Burma Army troops plunder abandoned Kachin farms

Two Burmese soldiers on Kambaiti road in eastern Kachin state.

Government forces stationed at bases along the Myitkyina to Kambaiti road in Kachin state have been harvesting fruit and other crops from farms owned by displaced Kachin families, angry farmers tell the Kachin News Group.

During the past few weeks, troops from Light Infantry Division No. 33 based at Lahpai, formerly controlled by the Kachin Independence Army's Battalion 3, have been seen harvesting walnuts and two other kinds of fruit (known locally as Maka si and Mawau si). The harvesting has been done on farms located in the vicinity of the army base where the troops are stationed, according to sever eyewitnesses.

These farms are owned by displaced Kachin families now living at the Shing Chyai Camp in a part of Waingmaw township which is controlled by the government’s border guard force. The IDP camp is home to about 1,000 people who hail from villagers located near Lahpai military base. In addition to Lahpai village the other places where the IDP are from include Lumyang, Lajawng, Gaw Nan, Lu Gyi, Luhtawng, Bum Tawng, Mangshang, Machyang and Nwang Kawng, an aid worker told the Kachin News Group.

Much of the fruit harvested from the abandoned farms is now being sold in Myitkyina, the displaced IDPs tell KNG.

Apart from harvesting fruit government troops have been seen entering abandoned houses and removing household items including doors, according to a displaced villager living in Shing Chyai IDP camp who briefly returned to his area.

“Burmese soldiers also bring their family members to their base in order to assist in looting items from the displaced villages. They take jewelry and other valuable stuff from the houses,” the displaced villager said.

Although there has been no fighting between government forces and the KIA in Kambaiti for some time government troops continue to block displaced people from returning to their homes, another displaced villager from Shing Chyai camp told KNG.  Some have been able to sneak back anyway for brief periods of time and report back that their homes have either been destroyed or are completely looted.

The Burma army has been widely criticized by international human rights groups for commuting human rights violations including burning Kachin villages and churches in combat areas. Despite documented reports published by Human Rights Watch and other groups accusing military forces of committing rape and the summary execution of civilians in Kachin state, Burma's nominally civilian government continues to deny that such incidents have taken place.

www.kachinnews.com

www.burmese.kachinnews.com

www.kahcin.kachinnews.com

www.kachin-news.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/Kachin-News-Group