UNSAFE STATE

After reading such shattering testimonies in the report, it is now our duty to carry these life-stories forward to every entity that can make a difference, and bring them to the Government of India or any government which is, through economic and military support of the SPDC regime, directly fuelling militarization in Burma. - Parul Sharma, from the foreword

State-sanctioned sexual violence against Chin women in Burma Published in March 2007 by the Women’s League of Chinland

THE WOMEN’S LEAGUE OF CHINLAND (WLC) The Women’s League of Chinland (WLC) was formed on December 4, 2004. It is an umbrella organization comprising nine different Chin women’s organizations, as follows:

Central Chin Women Organization (CCWO) Zotung Women’s Development Network ( ZWDN) Khumi Women Advancement Organization (KWAO) Zomi Women Union (ZWU) Mara Women Association (MWA) All Burma Democratic Lushai Women Organization (ABDLWO) Chin Women Organization (CWO) Delhi Matu Women Union (MWU) Chin Women Union (CWU)

The WLC focuses on three main areas: § Women’s capacity building § Promotion of women’s participation in politics § Strengthening unity among Chin women and cooperation with other Chin organizations and other women’s groups from Burma www.chinwomen.org TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword ...... 1

Map: Rape cases and army camps in Chin State ...... 2

Executive Summary ...... 3

Methodology ...... 4

Background of the Chin ...... 5

Increase of Burma Army battalions in Chin State ...... 6

Constant fear for women and girls of military rape ...... 7 Rape at or near homes and farms ...... 7 Rape while traveling ...... 10 Rape during forced labour ...... 12 Rape at army camps ...... 13 Rape of girl children ...... 13

Impacts of rape ...... 14 Rape and health problems ...... 14 Rape and unwanted pregnancy ...... 15 Rape and social stigma ...... 15 Forced to flee as refugees ...... 15

Evidence of systematic rape ...... 16 Widespread incidence of rape ...... 16 Torture and killing of raped women ...... 16 Gang rape ...... 16 Rape by military officers ...... 17 No prosecution of military rapists ...... 17

International norms and State sexual violence against women in Chin State ...... 17 Foreign support fuelling Burma Army expansion and abuses...... 18

Conclusion ...... 19

Recommendations...... 19

Detailed cases of sexual violence ...... 20

FOREWORD

A year ago I was asked to meet a 9-year-old recognized as ‘persons of concern’ by UNHCR. girl, a refugee from Burma, who had been Due to the lack of legal protection for Burmese severely molested and violated by the Burmese refugees at the border, they are easily categorized military. The girl hadn’t spoken for two years, as economic migrants. From being victims in and her mother constantly requested me not to Burma, they are re-victimised in India. tell anyone what had happened because people would blame the little girl for being raped. One This alarming report describes the horrible track part of me is all the time with that sweet child record of the Burmese Army and sexual violence whose innocence and childhood have been against women. If spread diligently, it can assist brutally stolen. Her frozen eyes screamed out a the Women’s League of Chin Women to reality of gross oppression. accomplish justice for the affected women in Burma, and prevent more such horrendous crimes Violence against women is the most pervasive from taking place in the future. Dear reader, form of human rights abuse. This report Unsafe please make sure that you evoke this report every State: State-sanctioned sexual violence time you speak of Burma or about Women’s against Chin women in Burma is yet another Rights. call for help to the world. In this context, it is high-time the Government of India and the Let us not ignore Burma. Bring out these terrible international community acknowledge the stories of women of our times still suffering from immense suffering of Burmese people, and barbaric attacks and rape violence. Spread out strongly condemn the dreadful systematic this information and fight this injustice, otherwise violation of women and children. several generations will go silent, children will no more smile - just blankly stare and at the most After reading such shattering testimonies in the ask us, “is this what you call childhood?” report, it is now our duty to carry these life-stories forward to every entity that can make a difference, and bring them to the Government Parul Sharma of India or any government which is, through - Former legal advisor for the Human Rights Law economic and military support of the SPDC Network in India and Human Rights Advisor to regime, directly fuelling militarization in Burma. the Delegation of the European Commission to India, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka It is estimated that over 50,000 refugees from Burma are currently living in India. The March 2007 continuing lack of sufficient protection mechanisms for these refugees makes it impossible to know their exact numbers. Except for those who are able to approach UNHCR in New Delhi for protection, the majority of Burmese refugees in India are afraid to identify themselves as refugees, although careful scrutiny of their circumstances clearly suggests that they fall within the refugee definition. India has many times forcibly returned Burmese refugees to Burma. India extradited eleven Burmese army defectors in 2006, some of whom were already

1 RAPE CASES AND ARMY CAMPS IN CHIN STATE

CHIN STATE

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The soldiers committing rape displayed extreme brutality, sometimes torturing and murdering This report by the Women’s League of Chinland victims, irrespective of the presence of local is the first to provide detailed evidence of the witnesses. One woman was stripped naked and systematic sexual violence being committed by tied to a cross, in a savage act of mockery against the Burma Army in the isolated mountainous the local people’s Christian beliefs. region of Chin State in Western Burma. It documents 38 cases of sexual violence, the Survivors of rape have been fleeing across the majority committed during the past five years, border to Mizoram State in northeast India, but in locations throughout the state. Due to social as refugees from Burma are not officially stigma and fear of further violence, few survivors recognized by the Indian government, they disclose cases of sexual abuse, so these cases receive no protection or aid. They must struggle undoubtedly represent only a small proportion for daily survival and live in fear of deportation of the actual number of incidents taking place. back to Burma.

Cases in this report confirm patterns of state- Survivors of rape face stigma and have no sanctioned sexual violence detailed in earlier access to support-systems inside Burma. The reports by other women’s organizations from state-dominated Myanmar Women’s Affairs Burma, showing that under the military regime Federation, which women throughout Chin State women and girls are at constant risk of being have been forced to join, fails to provide raped. The regime, the State Peace and assistance to any women, even rape survivors. Development Council (SPDC), has been Some survivors have been fleeing across the expanding its army throughout the country since border to Mizoram State in northeast India, but 1988. Particularly in the ethnic areas, it has been as refugees from Burma are not officially building up its troop presence to subjugate recognized by the Indian government, they resistance movements and secure control of receive no protection or aid. They must struggle natural resources and border trade. Whereas 20 for daily survival and live in fear of deportation years ago, there were only two Burma Army back to Burma. battalions operating in Chin State, there are now eight battalions based in the state, with army Economic and military support of the SPDC by camps scattered in numerous villages and patrols neighbours such as India is directly fuelling constantly roaming the hills. These troops are militarization in Burma. Only genuine political using rape as a “weapon” to terrorize local change to democracy, restoration of the rule of communities. Women and girls as young as 12 law, and a withdrawal of Burma Army troops are being raped in their homes and farms, while from ethnic areas will bring an end to the traveling outside their villages and when systematic sexual violence in Burma. conscripted as forced labour by the army. The WLC strongly urges the State Peace and There is a clear pattern of impunity for military Development Council: sexual violence. In none of the cases in this report were the perpetrators prosecuted. Military - To move forward and begin a process of authorities mostly ignored reports of sexual meaningful political change in Burma crimes, or actively sought to cover them up, and - To stop the National Convention until the even threatened survivors. About half of the National League for Democracy and other rapes were gang rapes, and at least a third were opposition groups are allowed to fully committed by officers, who were setting a clear participate example to the troops under their command that - To withdraw its military presence from rape is acceptable. Chin State so that human rights abuses by

3 SPDC troops including sexual violence METHODOLOGY against local populations will cease - To comply with their obligations under the There has been little information about human Convention on Elimination of all forms of rights abuses by Burma Army troops against the Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Chin people, mainly because of the isolated which was signed by Burma in 1997 geographical location of Chin State in the - To stop forcing Chin women to be members mountainous region of western Burma, and the of the state-dominated women’s organiz- poor communication and transport there. ation the “Myanmar Women’s Affairs Particularly incidents of sexual violence are Federation” rarely reported, because rape survivors and other community members feel it is shameful to talk about sexual abuse, and are afraid of retaliation We also urge the international community: from military authorities.

- To support a UNSC resolution on Burma Despite these challenges, the Women’s League - To maintain political and economic pressure of Chinland has been training women from Chin on the SPDC to bring about peaceful political State to systematically document human rights change in Burma abuses including sexual violence in Chin State. - To provide assistance to empower women The WLC is also working with other human from Burma through cross-border programs rights groups and women’s organizations in - To advocate about the situation of the people collecting information on violence against of Burma with their respective communities women. WLC members have traveled to villages and governments inside Chin State and at the Chin border areas, risking arrest, torture and rape themselves.

And the government of India: The information in this report was mainly compiled during 2006 using the following - To stop providing arms and any form of methods: military support to the Burmese military regime - interviewing survivors - To review its economic engagement with - interviewing witnesses of crimes Burma in the interests of a long-term - relying on networks of people inside Chin sustainable relationship State and along the India-Burma border, - To review its policies on refugees and provide particularly community leaders, who collect protection and necessary assistance to information about abuses in their communities refugees from Burma - cooperating with other local human rights - To allow the United Nations High Commission groups such as the Chin Human Rights for Refugees (UNHCR) to assess the situation Organization (CHRO) to check data of the refugee community at the India-Burma border Owing to concerns for the security of the people interviewed and the women who collected the information, detailed names of places and people have been withheld. Some photos in the report have been obscured to protect the identity of interviewees.

