Burma Army solider accused of raping Kachin woman

A BURMESE SOLDER TAKES POSITION AT KACHIN CULTURAL MANAU FESTIVAL IN MYITKYINA LAST YEAR. PHOTO: KACHIN NEWS GROUP

KAMAING, BURMA — A soldier from Burma's military is alleged to have raped an ethnic Kachin woman on October 30 at Hka San village in Kamaing (or Kamai) sub-township, according to a friend of the victim.

The woman, a young mother of three, is alleged to have been raped by a soldier from Light Infantry Division No. 88 at 8 pm on the evening in question. The accused soldier's commanding officer was made aware of the incident by witnesses. He reportedly responded by slapping the accused in the face but took no further disciplinary action, according to a source in the village.

Located on the Mogaung to Hpakant road most of Hka San's 300 residents fled to the nearby village of Nam Sheng (Na Hai in Burmese) late last month after a group of about 60 government troops entered the village, according to church officials assisting with humanitarian relief efforts in the area.

Several primary schools run by the government in Kamaing sub-township including the school located in Hka San, have been closed for the past week because of fighting in the area.

Local villagers in Kamaing sub-township are afraid to go their paddy fields out of fear they will be targeted by government troops, according to residents. As crops go unattended this will in turn lead to a food crisis in the area, local residents warn.

Despite reports from Human Rights Watch and other organizations detailing allegations of torture, summary executions and sexual violence carried out by army troops against civilians, Burma's government continues to deny that these atrocities are taking place. In an interview with the BBC in September President Thein Sein claimed that the army is not targeting civilians in Kachin State.