According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, new attacks have been launched by Burma’s military regime against Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the predominantly Christian Karen community this month.
Hundreds had fled when the Burma Army battalions attacked Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) resistance forces in Nyaunglebein District, Western Karen State, on September 18. One civilian was killed in the attacks.
CSW reports that the Burma Army has also blocked off three main roads in Toungoo District, to block all assistance from villagers to Karen resistance forces in that area.
Following the attacks, three days later the Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) and Infantry Battalion (IB) 4 raided KNLA battalion headquarters in Nyaunglebein District. Many IDPs were sheltering in that area and the attack has driven over 400 IDPs to hide. One KNLA soldier was wounded during the raid.
Reports received by CSW from sources on the ground saying that the main roads being closed in Toungoo District is “an attempt to block all rice supplies to IDPs and assistance from the villagers to the Karen National Union/KNLA in that area.”
A loss of revenue has been reported by civilian villagers because they are not able to transport their crops, according to CSW.
“Rice also cannot be brought out from the plains of Toungoo and this is a serious problem as many IDPs rely on the purchase of rice from the Toungoo area,” sources claim. “This is a deliberate attempt to starve the IDPs in the mountains north and west of Toungoo. It is also an attempt to put pressure on the KNU.”