4 BACKGROUND OF THE CHIN east. It is a beautiful mountainous region with orchids, rhododendrons, cherry trees, roses and It is estimated that there are 2 million ethnic wild animals. According to the most recent geo- Chins in Burma, with about 480,000 now living graphical measurement of Chin State by the in Chin State. The term “Chin” has been popu- SPDC, its area is 13,907 sq. miles1 (slightly larger larly used since 1896, when the Chin Hills Regu- than Belgium). lation was written under the British administra- tion. The Chin Hills became a part of Union of There are nine main towns in Chin State and Burma in 1947 according to the Panglong Agree- 1,030 villages. These villages are scattered on ment, signed under the leadership of General hilltops throughout the state, with few roads Aung San, father of democracy leader Aung San linking them. Transport is mainly on foot. The Suu Kyi. The agreement led to independence lack of infrastructure and poor communication from British rule in 1948. have hindered development and make day-to- day life difficult. At the same time, travel to Chin Chin State is located in the western part of State is restricted for outsiders, contributing to Burma, bordering Mizoram, Nagaland and the isolation of local communities. Manipur states of India. In Burma, it adjoins Arakan State to the south, Sagaing Division to Most of the populations are farmers practicing the north-east and Magway Division to the south- rotational cultivation. There has been little gov-

1 The Chin political parties or organizations are not allowed to conduct population censuses or geographical measurements to challenge the SPDC’s official statistics. As a result WLC has had to rely on the SPDC’s measurements, even though they may not be accurate.

5 ernment support for agricultural development,2 INCREASE OF BURMA ARMY and farmers lack marketing outlets for their home BATTALIONS IN CHIN STATE farm products such as fruit, including oranges, apples, grapes, avocados and pineapples, fresh There are now eight battalions based in Chin vegetables, soy bean, pulses, tobacco, etc. They State. These battalions have set up military out- are banned from forming labor or farming asso- posts throughout the state, making a total of 33 ciations, which prevents them improving their camps. There are five Light Infantry Battalions situation. There are no factories or industries set (LIB): LIB 266, LIB 268, LIB 269, LIB 140, up in Chin State. It does not have a single col- LIB 274; and three Infantry Battalions (IB): IB lege or university, and there are not enough 304, IB 309 and IB 34. They are permanently schools. based in the main townships of Chin State, namely Hakha, Falam, Tedim, Matupi, Mindat, The Chin people have been resisting military rule Kanpalet, Paletwa, Tawnzang and Thlan Tlang. since General Ne Win seized power in 1962, but it was not until 1988, when the national students’ In order to facilitate further military expansion, and people’s uprising occurred in Burma, that a new townships have also recently been estab- significant armed Chin resistance was formed. lished by the regime, including Cikha (2001), At that time there were only two military battal- Razua (2001) and Rikhawdar (2003). Cikha and ions operating in Chin State. Since then, the re- Rikhawdar lie at main border crossings into In- gime has been steadily increasing their military dia, where the SPDC seeks to control and col- and administrative presence in Chin State, not lect taxes on border trade, including in illicit drugs. only with greater numbers of soldiers, but also They also want to mobilize against the opposi- police, immigration and other government offi- tion groups based on the border, such as the Chin cials from Central Burma. The isolation of Chin National Army (CNA).3 Razua is strategically State has provided these personnel with increased important as it lies at a central point in Chin State opportunities to commit human rights abuses from which troops can be easily deployed to dif- against local populations with impunity. ferent parts of the state. It is also possible that the planned gas-pipeline (from the Arakan coast As a result of the increasing militarization and to India) may pass through Razua. accompanying human rights abuses, Chin people have been forced to leave their homes, farms Each of the eight battalions based in Chin State and schools. There are an estimated 100,000 Chin has an average of about 400 soldiers, which are refugees in India, mostly in the state of Mizoram. Out constantly mobilizing and patrolling around the of this number, about 1,000 refugees have applied to countryside. Apart from these battalions, troops the United Nations High Commission for Refugees from other battalions based in neighbouring ar- (UNHCR) in Delhi for protection. Chins are also eas also conduct patrols in Chin State. For ex- fleeing eastwards to Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, ample, there are nine battalions based in as well as Europe, Canada, the USA, Mexico and Guam. Kalaymyyo, adjoining northern Chin State. This Some Chins have moved to other parts of Burma, including Sagaing, Rangoon and Mandalay divisions, means that as well as the over 3,000 troops per- and Kachin, Arakan and Shan States. manently stationed in Chin State, thousands more may be patrolling in the area at any time.

2 Southern Initiative for Sustainable Development Journal- 2005 issue 3 The Chin National Army is an armed wing of the Chin National Front, one of the Chin armed groups who fight against the Burmese regime

6 CONSTANT FEAR FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS OF MILITARY RAPE

Cases documented by WLC show clearly that women are liable to be raped by Burma Army troops at any time and place in the course of their daily life: in their homes and farms, while going out to collect food or firewood in the forests, or while traveling outside their villages. They are also subject at any time to be called for forced labour or portering by the Burma Army, placing them in custody of troops who may rape them.

RAPE AT OR NEAR HOMES AND FARMS The increased troop presence in Chin State has caused civilians living near military camps to become more vulnerable to abuses by the sol- diers stationed nearby, including sexual violence. Troops living in close proximity are more likely to notice if women are alone, and then commit rape. An 18-year-old schoolgirl was gang-raped in this way (case 12):

“The rented house was close to a “One day while she went to carry military camp. K—’s friend went firewood in the forest alone, the back to the village to take the soldier from LIB 268 came to her necessary food and other supplies, house again and asked her parents leaving her friend alone at the rented where she was. After learning that house. One night, two soldiers from M— had gone to the forest, he told LIB 274 came to steal their chickens. the parents that he would pick her When K— heard some people trying up and he left. He knew where the to steal their chickens, she spoke out villagers used to collect firewood. At to frighten the thieves. However, last he found M— alone at about 3pm when the soldiers realized the girl to 4pm. As soon as he saw her, he was home alone, they entered the attacked her from the back and held house and raped her, threatening her her body tight. M— fought back and with death if she cried for help.” tried to escape but she was not strong enough to fight him off. The soldier Soldiers stationed near villages know where the also threatened that if she kept villagers are working and when they come back. fighting and shouting, he would kill They also know where the villagers collect fire- her. He then raped her. M— was wood, which is mainly done by women in Chin filled with anger and pain. She could villages. Some soldiers deliberately stalk women not stop crying.” villagers so that they can choose the best oppor- tunity to rape them. A 20-year-old woman who It is not only villagers living near military camps had repeatedly refused the advances of an SPDC who are vulnerable to abuses. The SPDC sol- soldier was stalked and raped by him (case 35): diers regularly go out on patrol in remote villages,

7 particularly where they suspect armed resistance stroyed by wild animals, or sometimes simply groups are active. As Chin villagers commonly stay on at their farms to finish their daily work. stay out in their farms, growing rice in the rainy Staying alone, they are vulnerable to sexual season or cash crops in the summer, wives or violence by patrolling soldiers. A 19-year-old girl daughters are often left alone at home in the vil- was raped in this way (case 30): lages, making them targets for rape by patrolling soldiers. For example, a 40-year-old woman “I am the eldest among my siblings found alone at home by three soldiers was gang- and I had much responsibility to work raped by them (case 1): at the farm. Often I would stay at the farm overnight. On one such night, “Three Burmese soldiers from LIB it was rainy and foggy. I started a 304 learned that Mrs. S— was alone fire and was cooking a meal when a at home on the night of 9th April 2006. soldier appeared at my hut. He Armed with a sharpened bamboo realized I was alone and threatened stick, the three soldiers forced their me with his knife if I refused him way into S-’s home. She was gang- sexually. I explicitly told him, “It is raped by the three soldiers each in impossible.” He became very violent turn.” and cut my clothes off with his knife. He told me that if I even attempted The soldiers also rape women who are working to run or scream for help, he would alone on farms. Women are sometimes required cut my throat and kill me. Still I to watch over crops to ensure they are not de- shouted for help but we were

8 surrounded by forest, and I had no if she shouted out, she was afraid of means of escape. He raped me.” being killed. After the perpetrator had done what he wanted, he also However, there have also been cases of women threatened that if she told anyone, he being raped at or near their homes by patrolling would kill her.” soldiers when other family members were present. In one case, a woman was raped by a In another case, a woman was raped by a pa- soldier just outside her home when her parents trolling soldier in her house despite the presence were in the house (case 7): of her elderly father (case 25):

“Captain Neing Oo and 15 soldiers “Army soldiers patrolling the village from IB 359 went to S—’s village at night learned that S— was alone and stayed for a night at her family’s with her elderly father. The rest of house. That night S— came back the family were spending the night from church at about 9 pm, while a in the fields as it was the season for soldier (Soe Aung) was on duty clearing grass. As there was no outside the house. As soon as he saw electricity, the soldier managed to her, he raped her at gunpoint. He told hide inside her house without her her that if she shouted for help, he knowledge. When S— went to sleep would kill her. The victim didn’t shout on the floor of their house, the soldier for help because she had a gun began trying to rape her at gunpoint. pointed at her forehead. Though she Although her father and other knew that her parents would hear her villagers heard the screams for help,

