerned at fresh
widespread atrocities by the Burma Army against civilians in Tangyan,
northern Shan State, and is calling on the international community to
hold the Burmese government accountable for these abuses.
Despite ongoing peace talks with the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N),
troops from nine Burmese battalions have since last month been
conducting a fierce offensive to drive the SSA-N from their bases south
of Tangyan. On April 15, during the annual Water Festival, Burmese
troops launched new attacks, deliberately targeting civilians in several
village tracts.
Mortar ****ls were rained on two villages, injuring two children, and
damaging a school and several houses. Burmese troop patrols detained and
beat civilians in at least nine villages, causing serious injury. This
included children, who were kicked and beaten with rifle butt.
A group of about fifty young men and women travelling to celebrate the
Water Festival were apprehended by Burmese troops, and forced to walk in
front and behind them as human shields, to ward off attacks by Shan troops.
Burmese troops have burned vehicles of villagers attempting to flee, and
have also threatened to burn down entire villages where fighting takes
place with Shan troops.
As a result of these abuses, it is estimated that nearly 2,000 villagers
have now fled to Tangyan, where they are taking refuge in temples and in
relatives houses. Some have also fled east across the Salween River to
Wa-controlled areas.
The Burma Army attacks are in direct contravention of their ceasefire
with the SSA-N, and call into question the viability of the ongoing
peace process between the Burmese government and the ethnic armed groups.
In the interests of promoting sustainable peace in Shan State, the Shan
Human Rights Foundation urgently calls on foreign governments to
publicly condemn these attacks and atrocities by the Burma Army, and to
make further engagement with the Thein Sein government conditional upon
genuine efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Burma.
Details of abuses can be seen in the attached Summary of human rights
violations committed by Burma Army during military offensive in Tangyan,
Shan State, April 14-15, 2013, and on www.shanhumanrights.org
*Contact persons:*
Kham Harn Fah: +66 86 184 2430
Ying Harn Fah: +66 89 262 7848
Sai Khur Hseng : +66 80 847 6538
التعديل الأخير:
اسم الموضوع : Statement by the Shan Human Rights Foundation
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المصدر : The English Section