Burma army soldiers continue abusing ethnic villagers

06 September 2013: Ethnic Karen villagers alleged that Burma Army soldiers beat them up for no obvious reasons in recent incidents.

Lt. Col. Aung Win Htun, from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 588, and his troops stopped a car and slapped the driver while questioning on the road, according to the Karen News.

The battalion commander said checkpoints were set up in ethnic areas because of rumours claiming Muslims were travelling in the region, according to villagers.

Other three villagers from Wah Kla beaten up by Lt. Col. Aung Win Htun were taken to hospital in June 2013.

In Chin State, Burma army soldiers have been accused of forcibly collecting money from villagers and local traders at checkpoints along the Indo-Burma border.

Sources from the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) said widespread extortion by soldiers still takes place in nothern parts of Chin State including Tonzang, Tedim and Falam townships.#