9 none were able to intervene for fear way back from Mizoram, they passed that S— or others would be shot and through a village where there is an killed by the soldier.” army camp. The soldiers from LIB 268 who are based in that area RAPE WHILE TRAVELING strictly checked H— and her friend The increased number of SPDC troops patrol- for their identity cards and demanded ling around the countryside and the increased that they sleep a night at the village number of military checkpoints set up along roads without any reason. The two girls throughout Chin State has meant greater risks dared not refuse because they were for women traveling outside their villages. At very afraid of the soldiers. At night, checkpoints, the military authorities check for the five soldiers raped them.” identity cards, and search items the travelers are carrying. They also interrogate travelers about As there are no high schools or hospitals in vil- where they are going, and randomly detain them. lages in Chin State, villagers have to go to larger This makes women traveling alone particularly towns to study or to receive medical treatment. vulnerable to sexual abuse. For example, in June Children studying in the towns often travel home 2006, two women travelers were gang-raped by to their villages during their holidays, or simply five soldiers after being forced to spend the night to collect food or other support from their par- at a village they were passing through (case 2): ents. This usually means walking on foot through the hills, which places girls at risk of sexual abuse “H— and her friend T— traveled to by patrolling soldiers. Two girl students, aged 16 Mizoram for a few months. On their and 18, were gang-raped in September 2004 by

10 seven soldiers on their way home to visit their to sell in markets in bigger towns or at the Indian parents (case 10): border. Even though villagers make efforts to avoid soldiers patrolling in their area, passing on “This girl studied in Thlan Tlang and warnings from one village to another, there is rented a house with her friend. While still the risk that patrols may appear unexpectedly. they were studying, they used to go For example, in November 2003, a 29-year-old home to their villages to get food from woman taking vegetables to sell at a nearby town home. Their village is far from the was gang-raped by two soldiers along the way town and there was no means of (case 18): transportation except walking through the forest. On the way, they “V— went to Tidim town from her met seven Burmese soldiers from village to sell vegetables. The LIB 274. All of them raped the two distance was about 6 km. On the way girls. The soldiers not only raped she met two soldiers: one was a lance- them, but also beat them up severely. corporal and another was a private. After the rape, the soldiers just left They stopped her and took away her them.” vegetable basket. They covered her mouth with their hands and tied her Chin women regularly travel to take cash crops legs with a rope, then raped her.”

11 RAPE DURING FORCED LABOUR carrying a heavy load, a group of The increased numbers of soldiers deployed in soldiers from LIB 268 told her they Chin State has meant increased forced labour would help her while the other for the villagers. When patrols of soldiers come villagers were done with their duties. to villages, they regularly force the village heads She believed that the soldiers would to select people to work as porters, carrying sup- really help her because her load was plies and ammunition for the troops. When male too heavy to carry by herself. On the villagers are unable to go as porters, either be- way, while the other villagers went cause they are sick or have to work on their ahead, she was raped by two soldiers farms, women have to go in their place, so that at gunpoint.” their families do not have to pay fines for their absence. When the women go with troops as Another 20-year-old woman was also gang- porters, they are more vulnerable to rape. This raped while being a porter (case 24): is illustrated in the case of a 38-year-old widow, who was gang-raped while forced to be a porter “The five soldiers from LIB 50 asked (case 23): S— and another villager, who was mentally retarded, to porter for them. “P—, a widow with three sons, was The retarded man was told to wait ordered to work as a porter carrying by the road, while the five soldiers the soldiers’ military supplies in raped S— in the forest and she was 2004. Their journey took them told that they would kill her if she several days. One day, while shouted for help.”

12 RAPE AT ARMY CAMPS Army personnel stationed near villages have full power to summon civilians, including women, at any time without a reason. Villagers are forced to provide food, water or whatever the army asks for. Women are sometimes deliberately sum- moned for sexual abuse. For example, in case 17 a woman raped in an army camp was called back a month later so that she could be raped by the same officer.

“My name is L— and I was born on September 1, 1980 at Falam district (village name is withheld). They took my husband to Falam town and put him in prison. He never returned. They told me that they wanted to take me to prison too but my child was only six months old. They told me to sign a piece of paper which said ‘I do not help the CNA people.’ I had to agree to whatever they said. I went to Falam town to sign on 30th January 2003. I left my baby with my mother. because I knew that I would have to When I got to the military camp, two go again and again and get raped.” officers asked me to go inside the room. There was one officer inside RAPE OF GIRL CHILDREN the room. As soon as I got there, he This report documents five cases of rape of girl threatened me because he knew that children. In one case, a 12-year-old girl was I could not speak Burmese very well. raped and beaten while collecting firewood. I fought back but he pointed a pistol However, when her parents reported the crime, at my forehead. He tore my top and the authorities made no attempt to take action all my underwear. He hit my thighs over the crime (case 26): hard so that my legs could not move anymore. Then, he raped me. He told “While collecting firewood, D— was me that if I told anyone he would kill accosted by her perpetrator, who beat me. There were guards outside the and raped her. He threatened her room but they did not bother to help with more harm if she disclosed the me. Again at the end of February, I event to her family. However, her had to go to the army camp at Falam parents realized what had happened town. I was so afraid that I took one when they saw their daughter’s girl along with me hoping this would injuries. They filed the case in court, protect me. But they did not let her but no legal action was taken. The go inside the house with me. The perpetrator’s whereabouts are same army officer was in the room. unknown. The victim continues to live As soon as I got inside the room, he in the village but suffers from raped me again. I decided to flee shame.”

13 IMPACTS OF RAPE her breast and all over her body. The girl resisted him and fought back in RAPE AND HEALTH PROBLEMS order to run away. The soldier held Testimony from rape survivors shows that many her until she could not move and are still suffering deep psychological trauma from warned her he would shoot her with their experience. One woman interviewed in his gun if she still tried to run away. 2006 was still traumatized from being raped a And then he raped her for 1 hour. year previously, and was constantly crying. Afterwards she began having pains Another woman who was gang-raped became in her vagina and could not urinate mentally disturbed, requiring medical treatment properly. Her health became worse in Rangoon. and worse. She died of womb cancer in 1994. Her parents believe that the Trauma of rape survivors is heightened by the rape was the cause of her cancer.” fact they have to worry about sexual disease transmission, particularly as there is suspected Survivors have no access to support-systems to be a high rate of HIV/AIDS infection among inside Burma. The state-dominated Myanmar SPDC soldiers. In one case, a 17-year-old girl Women’s Affairs Federation (MWAF), which who was raped suffered a vaginal infection has forced women throughout Chin State to which may have led to her death of uterine can- become members, fails to provide assistance to cer 5 years later (case 37): any women, even rape survivors. It is evident that state-sponsored groups such as MWAF “The girl went to work in the field have been set up simply to endorse and implement alone. Two privates saw her alone in SPDC policies aimed at prolonging military the field from the road. One of the dictatorship. They are thus powerless to oppose soldiers held her and tried to touch state-sanctioned human rights violations,

14 including rape against Chin and other ethnic communities to avoid blame and discrimination, women, and are routinely forced to denounce and try and start a new life elsewhere. reports of such violations as false. FORCED TO FLEE AS REFUGEES RAPE AND UNWANTED PREGNANCY It is evident that sexual violence is one of the In at least five of the cases documented in this factors driving women from Chin State to be- report, women became pregnant after being come refugees in India and other countries. Sev- raped. In one case, the woman died in childbirth. eral of the women interviewed for this report In two cases (4 and 5), the women were so had fled to India as a direct result of the sexual ashamed of their pregnancy that they left their abuse they had suffered. This includes a woman villages, refusing help from their families. One who was not only sexually tortured, but whose chose to go and live in a town in Central Burma. son was tortured and murdered (case 31):

One woman was forced to marry her rapist by “She was asked by the Burmese her parents and village elders, who regarded this military about her husband. They as preferable to having a child out of wedlock. took her into the jungle, tore off her However, her husband was then posted else- clothing, hung her onto a cross and where and abandoned her before she had even beat her one day and one night. She given birth. was surrounded and mocked by the soldiers and asked where the CNF RAPE AND SOCIAL STIGMA had taken her husband. When she In accordance with social norms throughout returned to her village, she learned Burma, Chins believe that sex outside marriage the regime had kidnapped her son. is shameful and brings disgrace on the woman Three days later, she asked the and her family. The Christian beliefs of most Chin military authorities for the return of reinforce this stigma. Thus, when women are her son and/or his remains. When his raped, they often prefer to keep silent about the dead body was finally returned, it crime than face censure from the community was full of scars and bruises and had for the “sin” of having had sex outside marriage. an awful smell.” As explained by a 19-year-old who was raped: As Chin refugees are granted no official pro- “I considered telling my parents, but tection or humanitarian aid inside India, they are realized I would be the one to receive subject to forcible repatriation to Burma. One blame and ultimately might be woman who had been raped fled to Delhi to seek rejected by my community for having UNHCR status when the Mizoram authorities “slept” with a Burmese soldier. I am carried out a mass deportation of refugees: living with fear and anger until today. I hate soldiers and anyone who is “I arrived in Aizawl, Mizoram, India associated with them. My hatred on 18th March 2003. I stayed there continues to fester and grow.” (case 30) for a few months but the deportation of Burmese people happened so I The social rejection suffered by rape survivors had to go to Delhi to be safe. I have causes increased hardship. For example, after not heard anything about my one woman was gang-raped at gunpoint in her husband. Here, I have got status home, her fiancé broke off their engagement. from UNHCR. In order to eat, we have to collect curry which the local The sense of shame is so strong that many vic- people throw away at the market. tims choose to go away from their families or That is how we live.” (case 17)

