KO KAY VILLAGE, BURMA (ANS) --
Burma’s military dictatorship has launched a new wave of attacks
against predominantly Christian Karen villages, says a story released
by Christian Newswire on behalf of Christian Freedom International (CFI).
“In Burma this time of year is known locally as the ‘killing
season’ and this year is no exception,” said the CFI story.
“During the dry season soldiers can move more easily in the dense
jungles of Burma, and this year the military junta has stepped up its
genocidal attacks on the Karen, an ethnic minority in Burma.”
Saw Aro, 50, is a soldier with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA),
a vastly outnumbered militia that has been fighting for survival of
the Karen people since World War II.
A CFI representative interviews Saw Aro
Aro has reported to Christian Freedom International that over 700 displaced
men, women, and children recently arrived here in Ko Kay village. Aro
said, “They came from Toungoo and Nyaunglebin districts.”
According to Aro, “The Burmese Army recently brought in 10 battalions
with some 1,500 new soldiers from Rangoon. The new soldiers are making
big problems.
“When the new soldiers arrived in Toungoo and Nyaunglebin districts,
they spread their soldiers around the area. They try to find Karen villages.
If they see the villagers, they try to capture and persecute them. So,
people who living there--they do not dare to face the Burma army. They
fled their villages and are hiding in the mountainside and jungle in
the safe places to save their lives,” said Aro.
This is creating a humanitarian emergency. Aro is reported to have said,
“The Burmese came and destroyed everything so all the villagers
having nothing to eat and cannot grow food for the year.”
Displaced Karen villagers have been on-the-run for days. Aro went on
to say, “They came from Toungoo and Nyaunglebin district area.
Before they arrived in Ko Kay village they have been facing many terrible
things. They have to walk for ten days. In the midst of walking, there
was a lack of security, foods, and medicine. Also the Burmese soldiers
try to block them and lay landmines. But in this difficult situation
they go through day by day with some Karen soldiers who know the way
and lead them.”
The displaced villagers are facing a shortage of food and medicine in
Ko Kay. “There is not enough food and medicine right now for the
villagers. It is a major problem,” said Aro, who added, “Mostly
they do not want to go back to their villages. Some people said, if
they can stay in Ko Kay they will. Others, they want to cross the border
line and live in the refugee camps in Thailand.”
Christian Freedom International distributes medicines, food, and emergency
assistance to displaced villagers in Burma. Christian Freedom International
is requesting emergency donations for more medicine and food to assist
villagers in Ko Kay village and elsewhere in Burma.
For more information or to make a donation of any amount for much needed
food and medicine, contact Vickie Koth at Christian Freedom International
at 540-636- 8907. You can also make an online gift at www.christianfreedom.org.
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