BURMA: ARMY DEFECTORS SPEAK OF ATROCITIES AGAINST KAREN REBELS

(15 May 1995) Burmese/Eng/Nat

Defectors from the Burmese army have spoken out about how Burma's ruling military is using poison gas as part of its brutal crackdown on Karen separatist rebels.

The two Burmese officers, who fled across the border into Thailand, have also described how they were encouraged to murder, torture and rape suspected rebel sympathisers.

The rainy season has just started here at Berklo refugee camp in Thailand, just eight kilometres (five miles) from the Burmese border.

Fighting for autonomy since 1949, these Christian Karen families have escaped with whatever they can carry. But in the same camp these two platoon commanders have escaped from the Burmese Army.

They admit that rape, murder, looting and torture are regularly used on Karen villagers.

SOUNDBITE
'A villager was picking mushrooms near our camp and refused to stop when ordered to. He was questioned but would not admit to being a spy. At the time I was the youngest, so the Captain asked me to torture and then kill him. I used a cleaver and killed him quickly'.

SUPER CAPTION: Lieut. KYAW PE, 230th Light Infantry, 22nd Battalion.

Admitting to such atrocities has convinced even the Karen that the two officers genuinely wanted to escape the regime. They now risk death if they return to Burma and a pitiful existence as refugees here in Thailand.

The defectors also allege the Burmese Army raped village women.

SOUNDBITE
' We would call in the young village girls for questioning. If they gave no useful information they were beaten and tortured. The girls knew the only way to stop the beating was to offer sex'.

SUPER CAPTION: Lieut. KYAW PE, 230th Light Infantry, 22nd Battalion.

Last February, hundreds of Karen and democracy fighters claimed they were driven out of their last stronghold at Kawmoora with chemical weapons. Many suffered skin burns and sickness.

The American military tried to investigate these claims but could not enter the area. The Burmese defectors claim large chemical shells were used to 'finish off' battles.

SOUNDBITE:
'When the six soldiers were assigned to fire the big 105mm shells, they were all given gas masks to put over their faces. We did not know the name of the chemical.'

SUPER CAPTION: Lieut. KYAW PE, 230th Light Infantry, 22nd Battalion.

The Thai military has allowed the two soldiers to stay along with the Karen refugees. That does not guarantee safety. Forces loyal to the military government have recently entered and burnt down five camps - a tactic many believe all too common in the land
these people dare not return to.

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