15 EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC RAPE private based in Paletwa town. They caught hold of her, covered her Several women’s organizations from Burma mouth with their hands and then have published reports documenting the brutally raped her in turn. The people systematic practice of sexual violence by Burma who were close to the road could see Army troops against ethnic women.4 Many of the incident but they dared not rescue the patterns they have described showing that her since the soldiers had guns. She the military authorities are condoning the use of died of the injuries sustained while sexual violence are also evident in the cases struggling. When after three days, documented by WLC. the girl did not appear, the villagers went looking for her. They found her WIDESPREAD INCIDENCE OF RAPE dead body with broken arms and As shown in the map (on page 2) of incidents of legs.” sexual violence documented in this report, rapes are being committed throughout the state, in close As mentioned earlier in one incident (case 31), a proximity to the SPDC’s military camps. WLC woman was stripped naked and hung on a cross has recorded rape being committed by troops and beaten, when being interrogated about her from at least eleven battalions operating in Chin husband’s links to the Chin resistance. There is State. no doubt that the troops deliberately used a cross as part of the process of torture to mock the wom- TORTURE AND KILLING OF RAPED an’s Christian religion and intensify her humiliation. WOMEN Other reports have shown how the extreme bru- GANG RAPE tality displayed by Burma Army troops commit- Almost half of the cases of sexual abuse docu- ting rape is evidence that sexual abuse is being mented in this report were gang rapes, showing used together with other acts of violence, such that there is a collective understanding among as torture, as part of a campaign to terrorize and the troops that they can commit rape with subjugate local ethnic populations. In the cases impunity. This includes the three most recent in this report too, sexual abuse is frequently ac- cases in 2006, committed by groups of three to companied by severe brutality, resulting in physi- five soldiers. cal injury and sometimes death. Women are not only raped, but also beaten, tied up and gagged. In some other cases, even though only a single Rape victims killed have been found with multi- soldier committed the rape, other soldiers wit- ple injuries (case 22): nessed the rape and did nothing, or else actively encouraged the rape. One woman raped by an “There is a military camp between officer at her house, heard his soldiers urging on S—’s house and school. She had to the rapist (case 33): pass through the camp every day. One day in October 2002, she came “Captain Zaw Zaw called me late home after sunset because she had that night ordering me to give him a to do some assignments. On the way massage After giving him a home, she met two soldiers; one was massage, he suddenly accosted me a lance-corporal and one was a and tied me up. I was unable to fight

4 Licence to Rape by the Shan Women’s Action Network and the Shan Human Rights Foundation, Shattering Silences by the Karen Women’s Organisation, System of Impunity by the Women’s League of Burma, Catwalk to the Barracks by the Woman and Child Rights Project (WCRP) and the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) – Burma, State of Terror by the Karen Women’s Organisation

16 him. Outside I heard his soldiers missing to local army officers, who insisted they yelling, ‘You are a man, just do it.’” should not search for the victims’ remains.” (case 14) RAPE BY MILITARY OFFICERS At least a third of the rape cases were committed In the few cases where the military authorities by military officers, sometimes together with one took responsibility for the actions of their sol- or more of their subordinates. This again indi- diers, the “punishments” were arbitrary and did cates that they had no fear of reprisal for their not match the crime. Some perpetrators paid the actions, and is a clear example to their troops families 3-4,000 kyat (approx US$3-4), and in that rape is acceptable under their command. one case, 50,000 kyat (US$50) and an ox – by This is well illustrated in case 17, described no means an appropriate compensation or earlier, a woman was not only raped in a military punitive measure. More frequently, the camp by an SPDC major, with soldiers guarding perpetrator was simply transferred to another outside his door, but one month later was called area. back to the camp and raped again by the same officer. INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND NO PROSECUTION OF MILITARY STATE SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST RAPISTS WOMEN IN CHIN STATE Under SPDC law, members of the military are liable under military and civil laws for acts of The SPDC has ratified the International Con- sexual violence. However, in none of the cases vention on the Prevention and Punishment of the in this report were any of the rapists prosecuted, Crime of Genocide (1948), the Convention on nor any serious actions taken by military authori- the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination ties to accept responsibility for and seek to pre- against Women (1979) and the Convention on vent further sexual crimes by army personnel. the Rights of the Child (1989). Additionally, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, Survivors were usually unwilling to report sexual is answerable to Resolution 1674 “On protec- violence, due to shame, lack of confidence in tion of Civilians in Armed Conflict” and Resolu- the process of law, and fear of repercussions tion 1325 “On Women, Peace and Security,” as from the authorities. In the cases where survivors well as numerous UN General Assembly and and/or their families dared to report assault and UN Commission on Human Rights resolutions. rape, usually no action at all was taken, and some- times they had to endure further threats. The SPDC has a legal responsibility to protect women from sexual violence, to punish perpe- One woman who reported being gang-raped to trators, and to act to end the silence surrounding the military authorities was scolded when she sexual violence. The SPDC is not meeting its could not identify the rapist, and threatened to obligations under international law. In its most be taken to court for “causing a bad reputation recent report to the CEDAW in March 1999 (its for the soldiers.” next report was due in August 2002 and is yet to be delivered) the committee commented on the Sometimes the authorities actively tried to cover need for “the Government to prosecute and up evidence of sexual crimes. In one case, vil- punish those who violate the human rights of lagers were discouraged from searching for the women, including military personnel, and to bodies of a woman and a boatman who had been carry out human rights education and murdered by Burmese soldiers. “After a few gender-sensitization training for all law days, the villagers from Paletwa New Town enforcement and military personnel.”5 The realized the two were missing and reported both SPDC reported “culture and religion strongly

17 influence the mentality and behaviour of men The economic and military support being pro- and women alike. The teachings of Lord vided by these neighbours for the Burmese re- Buddha that crimes like rape and sexual gime’s military expansion translates into direct violence are great sins serve as protection for support for the human rights violations its troops women and children.”6 are committing, including sexual violence. Not only this, but countries directly benefiting from Despite repeated resolutions from the UN Spe- trade with the regime are also actively blocking cial Rapporteur, the UN General Assembly and international attempts to end the civil war and the UN Commission on Human Rights raising bring democracy to Burma. The veto in early the issue of sexual violence committed by the 2007 by China and Russia of the United Nations Burma Army, the regime has continued to use Security Council Resolution on Burma is a case rape as a strategy of war against ethnic nation- in point. This political support has bolstered the alities in Burma, and dismissed reports of sexual regime’s obstinacy in resisting pressure to change, violence as “fabrications.” while continuing its oppression and systematic violence against the people of Burma. FOREIGN SUPPORT FUELLING BURMA ARMY EXPANSION AND ABUSES Foreign trade and investment following the in- troduction of “open door” economic policies in 1988 have directly enabled the military regime to expand their army and consolidate their grip on power. Many of Burma’s regional neighbours in particular have been keen to exploit Burma’s rich natural resources, irrespective of the re- gime’s ongoing human rights violations. Support has not only taken the form of hard foreign currency but also military hardware.

China has supplied the regime with billions of dollars of weapons since the 1990s. Other coun- tries supplying military equipment include Rus- sia, which sold MIG fighter planes to Burma in 2002, and North Korea.

Although India openly supported the pro-democ- racy movement after the 1988 uprisings, it has since the mid-1990s sought to mend relations with the military regime. In the past few years, India has sold a range of weapons, ammunition and equipment to the SPDC. This military support appears closely linked to India’s plans to buy natural gas from fields off Burma’s western coast, which China is also competing to exploit.

5 Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (17 January-4 February 2000) Consideration of reports of States parties: Myanmar [A/55/38] 6 CEDAW (25 Jun 1999) Initial report of States parties: Myanmar [CEDAW/C/MMR/1]

18 CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIONS

It has taken the courage of many women to The WLC strongly urges the State Peace and document the sexual crimes committed by SPDC Development Council: troops. Although rape has been used by the Bur- - To move forward and begin a process of mese military regime to control the population meaningful political change in Burma for decades, it was not until the pioneering re- - To stop the National Convention until the port Licence to Rape by the Shan Women’s Ac- National League for Democracy and other tion Network in 2002, that the international com- opposition groups are allowed to fully munity focused their attention on the systematic participate nature of the sexual crimes committed by the - To withdraw its military presence from regime’s troops. Subsequent reports by other Chin State so that human rights abuses by women’s groups and human rights groups from SPDC troops including sexual violence Burma provided further proof of these crimes against local populations will cease and the system of impunity protecting the army. - To comply with their obligations under the Convention on Elimination of all forms of The 38 cases of sexual violence in this report Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) are corroborative evidence that the regime is which was signed by Burma in 1997 using rape as a strategy of war against women - To stop forcing Chin women to be members and girls in ethnic areas in order to terrorize and of the state-dominated women’s organiz- demoralize local communities and weaken ation the “Myanmar Women’s Affairs resistance to military rule. Federation”

The regime continues not only to reject all alle- We also urge the international community: gations of systematic human rights violations, but - To support a UNSC resolution on Burma also to publicly attack through their media all - To maintain political and economic pressure those who expose these violations and advocate on the SPDC to bring about peaceful political for political change. They hold absolute power change in Burma and control every sector of society, including the - To provide assistance to empower women judicial system. They have forced women from Burma through cross-border programs throughout the country to join their state-con- - To advocate about the situation of the people trolled Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation, of Burma with their respective communities or face retaliation. It is thus impossible at this and governments time for women and their communities to seek legal redress by testifying publicly against SPDC And the government of India: perpetrators. - To stop providing arms and any form of military support to the Burmese military Therefore WLC reiterates the assertion of other regime women’s groups from Burma that only genuine - To review its economic engagement with political change to democracy, restoration of the Burma in the interests of a long-term rule of law, and a withdrawal of Burma Army sustainable relationship troops from ethnic areas will bring an end to the - To review its policies on refugees and provide systematic sexual violence in Burma. protection and necessary assistance to refugees from Burma - To allow the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to assess the situation of the refugee community at the India-Burma border

