Hundreds killed in Burma protests as forced labour and rape continue

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) returned last week from another fact-finding visit to the Thai-Burmese border, with fresh testimonies of gross human rights violations in Burma.

According to CSW's report released today, the number of people killed by the Burma Army in the crackdown on peaceful protests in September was far higher than official figures. Monks and civilians who had fled Burma since September gave CSW first-hand accounts of the regime's brutality against the pro-democracy movement.

A Buddhist monk, who had participated in a demonstration at the Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Rangoon on 25 September, told CSW how he was forced into hiding the next day.

He then joined another demonstration in Pegu, where he was beaten on his hands and ribs. He told CSW: "I want to tell the world what is happening...The beating of monks in Burma threatens global peace. People in other parts of the world are responsible to protect the people of Burma, in the interests of peace and security.

"Please recognise what is happening in Burma and try to increase pressure on the regime to resolve the situation peacefully ...The monks will continue the religious boycott of the regime, together with the people of Burma."

CSW also spoke to two soldiers who had defected from the Burma Army. One of them fled the army after being ordered to shoot civilian protestors.

He said 16 of the 75 soldiers in his unit were children. He added: "I want to tell other soldiers who have been forced to join the army to flee if they have the chance. Don't obey orders any more."

CSW's report details 21 individual accounts of human rights violations. CSW visited internally displaced people inside Karen and Shan States, and also met Karenni, Karen and Kachin groups in Thailand.

One 16-year-old boy from Shan state described how his father had been killed by the Burma Army while working as a forced porter. A few years later, the boy's mother was raped and killed by soldiers while working in the fields.

He said: "The Burma Army often came to our village, stole food ... and forced people to be porters for them. I don't want [them] to continue to oppress the people anymore. I want them to leave."

Mervyn Thomas, CSW's Chief Executive, said: "The situation in Burma is desperate and dire. Our team heard numerous reports of torture, forced labour, rape and killings.

"We call on the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to visit Burma himself, and to take personal charge of the efforts to force the regime to enter into dialogue with the democracy movement and the ethnic nationalities.

"We are delighted that the British Government is doubling its aid budget for Burma, and we call on the international community including the UK to provide cross-border funding to the internally displaced people, and support for indigenous human rights organisations."