Kachin IDP Camp Ransacked By Burmese Army’s 105th LIB Troops

Kachinland News (KLN) | September 19, 2016

Kachin Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently living at an IDP camp in Sar Maw Kachin Baptist Church’s compound were interrogated by Burmese army soldiers from Sar Maw-based 105th Light Infantry Battalion on Sept 18 at around 3 pm.

A church member said soldiers roamed into the IDP camp and questioned each and every IDP family members about their family members. The soldiers also ransacked some IDPs’ temporary shelters, said the church member. He continued, “Burmese soldiers told Kachin IDPs that every IDP family members will be killed if they are found to have a connection with Kachin Independence Army (KIA).”

The 105th LIB soldiers also told camp officers that they will take photos and keep records of each and every IDPs in the camp. Sara Zau Doi Awng, a camp officer, was taken to the Burmese army’s base and has been detained by the 105th LIB soldiers.

Maru Tu, a local Kachin analyst, said if Burmese army’s policy is to interrogate and arrest family members that have connections with KIO/A, they will have to summon and question almost all Kachin families including those who live in the cities. In the past, Kachin families whose relatives are among the leaders of KIO/A were summoned each month by the Burmese military and police intelligent officers and had to update their whereabouts.