19 CASE 1 – GANG RAPE AT HOME H— and her friend T— traveled to Mizoram for a few months. On their way back from Mizoram, Name of victim: S— they passed through xx village, where there is Age of victim: 40 an army camp. The soldiers strictly checked H— Place of abuse: xx, Matupi Township, Chin and her friend for their identity cards and State demanded that they sleep a night at the village Date of abuse: 9th April 2006 without any reason. The two girls dared not Perpetrators: three soldiers refuse because they were very afraid of the Burma Army battalion: LIB-304 soldiers. At night, the five soldiers raped them. Type of abuse: Gang rape They then continued their journey to their village. They dared not tell their stories to their families Three Burmese soldiers learned that Mrs. S— or friends. As a consequence, the two girls left was alone at home on the night of 9th April 2006. their village and told their parents that they would Armed with a sharpened bamboo stick, the three stay in Rangoon, but the parents do not know soldiers forced their way into S—’s home. She exactly where they have gone. was gang-raped by the three soldiers each in turn. The next day, S— reported the incident to CASE 3 – GANG RAPE WHILE the village leaders, who helped her to take the TRAVELING incident to the higher army authorities. After a few days, they made the soldiers line up and Name of victim: T— asked the rape victim to identify her perpetrators. Age: 24 Because the rape happened at night and because Date of abuse: 8th June 2006 the victim was severely traumatized, she was Place of abuse: xx village, Kalaymyo, unable to identify the rapists. One of the officers Sagaing Division scolded Mrs. Si Mai, “If you cannot point out Perpetrators: 5 SPDC privates who raped you, do not try to bring the case to Burma Army battalion: LIB 268 court or you yourself will be taken to court for Type of abuse: Gang rape giving a bad reputation to the soldiers.” There has still been no action on the case. Details same as Case 2 above

Note: When these kinds of abuses are reported CASE 4 – RAPE AT HER HOME to the higher authorities in Chin State, the officers in charge often hide the perpetrators during the Name of victim: N— army line-up so that the victims will not be able Age: 36 to identify them. Occupation: Teacher Date of abuse: 2006 (Month and date are CASE 2 – GANG RAPE WHILE unknown) TRAVELING Name of perpetrator: Private Min Oo Burma Army battalion: LIB 274 Name of victim: H— Place of abuse: xx village, Matupi Township, Age of victim: 28 Chin State Place of abuse: xx, Kalaymyo, Sagaing Type of abuse: rape Division Date of abuse: 8th June 2006 N— stayed in xx village, Matupi Township Perpetrators: 5 SPDC soldiers where she was working as assistant headmistress Burma Army battalion: LIB 268 in a primary school. Since she could speak and Type of abuse: Gang rape write in Burmese, the soldiers often visited her during the day, even sometimes at night. One

20 night, a soldier called Min Oo from LIB 274 vis- in Chin State straight after the incident. The rape ited N— till late at night. At around midnight the resulted in pregnancy. S— followed Maung soldier took out his gun, pointed it at her and Maung to Min Dat and begged him to marry her, threatened to kill her if she shouted for help. but in vain. Maung Maung refused to marry her. Then, he brutally raped her. N— did not want to Therefore S— moved to xx town in Sagaing tell anyone about the incident in case the rapist Division. She doesn’t want to come back to the retaliated against her, and also she was afraid village or even go out of her house now because that she would lose her reputation if the villagers she is so ashamed of her life. Even though her knew that she was raped. However, the rape family wanted to help her, she did not dare accept resulted in pregnancy. Therefore, she had to any support. She is suffering her pain by herself. move to another village to avoid social discrimination from the community. Even though CASE 6 – SEXUAL HARASSMENT her family wanted to help and support her, she refused because she felt very bitter about her Name of victim: S— life. Now, the rapist has moved to another village. Age: 16 Place of abuse: xx village, Matupi Township, Note: According to Chin traditional practice, boys Chin State visit girls at night while the girl is with her family. Date of abuse: 2005 (rainy season) This practice is common because the boys and Name of perpetrator: Captain Than Thet Soe girls in the village go and work at farms during Burma Army battalion: LIB 304 the day. Therefore, the young people have free Type of abuse: Sexual harassment time only at night so that they can see each other. If a girl refuses to have visitors, she is assumed The perpetrator, Than Thet Soe accosted S— to be rude. numerous times in an effort to rape her because the girl was one of the most attractive girls in CASE 5 – RAPE IN FOREST WHILE the village. Whenever the soldier was drunk he COLLECTING FIREWOOD would go searching for S— all over the village, which made her so afraid that she had to move Name of victim: S— to another village. In fear of molestation, she was Age: 22 forced to hide in her sister’s village by her parents Date of abuse: second week of January and relatives. Her family made several attempts 2005 to report the case to the military authorities posted Place of abuse: In the jungle near her village, in that area in order to protect their daughter. Matupi Township, Chin State However, they never received a response from Name of perpetrator: Maung Maung the authorities. Capt. Than Thet Soe has still Rank of perpetrator: An officer at Telecom not been transferred to another place yet by the department authorities. As a result, the girl is unable to stay Burma Army battalion: LIB 274 at her village. The officer and his accomplices Type of abuse: Rape are still acting violently, such as shooting domestic animals in the village with their guns, and S— stays at xx village, Matupi Township. She frightening the villagers. went to the forest to collect firewood in the second week of January 2005 at 10:00 am. She was stalked by an SPDC officer called Maung Maung, who followed her into the forest where she was collecting the firewood. At that place, the officer raped S—. There was no one to help her. Maung Maung was posted to Min Dat town

21 CASE 7 – RAPE IN HER OWN GARDEN CASE 8 – RAPE AT HOME

Name of victim: S— Name of victim: K— Age: 30 Age: 25 Place of abuse: xx village, Kyauktaw Place of abuse: xx village Matupi Township, Township, Arakan State Chin State Date of abuse: 18th September 2005 Date of abuse: 30th December 2004 Name of perpetrator: Soe Aung Name of perpetrator: Mr. xx (Medical officer) Burma Army battalion: IB 359 Burma Army battalion: LIB 134 Type of abuse: Rape Type of abuse: Rape

Captain Neing Oo and 15 soldiers from IB 359 K— was raped by a military officer while she went to S—’s village in Kyauhdaw Township was alone at home. Her parents were working and stayed for a night at her family’s house. That in their fields at the time. The rape resulted in night S— came back from church at about 9 pregnancy. She is now a single mother. The pm, while a soldier (Soe Aung) was on duty perpetrator has taken neither responsibility for outside the house. As soon as he saw her, he K— nor her child and has transferred to another raped her at gunpoint. He told her that if she camp. She dared not report the name of the shouted for help, he would kill her. The victim perpetrator because she feared for her safety. didn’t shout for help because she had a gun pointed at her forehead. Though she knew that CASE 9 – ATTEMPTED RAPE her parents would hear her if she shouted out, she was afraid of being killed. After the Name of victim: Z— perpetrator had done what he wanted, he also Age: 30 threatened her that if she told anyone, he would Place of abuse: xx village, Thlan Tlang town, kill her. In spite of this, she told her father the Chin State next day. The father reported the case to Captain Date of abuse: May 2004 Neing Oo. Neing Oo gave 3,000 kyat (about Perpetrator: a soldier US$3) as hush money and said that the court Burma Army Battalion: LIB 274 would take care of the case. In fact, the family Type of abuse: Attempted rape did not hear anything further about the case, and the perpetrator was posted elsewhere. S— cried This woman is a wife and mother. Her husband day and night, believing her life had no meaning. often sleeps on the farm when tending to and She remains several traumatized to this day. harvesting their crops. While she was sleeping alone at home, a soldier broke into her house Note: In Chin village, there is no electricity. and attempted to rape her. She took legal action Therefore, by 9 pm it is very dark and most in accordance with Chin tradition and the villagers are already in bed. perpetrator was forced to pay 50,000 kyats (about US$50) along with a gayal (a kind of ox) by his higher officers.

22 CASE 10 – GANG RAPE IN FOREST, Details same as Case 10 above, but Y—died of AND PHYSICAL ASSAULT her injuries in hospital

Name of victim: X— CASE 12 – GANG RAPE Age: 16 Place of abuse: in the jungle, Matupi Name of victim: K— Township, Chin State Age: 18 Date of abuse: September 2004 Place of abuse: Matupi town, Chin State Perpetrators: 7 soldiers. Date of abuse: February 2004 Burma Army battalion: LIB 274 Perpetrators: 2 soldiers Type of abuse: Gang rape, physical assault Burma Army battalion: LIB 274 Type of abuse: Gang rape This girl studied in Thlan Tlang town and rented a house with her friend. While they were K— and a friend rented a house near their high studying, they used to go home to their villages school in Matupi town since they were from a to get food from home. Their village is far from remote village. The rented house was close to a the town and there was no means of military camp. They took it in turns to go back to transportation except walking through the forest. their village to take supplies from their village On the way, they met seven Burmese soldiers. while studying in the town. K—’s friend went All of them raped the two girls. The soldiers not back to the village to take the necessary food only raped them, but also beat them up severely. and other supplies, leaving her friend alone at After the rape, the soldiers just left them. The the rented house. One night, two soldiers came two friends were badly wounded, but tried to to steal their chickens. When K— heard some get to the nearest village. Fortunately, some people trying to steal their chickens, she spoke villagers who were coming back from their farms out to frighten the thieves. However, when the found them and took them to their village. The soldiers realized the girl was home alone, they villagers realised that the two victims could not entered the house and raped her, threatening be cured in the village because their injuries were her with death if she cried for help. Out of shame, too severe, so they took them to Thlan Tlang K— shared the incident with no one. She quit hospital on that day. Miss X— survived from school and now lives in another village. her brutal attack. CASE 13 – RAPE, PREGNANCY AND Although the parents tried to find out who the DEATH perpetrators were, they could find no clue because they did not know where the Name of victim: T— perpetrators were heading. Date of abuse: 2004 Place of abuse: xx, Thlan Tlang, Chin State CASE 11 – GANG RAPE, PHYSICAL Perpetrator: one soldier ASSAULT LEADING TO DEATH Burma Army Battalion: LIB 269 Type of abuse: Rape Name of victim: Y— Age: 18 T— was raped by one of the soldiers from LIB Place of abuse: in the jungle, Matupi 269 in 2005 and the rape resulted in pregnancy. Township, Chin State The perpetrator’s name is unknown because T— Date of crime: September 2004 herself never saw him again. T— died in Perpetrators: 7 soldiers childbirth; her daughter now lives with her Burma Army battalion: LIB 274 grandparents. The grandparents are distraught Type of abuse: Gang rape, murder since T— was the only person supporting the

