Burma Army Accused Of Gun Point Threats

Despite a ceasefire in place villagers in southern Burma allege that government troops are abusing their authority by threatening them at gunpoint.

A villager from Myitta east of Dawei Town claims that a Burma Army officer based in Kwe Waw Wa (Ain Wine), on the Dawei-Htee Kee Road, abused him without reason at gunpoint.

U Zaw Min Oo repeated the allegations to Karen News.

“On November 18th I was traveling with my wife by motorbike and [we] stopped at Ain Wine to buy food. An Army officer, Captain Pyit Pyo Aung came and grabbed my shoulder and said to me ‘who did I think I am’. Then he pulled his pistol from his bag and pointed it at my ear. Then he put it at my chest and threatened that he could kill me any time.”

U Zaw Min Oo said that the officer had no reason to threatened him.

“I felt that the Army here just want to abuse their power on us and still want to oppress us.”

A Karen National Union officer from the area said the Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 343 is based in Ain Wine. The KNU also confirmed that the Burma Army that is based along the Dawei-Htee Kee Road have abused villagers and have used violence against them.

A KNU officer, Captain Gyi Noe, told Karen News.

“Some Burma Army officers use violence against villagers in Ka Saw Wah village. This is the latest incident of abuse of a villager from Ain Wine, that we have heard of.”

The KNU and the government signed a ceasefire agreement in 2012. In recent months the KNU have pushed for a code-of-conduct between the two sides that would see government reduce its troops in civilian areas.