Just like the UN troops in Africa, the Burmese military too is performing its evil deeds against Karen women.
The Burmese army continues to commit gross abuses against civilians, particularly members of ethnic minorities associated with various resistance movements in the country. In its campaigns against ethnic minorities, the army engages in summary executions, torture and rape of women and girls.
Many women were being forced to work as porters for the army despite being heavily pregnant or breastfeeding.
Many young victims under 15 were mentally disturbed and spoke in whispers if at all. The older women sobbed violently as they recalled horrific incidents of their own rapes as well as brutal rapes, torture and execution of family members. Most of these women who have penetrated into the jurisdiction of Thailand were thin, ill, lethargic, despondent and had no belongings or hope for the future.
The staggering figure shows:
1. Hundred and seventy-three attacks have been reported on 625 girls and women.
2. 83% of these incidents are said to have been committed by officers in the Burmese army often in front of their troops.
3. 25% of the rapes resulted in death and 61% were gang rapes, with women in some cases detained and raped repeatedly for up to four months.
4. Officers committed more than 80% of the rapes and that women who dared speak up were fined, detained, tortured or even killed.
Bottom line
Women and girls were seized by patrolling troops and kept for sexual abuse for up to five nights. In one village, women were gang-raped in front of their husbands, who had been tied up. One mute woman was beaten to death and her body left outside her village. Such types of instances are very common in the region however, no actions have been taken against the perpetrators so far.
The situation has further deteriorated because of the displacement and upheaval, women and children have faced immense hardship. Unsanitary living conditions, lack of food, lack of access to medical treatment and mental stress caused by displacement, have caused increased morbidity and mortality rates.