23 family. They have no one to take care of them- CASE 15 – GANG RAPE AT HOME selves and their young granddaughter. Name of victim: M— CASE 14 – GANG RAPE AND MURDER Age: 27 OF BOTH THE VICTIM AND A BOAT- Place of abuse: Thlan Tlang town, Chin State MAN WHO HELPED HER WHILE Date of abuse: October 2003 TRAVELING Perpetrators: Information officer and his accomplice Name of Victim: M— Burma Army battalion: LIB 266 Age: 21 Type of abuse: Gang rape Place of abuse: Kaladan river between Paletwa New Town and Old Town, Chin M— and her elderly parents live in Thlan Tlang State town. One night at 9:00 pm, two soldiers came Date of abuse: May 2003 (Saturday) to their house and took the parents out of the Perpetrators: a group of soldiers bedroom. Then the soldiers raped her in turn Burma Army battalion: LIB 289 while her parents were threatened at gunpoint. Type of abuse: Gang rape and murder They were unable to call for help and were forced to listen to the attack. The soldiers kept The victim was stalked by Burmese soldiers who saying to the parents that they would kill them if were stationed in Paletwa New Town. M— they tried to fight back. When M—’s fiancé walked to the Old Town to help her sister heard about the rape, he broke off the constructing her house, and then when she engagement. M— now has severe psychological returned to New Town with Hla Maung (a problems. When the case was reported to the boatman) to cross the Kaladan river at around higher ranking officers, the military authorities 4:30 pm, the soldiers were waiting for them at took no legal action, but stated that the soldiers the river bank. Some villagers of Old Town who would be punished. The family and other villagers returned from their farms saw M— and the did not hear any further outcome of the case. boatman about to cross the river. They did not know what would happen to them so they only CASE 16 – OFFICER RAPE AT ARMY greeted them and went back to their own village. CAMP The Burmese soldiers then kidnapped them both, the girl and boatman, and took them into the Name of victim: M— forest. They raped the girl while forcing the Age: 29 boatman to watch and drink alcohol laced with Place of abuse: Thlan Tlang town, Chin State poison. After a few days, the villagers from Date of abuse: 2003 Paletwa New Town realized the two were Perpetrator: an army officer missing and reported both missing to local army Burma Army battalion: LIB 266 officers, who insisted that they should not search Type of abuse: Rape for the victims’ remains. However, the villagers insisted on searching for the two victims M— was ordered to go to a military camp by an themselves. When the villagers discovered the army officer in Thlan Tlang. She was not told two bodies, they reported that M—’s face why the army officer had called her, but when seemed contorted. Her panties were stuffed in she arrived at the camp she was brutally raped her mouth, and her skirt covered her face. The at gunpoint. She escaped and fled to Mizoram in boatman appeared to have been poisoned. Her fear of being shunned by her community. She parents tried to file the case but there was no now lives in Mizoram with her husband and child. response from the military authorities. Her parents considered filing the case but decided against it because they believed that the military

24 would not respond. No action has been taken till me and my husband. They took my husband to today. Falam town and put him in prison. He never re- turned. They told me that they wanted to take Note: Her husband warned her not to tell her me to prison too but my child was only six months story to other people. old. They told me to sign a piece of paper which said “I do not help the CNA people”. I had to CASE 17 – RAPE AT MILITARY CAMP agree to whatever they said. I went to Falam AND MURDER OF HUSBAND town to sign on 30th January 2003. I left my baby with my mother at a village. When I got to the Name of victim: L— military camp, two officers asked me to go inside Age of victim: 24 the room. There was one officer inside the room. Place of abuse: Military camp in Falam town, As soon as I got there, he threatened me because Chin State he knew that I could not speak Burmese very Date of abuses: 30th January 2003, then well. I fought back but he pointed a pistol at my again at end of February 2003 forehead. He tore my top and all my underwear. Perpetrator: Major He hit my thighs hard so that my legs could not Burma Army battalion: LIB 268 move anymore. Then, he brutally raped me. He Type of abuse: Rape, torture and murder of told me that if I told anyone he would kill me. the survivor’s husband There were guards outside the room but they did not bother to help me. My name is L— and I was born on September 1, 1980 at Falam district (village name is Again at the end of February, I had to go to the withheld). My father passed away when I was army camp at Falam town. I was so afraid that very young so my mother supported us. I got I took one girl along with me hoping this would married on 10 April 2001. My husband was protect me. But they did not let her go inside the forced to be our village head even though he did house with me. The same army officer was in not want to take that responsibility.7 Many times, the room. As soon as I got inside the room, he the army came to our village and to our house. raped me again. I decided to flee because I knew They asked my husband to provide people for that I would have to go again and again and get portering. They asked him to look for pigs, raped. I fled to India on 15th March 2003. I ar- chickens and so on. When my husband did not rived in Aizawl, Mizoram, India on 18th March get enough people or food for the army, he often 2003. I stayed there for a few months but there got beaten by the army soldiers. was deportation of Burmese people happening in Mizoram so I had to go to Delhi so that I could The army soldiers used to come and stay at our be safe. I have not heard anything about my house and behave as they liked. Sometimes, the husband. Here, I live in Delhi and have got status Chin National Army soldiers also came to our from UNHCR. In order to eat, we need to collect village. On 5th January 2003, the CNA soldiers curry which the local people threw away at the came to our village and the Burmese army heard market. That is how we live. about this so they entered our village on 9th January 2003. The Burmese soldiers came to I really hate and am afraid of Burmese soldiers our house again and accused us of supporting because they destroyed me, they destroyed and helping the CNA people. They came to me women and our people. and said “Why do you support CNA and why did you cook for the CNA people?” They beat I dare speak out now in front of people so that the world will know that the military regime is doing wrong. 7 The military army soldiers often target the village heads whenever they enter a village.

25 CASE 18 – GANG RAPE WHILE CASE 19 – RAPE WHILE TRAVELING TRAVELING TO ANOTHER VILLAGE Name of victim: L- Name of victim: V— Age of victim: 28 Age of victim: 29 yrs old Place of abuse: Matupi town, Chin State Place of abuse: On the way between xx Date of abuse: September 2003 village and Tidim town, Chin State Perpetrator: a soldier Date of abuse: November, 2003 Burma Army battalion: IB 140 led by Major Perpetrators: a lance-corporal and a private Soe Win soldier Type of abuse:Rape Burma Army Battalion: LIB 269 Type of abuse: Gang rape In September, 2003, L— a 28 year old nurse who works at the Matupi Civil Hospital was raped In 2003 November, V— went to Tidim town by a soldier from IB 140, led by Major Soe Win. from her village to sell vegetables. The distance That evening she was alone in her home, in was about 6 km. On the way to Tidim, in the Matupi town, not far from the hospital, when the morning between 8:30 to 9 am, she met two soldier forced his way in and raped her. soldiers: one was a lance-corporal and another was a private. They stopped her on the way and CASE 20 – RAPE DURING PORTERING took away her vegetable basket. They covered her mouth with their hands and tied her legs with Names of victims: N— and K— a rope, then raped her. They released her Ages: 21 and 20 immediately afterwards. She went back to her Date of abuse: January 2003 village, instead of going to Tidim town. On the Place of abuse: Riverbank between xx and way, some villagers met her with her torn clothes. xx villages, Matupi Township, Chin State As soon as she got home, she told her parents Perpetrators: Captain Zaw Latt and seven about the rape. The parents inquired who the soldiers perpetrators were and found out that one lance- Burma Army Battalion: IB 266 corporal and one private soldier were patrolling around their village when the rape happened. The In January, 2003, Captain Zaw Latt of IB 266 rape survivor could remember the appearance made a military operation to Matupi Township. of the perpetrators. After the parents confirmed He took nine people, two women and seven men, the rapists, they reported the case to the village to porter from xx Village to xx Village. On the leaders three times. But no legal action was way they came to a river. The soldiers ordered taken. The survivor was deeply upset and finally the men to cross ahead and told the women to she became mentally disturbed and would yell stay with them, and when they did the seven at midnight and in the morning. Her parents soldiers assaulted the women. brought her to one of the hospitals in Rangoon to have medical treatment. Now she is slowly The women, N— 21 years old and K— 20 years improving. old, were raped by the soldiers after the male porters had crossed to the other side of the river.

