Dear friends, Please see attached a "warn" action (this is a type of action that may be issued in lieu of an urgent action out of normal office hours) issued on behalf of the displaced Karen. I expect to turn this into an urgent action when the IS reopens on Tuesday (as you may know, there is a labour/May day bank holiday in the United Kingdom). Next week Haider Kikhaboy will start as the new temporary campaigner on Myanmar/Thailand and the Pacific, I am pleased to let you know. In the meanwhile, I hope you are all well and send best wishes, Katherine
Katherine Gerson Amnesty International International Secretariat
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ScottHarrison/AIUSA/Amnesty 28/04/2006 18:42 Subject Thousands of Ethnic Minority Civilians in Danger in
Myanmar WARN # 17/06)
This is being issued as WARN Action # 17/06. The IS will be closed on Monday May 1st, so please do what you can this weekend; it may be issued as an Urgent Action on Tuesday. Thanks! -Scott
PUBLIC AI Index: 28 April 2006 UA Fear of torture/extrajudicial executions
MYANMAR Thousands of ethnic minority civilians in Kayin State Ethnic minority villagers in northern Kayin (Karen) state and in eastern Bago Division, eastern Myanmar, are at risk of human rights violations during ongoing counter-insurgency operations by the Myanmar army.
Thousands of civilians in recent months have fled their homes to hide in the forest or seek asylum in Thailand . Houses, food supplies and crops have reportedly been destroyed. Civilians have reportedly been ordered by the army to leave their villages, and been warned in a number of cases that the army will exercise a shoot on sight policy against those who attempt to return. Reports state that several civilians, including women and children, may have been extra-judicially killed. Individuals have also reportedly been tortured by the army.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Karen National Union (KNU) is one of the last remaining armed ethnic minority opposition groups fighting against the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Myanmar's military government. The Myanmar army have intensified counter-insurgency operations against the KNU in northern Kayin State and Bago Division in recent months. The Myanmar authorities stated in April 2006 that the government has taken "security measures" against the KNU, and that places where "destructive elements" can hide were being cleared.
In the ongoing military operations in Kayin state, villages have reportedly been attacked and also ordered by the tatmadaw (the army) to relocate. Relocation has been part of the army's counter-insurgency tactics designed to break alleged links between armed opposition groups and the local civilian population. Thousands of villages have been relocated, and hundreds of thousands of ethnic minority civilians in Kayin (Karen) and other states have been made to leave their land and homes by the military. Widespread human rights violations have taken place in ethnic minority areas in Myanmar in the context of counter-insurgency operations, including torture and extrajudicial executions. Most notably, the military has also required ethnic minority civilians to take part in forced labour duties and confiscated land, crops and livestock.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language: -- Expressing concern about the forcible relocation of thousands of Karen civilians who are also reportedly being deprived of food supplies – Expressing concern at reports that the army has extrajudicially killed and/or tortured individuals in Karen state in the context of ongoing during counter-insurgency operations – urging that the army abide by the basic principles of international human rights and humanitarian law, including concerning the treatment of civilians and all persons taking no active part in hostilities. – urging that authorities issue clear orders to the army to halt extrajudicial executions and torture.
APPEALS TO: General Than Shwe, Chairman State Peace and Development Council, Minister of Defence c/o Ministry of Defence Ahlanpya Phaya Street Yangon Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear General Copies to: Major General Ko Ko Commander of Southern Command c/o Ministry of Defence Ahlanpya Phaya Street Yangon Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear Major General
Major General Soe Naing Commander, South-East command State Peace and Development Council c/o Ministry of Defence Ahlanpya Phaya Street Yangon Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear Major General
COPIES TO: and to diplomatic representatives of Myanmar accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.