DISPOSSESSED

A report on forced relocation
and extrajudicial killings
in Shan State, Burma

by the Shan Human Rights Foundation
April 1998

The Shan Human Rights Foundation

The SHRF is a non-governmental organisation formed on December 6, 1990, in the free territory of Shan State, with the support of the Buddhist brotherhood, the national resistance, expatriate Shans and many individuals inside and outside Shan State.

The SHRF has the following aims:

1. To strive for human rights and restore justice to the victims;
2. To promote democracy in accordance with the desire and will of the people, and establish a popular government based on democratic principles;
3. To strive for unity, fraternity, equality and cooperation;
4. To strive for world peace, freedom and prosperity.

Contact address: The Shan Human Rights Foundation

P.O. Box 201
Phrasing P.O.
Chiang Mai 50200
Thailand

PREFACE

Since the publication of "Uprooting the Shan," the report by the SHRF detailing the forced relocation program carried out by the SLORC in Shan State during 1996, the SLORC military regime (recently renamed the State Peace and Development Council or SPDC) has been continuing to uproot more villages throughout 1997 and early 1998. Many of the relocation sites that were the results of 1996 relocations have been forced to move again. Human rights abuses such as mass killings, rape, torture and looting have been committed repeatedly by the SPDC troops against the displaced population.

This has prompted the need to publish this updated report, containing more complete lists and maps of the relocated villages, and detailing the many extrajudicial killings committed by the military regime in the areas of relocation. We hope that this report will give a clearer picture to the international community of the devastating effects of the forced relocation program on the population of Central Shan State.

The contents of the report have been based on numerous interviews with the victims of forced relocations and with people who witnessed the situation inside Shan State. We would also like to thank the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) and Images Asia for contributing data to the report.

CONTENTS

• Executive Summary
• Background
• Events preceding the 1996 relocation
• The 1996 forced relocation program
• Political developments in 1997
• The 1997/1998 forced relocation program
• Extrajudicial killings
• Patterns of displacement
• Relocation in each township:

1. Kun Hing
2. Nam Zarng
3. Lai Kha
4. Ke See
5. Murng Kerng
6. Murng Nai
7. Larng Kher
8. Murng Su
9. Murng Pan
10. Murng Paeng
11. Loi Lem
12. Ho Pong

• The exodus to Thailand
• Conditions of Shan refugees in Thailand
• Conclusion
• Call for Action

Appendixes:

• Example of Relocation Order
• Example of SLORC permit for relocated villagers to return to their fields for a limited time
• Map of refugee camps along Thai-Burma border
• Bangkok Post article on plight of Shan refugees
• Lists of relocated villages in each township
• Detailed lists of extrajudicial killings in relocation areas in1997