26 CASE 21 – GANG RAPE AT FARM they found her dead body with broken arms and legs. They kept her dead body in the forest Name of victim: S— nearby the village. Although the villagers knew Age of victim: 20 who the perpetrators were, they were afraid to Date of abuse: October 2003 file a case against the perpetrators. When the Place of abuse: xx village, Matupi Township, incident happened, the Burmese soldiers were Chin State very violent and strict in the town. They arrested Perpetrators: SPDC soldiers and tortured people, and killed the domestic Type of abuse:Gang rape animals in the town. They just shot the animals and ate them, no matter whose property they While S—, a 20-year-old girl, was going to the were. farm, soldiers followed her and raped her in the jungle. After the soldiers abused her as they liked, CASE 23 – GANG RAPE DURING she was allowed to go back but with the threat FORCED PORTERING of being killed if she spoke of the incident. So she did not dare to tell anyone though everyone Name of victim: P— knew about it. Age: 38 Place of abuse: near xx village, Falam, Chin As there is no one that will advocate for them State and take punitive action against the SPDC Date of abuse: 2000 soldiers no one made any attempt to report the Perpetrators: about 5-7 soldiers incident to the authorities. Burma Army battalion: LIB 268 Type of abuse: Gang rape CASE 22 – GANG RAPE AND MURDER P—, a widow with three sons, was ordered to Name of victim: S— work as a porter carrying the soldiers’ military Place of abuse: Paletwa town, Chin State supplies. Their journey took them several days. Date of abuse: October 2002 One day, while carrying a heavy load, a group of Perpetrators: a lance-corporal and a private soldiers told her they would help her while the Burma Army Battalion: LIB 309 other villagers were done with their duties. She Type of abuse: Gang rape and murder believed that the soldiers would really help her because her load was too heavy to carry by The girl lived in Paletwa town and studied at herself. On the way, while the other villagers grade nine at the high school in the town. There went ahead, she was raped by two soldiers at is a military camp between her house and school. gunpoint. They told her she would be killed if She had to pass through the camp every day. she told the other villagers about the incident. One day in October 2002, she came home after She and her sons fled to Mizoram first and then sunset because she had to do some assignments. went to Delhi. On the way, she met two soldiers; one was a lance-corporal and one was a private based in Paletwa town. They caught hold of her, covered her mouth with their hands and then brutally raped her in turn. The people who were close to the road could see the incident but they dared not rescue her since the soldiers had guns. She died of the injuries sustained while struggling. When after three days, the girl did not appear, the villagers went looking for her. After three days,

27 CASE 24 – GANG RAPE DURING shot and killed by the soldier. FORCED PORTERING After an hour of being brutalized, S— managed Name of victim: S— to run away and hid in the darkness of her Age: 20 backyard. The family, fearing social Place of abuse: xx village, Matupi town, Chin discrimination, kept silent. Also, they did not State believe that reporting the case to the authorities Date of abuse: 2000 would yield justice; in fact, they feared retaliation Perpetrators: five soldiers by the army. S— later married and had children. Burma Army battalion: LIB 50 (mobile) She is now widowed and still lives in the same Type of abuse: Gang rape village since she cannot afford to go elsewhere.

These five soldiers asked S— and another CASE 26 – RAPE WHILE COLLECTING villager, who was mentally retarded, to porter FIREWOOD for them. The retarded man was told to wait by the road, while the five soldiers raped S— in the Name of victim: D— forest and she was told that they would kill her if Age: 12 she shouted for help. Later they ordered the Place of abuse: xx village, Thlan Tlang, Chin retarded man to have sex with her while they State watched, but he refused. When he returned to Date of abuse: 1999 (summer) the village, the retarded man told the story though Perpetrator: a soldier both of them were warned not to tell the villagers. Burma Army battalion: LIB 266 The retarded man did not realize the shame and Type of abuse: Rape pain this would cause for the victim. The soldiers did not return to the village, and no legal action While collecting firewood, the victim was was taken. accosted by her perpetrator who beat and raped her. He threatened her with more harm if she CASE 25 – RAPE AT HOME disclosed the event to her family. However, her parents realized what had happened when they Name: S— saw their daughter’s injuries. They filed the case Age: 26 in court, but no legal action was taken. The per- Date of abuse: 8th Feb 2000 petrator’s whereabouts are unknown. The victim Place of abuse: xx, Falam, Chin State continues to live in the village but suffers from Perpetrator: a private soldier shame. Burma Army Battalion: LIB 268 Type of abuse: Rape CASE 27 – ATTEMPTED RAPE

Army soldiers patrolling xx village at night learned Name of victim: Z— that S— was alone with her elderly father. The Age: 18 rest of the family were spending the night in the Place of abuse: xx village, Thlan Tlang fields as it was the season for clearing grass. As Township, Chin State there was no electricity, the soldier managed to Date of abuse: 1998 hide inside her house without her knowledge. Perpetrator: Tan Hteht Soe When S— went to sleep on the floor of their Burma Army battalion: LIB 274 house, the soldier began trying to rape her at Type of abuse: Attempted rape, and physical gunpoint. Although her father and other villagers assault of the victim’s brother heard the screams for help, none were able to intervene for fear that S— or others would be The perpetrator asked the leader of the village

28 to bring him Z—. Her brother was worried about soldier acted as a look-out. Later, one girl was her safety because he knew his sister was young gang-raped by three soldiers and the other by and attractive. When the sister was taken to his another one of the soldiers. When the soldiers house, her brother followed secretly. As soon as were finished with the girls, they sent them back the girl got inside the house, he brother entered to the village. The girls chose to keep their story into the house. Tan Hteht Soe was so furious to secret in fear of social rejection and stained see the brother that he beat him severely. reputations. One of the girls went to Rangoon to study at a religious school. The other fled to CASE 28 – GANG RAPE AND MURDER Mizoram in fear of the possibility of further rape.

Name of victim: Y— CASE 30 – RAPE AT HER FARM Age: 20 Place of abuse: xx village near Paletwa town Name of victim: T— Date of abuse: 1998 Age of victim: 19 Perpetrator:Commander and accomplice Place of abuse: a forest near xx, Falam Burma Army battalion: LIB 289 Township, Chin State Type of abuse: Gang rape and murder Date of abuse: June 1997 Perpetrator: Capt. Maung Kyi (aged 30-35) This officer proposed marriage. She refused. Burma Army battalion: LIB 268 When she went to her farm, the officer and his Type of abuse: Rape accomplice raped and killed her. A few days later, her dead body was discovered by some villagers. I am the eldest among my siblings and I had to The body was naked and covered with wounds. take a lot of responsibility for work at the farm. Often, I would stay at the farm overnight. On CASE 29 – GANG RAPE DURING one such night, it was rainy and foggy. I started FORCED PORTERING a fire and was cooking a meal when a soldier appeared at my hut. He realized I was alone Name of victim: K— and threatened me with his knife if I refused Age of victim: 24 him sexually. I explicitly told him, “It is Place of abuse: xx, Kalaymyo, Sagaing impossible.” He became very violent and cut Division my clothes off with his knife. He told me that if Date of abuse: November 1998 I even attempted to run or scream for help, he Perpetrators: 1 officer and two soldiers would cut my throat and kill me. Still I shouted Burma Army battalion: n.a. for help but we were surrounded by forest, and Type of abuse: Gang rape I had no means of escape. He raped me. Afterwards, I took my basket and went home in Burmese soldiers went to xx to collect crop tax. the pitch dark night. The whole way, I considered They did not know how much tax to collect, so telling my parents but realized that I would be they returned to Kalaymyo to get permission and the one to receive blame and ultimately might be orders from their officers. They chose two of rejected by my community for having slept with the village girls to accompany them. Three hours a Burmese soldier. I am living with fear and into their journey to Kalaymyo, the soldiers raped anger until today. I hate soldiers and anyone who them, threatening to kill them if they did not is associated with them. My hatred for the army cooperate with the soldiers’ wishes, and telling continues to fester and grow. them that if they followed their orders, the soldiers would return them home safely. Afraid Now, I am married and have two daughters. My of death, both girls had to submit to their wishes. husband does not know of the rape. I never plan They were raped by two soldiers while a third on telling him about it.

29 Note: T— assumes that the perpetrator did not assault of victim’s mother come alone, but when the perpetrator and other soldiers realized there was just one woman, the While gathering mustard leaves, the perpetrator others left Maung Kyi alone to commit the rape attacked H—and attempted to rape her. After a by himself. lengthy struggle, H’s mother managed to rescue her daughter. The officer,being frustrated, brutally CASE 31 – SEXUAL TORTURE, AND beat the mother. The villagers wanted legal justice MURDER OF HER SON but were forced to accept the local officers’ ver- bal apology. Name of victim: P— Age: 46 CASE 33 – RAPE AT HOME Place of abuse: jungle near Thlan Tlang Date of abuse: winter 1996 (probably Name of victim: T— December) Age of victim: 27 Perpetrators: a group of soldiers Place of abuse: xx, Falam Township, Chin Burma Army battalion: LIB 266 State Type of abuse: sexual torture and murder of Date of abuse: November 1995 her son Perpetrator: Captain Zaw Zaw Ko (43 years old) P’s husband was kidnapped by the CNF. He was Burma Army battalion: BIT 268 a blacksmith; the CNF needed him to make guns. Type of abuse: Rape She was asked by the Burmese military the whereabouts of her husband. They took her into The captain and his battalion were traveling when the jungle, tore off her clothing, hung her onto a they came across my village. They met with the cross and beat her one day and one night. She head of the village and requested to stay in the was surrounded and mocked by the soldiers and village upon their return. They also told us that asked where the CNF had taken her husband. they would rest at my family’s house one night. When she returned to her village, she learned My parents were at Falam town at that time. I the regime had kidnapped her son. Three days stayed with my sister to run a tea-shop in the later, she asked the military authorities for the village. After two days, they came back from return of her son and/or his remains. They Tio village (a border village). They said they promised that her son was in good hands. When would stay at our house. Captain Zaw Zaw his dead body was finally returned to her, it was called me late that night ordering me to give him full of scars and bruises from having been beaten a massage. He said he was very tired. I obliged. and had an awful smell. The whole family now After giving him a massage, he suddenly lives in seclusion in Mizoram afraid of the military accosted me and tied me up. I was unable to soldiers. fight him. Outside I heard his soldiers yelling, “You are a man, just do it.” I could not cry out CASE 32 – ATTEMPTED RAPE for help because he gagged me with a piece of cloth; my sister was in the next room, unaware Name of victim: H— of my being brutalized. He stole my virginity! Age: 18 Before they left the next morning, Captain Zaw Place of abuse: xx village, Thlan Tlang Zaw Ko offered me 2,000 kyat (US$2) which I Township, Chin State refused. He gave the money to my sister. He Date of abuse: March, 1996 also gave his contact number in Falam and told Perpetrator: a soldier us to contact him the next time we went to visit Burma Army battalion: LIB 266 Falam. He had no idea how much he had hurt Type of abuse: Attempted rape and physical me.

