DKBA Extorts Money and Food Supplies from Karen State Villagers

HURFOM: On September 9, 2009, The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA)’s Battalion No. 906 under Captain Ye Myint, based in Dagon Taing village in Kawkareik District, Karen State, asked the residents of nearby village Kwankataung to collectively give the battalion 57 baskets of rice. Kwankataung village is located between Kyainnseikyi Town and Dagon Taing village, east of the Winyaw river.
HUFROM’s field reporter learned that while the Kwankataung village residents were collecting the rice for the battalion, Captain Ye Myint changed his mind and asked them instead for a sum of 300,000 kyat, twice the amount the villagers were able to pay. The extortion fee was eventually settled at 150,000 kyat, as well as a smaller amount of foodstuffs.

Phoe Tar, a 35 years old Kwankataung villager, said, “The Captain did not like our rice’s bad quality and asked for money instead of us giving the rice to them. They asked for 300,000 kyat. Our villagers couldn’t afford that amount of money to give them immediately. So, we negotiated with the captain and gave them half the amount of money they asked. In addition, we also had to give them 15 baskets of rice.”

Kwankataung village contains a variety of ethnicities, but the largest group living in the village is ethnic Burmese, and the village contains about 200 households Most of families located in the village rely on farming or fishing for their survival, although this year’s heavy rains have flooded many of the village’s paddy fields. 40% of the village’s population are fisherman. During the summer, most of the villagers farm summer paddies. The amount of money demanded by the DKBA is thus a huge blow to villagers already struggling to survive this year’s torrential rains.

Kyaw Aye Doe, a 44 year old farm worker from Kwankataung village said, “Most of resident’s do not know where they will get a meal for tomorrow. Our children don’t get snacks, even though there is not even enough rice for them to eat. Our children are malnourished. The DKBA also knew about our situation but they forced our resident give them the rice and money. They just want to kill our villagers by acting like that.”

According to Saw Nay Doe, 37 years old, “I have paid 4,000 Kyat for [my portion of the] extortion money for the DKBA’s troops. At the moment, one of my wife’s relatives lent me that money. I have to work hard to get money for paying him back. Before, DKBA’s troop just collected 1 bulge of rice (0.25 Kilogram). Now, we have lost both rice and money. I feel very sad for my children because they don’t have enough food. I don’t want to live under armed force anymore. But I don’t know how we will get out from this plight.”

“The DKBA’s troops always rely on the area residents. If they don’t have money in their packages, they just point gun at resident’s heads and ask for money and food. That’s the reason the troops are increasing. It’s very nice for opportunist people in the area,” he added.

rehmonnya