30 I never spoke of the rape because I am fully CASE 35 – RAPE WHILE COLLECT- aware that I have no options; he is a captain ING FIREWOOD with a lot of power. Any legal or other actions on my part would have been fruitless. Name of victim: M— Age of victim: 20 yrs old Now, I am married and have one daughter and Place of abuse: Forest near Tidim, Chin State one son. My husband does not know that I was Date of abuse: 13th March 1994 raped one time. Perpetrator: Private soldier Burma Army Battalion: LIB 269 Note: The victim was very attractive, therefore Type of abuse: Rape and neglect of baby the perpetrator most likely planned to rape her. Also the perpetrator had a wife and a son when A private soldier from LIB 269 began following he committed the crime. M— ever since he met her. He used to visit her house, work-place and her paddy field, pretending CASE 34 – RAPE ON FARM he wanted to help. M— told her parents and they were worried about their daughter’s safety. Name of victim: S— They told the soldier not to follow their daughter. Age of victim: 21 He did not listen to them, but kept following her. Place of abuse: Falam town, Chin State One day, while she went to carry fire wood in Date of abuse: August 10, 1994 the forest alone, the soldier came to her house Perpetrator: Corporal Aung Kyaw Hthe- 30 again and asked her parents where she was. years old After learning that M— had gone to the forest, Burma Army battalion: LIB 268 he told the parents that he would pick her up and Type of abuse: Rape he left. He knew where the villagers used to collect fire wood. At last he found M— alone at S—was staying with her aunt, a nurse, in Falam about 3pm to 4pm. As soon as he saw her, he town in order to study in the 10th grade. Her attacked her from the back and held her body aunt’s place was close to the military camp in tight. M— fought back and tried to escape but Falam. S— passed the military camp every she was not strong enough to fight him off. The morning on her way to school. The perpetrator soldier threatened that if she kept fighting and befriended the young girl. The soldiers came to shouting, he would kill her. He then raped her. know how S— spent her free time. During school holidays she would work on the farm and M— was filled with anger and pain. She could sometimes she would study while watching the not stop crying. The soldier told her that he would goats. One day, while S—was alone at the farm, marry her. She refused his offer and she was one of the soldiers followed her and attempted afraid of telling her story to other people. to rape her. She tried to fight him off, but he bit However, after five months, she realized that she off one of her nipples, causing her to go into had become pregnant. Her parents came to shock. The soldier then raped her. Later, the know about M—’s pregnancy and consulted with soldier proposed marriage to S—, who was the village leaders. And then they arranged for consumed with resentment towards her her marriage with the perpetrator. M— had no perpetrator. Later she learned that he had choice but to accept the arrangements because impregnated her. She had a son; the perpetrator/ she was afraid that having a child out of wedlock father’s whereabouts are unknown. would bring her shame and rejection. Before she gave birth, the private got transferred to another place. He left her in that place and promised her he would come back again after 2 months and take her to his post. But he has not come back.

31 CASE 36 – RAPE DURING FORCED me or I would get the blame for it. I did not see PORTERING them anymore in the village. I did not get pregnant. I had no idea if he used a condom or Name of Victim: J— not. Age of victim: 34 Place of abuse: xx, Falam township, Chin Note: This survivor arrived in India after the State incident happened. She is afraid to go back to Date of abuse: 5th June, 1993 Burma. She didn’t report the case to the Age when abuse happened: 21 authorities, but instead fled to India. Perpetrator: one officer Burma Army battalion: LIB 269 CASE 37 – GANG RAPE AT FARM Type of abuse: Rape Name: D— The army soldiers came to our village and they Age: 17 yrs old demanded porters. They collected the names of Place of abuse: paddy field, xx, Sagaing 10 people. I was one of them. My parents were Division so old that they could not do portering, so I had Date of abuse: March, 1989 to do it. I carried few clothes and I walked alone. Perpetrators: two soldiers From our village to xx village, we took two days. Burma Army Battalion: Unknown The soldiers walked very slowly, which made us Type of abuse: Gang rape take longer than usual. I was already sick when we started our journey. I asked for medicines on D— used to work in the paddy fields like other the advice of my friends. The army officer told Chin people. Her paddy field was 4 km from her me that he would give me some when we arrived house. In March 1989, the girl went to work in at yy village. The soldiers all looked middle-aged, the field alone. On that day, two privates came they didn’t look young. to their village from Kalaymyo and saw her alone in the field from the road. Their paddy field was When we arrived at yy, the soldiers slept at the close to the main road. Therefore, anyone could village school building. We, the people who were see her easily. When the two soldiers saw her forced to be porters, slept at the village head’s working alone, they came to her and asked her house. The army officer sent two soldiers to me if she was alone. They checked the places and said that I could come and take medicine nearby for about 10 minutes and found no one. from the school clinic. They took me to that school Then they started molesting her. One of the building. They took medicine out and gave me a soldiers held her and tried to touch her breast cup of tea. They asked me to take the medicine. and all over her body. The girl resisted him and Since there was no electricity, we had to light a fought back in order to run away. The soldier lamp. When I was about to take medicine, the held her until she could not move and warned officer suddenly held a knife against my neck. her he would shoot her with his gun if she still He took my clothes off and said “If you shout, I tried to run away. And then he raped her for 1 will really kill you.” He kept saying that he would hour. The other soldier was just watching the kill me. He raped me. I was afraid to shout for incident. The other soldier did not rape her though help because I didn’t want to get killed by the his accomplice asked him if he wanted to. After soldier. He even told me not tell other people. If that they released her with a warning not to tell I told my friends, he would kill me. He called his her family or friends. They also told her if she two soldiers and sent me back to the house told others, then the other people would look where my friends were sleeping. We continued down on her. She was afraid of their warning our journey to xx. I dared not tell anyone in the and she told no one. After a while she began group because if somebody knew, he would kill having pains in her vagina and could not urinate

32 properly for 12 days. Then she told her parents On her way back home, she was unsure if she about her health problems. Her parent advised should tell the incident to the others or not. At her to go to the doctor but she did not want to. last she decided not to tell others. The next Moreover, D— did not want to go to the paddy morning, her parents saw her bruised face and field alone and her parents did not understand asked her if anything had happened to her. She the reason. Her parents persuaded her again and lied to her family by making the excuse that she again to tell them her problems. Finally she had accidentally got hit in the face by a branch. couldn’t keep it secret any longer and told everything to her parents. After hearing their B— was a virgin and did not have menstruation daughter’s problems, they could not do anything till she got raped. After the rape, she asked her because they did not know where the soldiers boyfriend to have sex with her. The boyfriend were going. Therefore, they could not report the suspected that she had betrayed him and had case to the authorities. After being raped, her sex with another man. This caused her to break health became worse and worse. In 1992 she up with her boyfriend. She then became a got married and died of womb cancer in 1994. prostitute for some years. She did not want to Till today, her parents believe that the rape was explain to anyone why she became a prostitute. the cause of her cancer. Now, she is married to a man who understood what had happened to her, and can now lead a CASE 38 – RAPE NEAR HER HOME normal life with her husband.

Name: B— Age: 16 yrs Place of abuse: On road, Falam town, Chin State Date of abuse: October 1989 Perpetrator: Private soldier Burma Army Battalion: LIB 269 Type of abuse: Rape

B—’s aunty was very sick and was admitted to the hospital in Falam town. B— had to stay at the hospital to take care of her. There was a military camp between the hospital and her aunty’s home. It was one evening in October 1989; B— went to hospital carrying food for the patient. After a while, she came back from hospital. On the way, she met a soldier. As soon as the soldier realized that she was alone, he caught her and began trying to rape her at the roadside under the bushes. The girl fought to escape from him and shouted for help. The soldier punched her in the face and other parts of her body three times till the girl could not move anymore. He warned her that he would kill her if she shouted again. He pulled her hair so that the girl could not fight anymore. Then, he brutally raped her. The soldier ran away as soon as he finished.

33 UNSAFE STATE

After reading such shattering testimonies in the report, it is now our duty to carry these life-stories forward to every entity that can make a difference, and bring them to the Government of India or any government which is, through economic and military support of the SPDC regime, directly fuelling militarization in Burma. - Parul Sharma, from the foreword

State-sanctioned sexual violence against Chin women in Burma