Kachin Women Gang Raped and Abandoned Naked in The Forest

Kachinland News, September 8, 2013

Nhka Ga village women gang raped and abandoned naked in the forest

Burmese army troops gang raped Nhka Ga village women and abandoned them naked in the forest near Nhka Ga village in northern Kachin State on Sept 3. Nhka Ga villagers were abused, interrogated, detained and gang-raped by Burmese army troops after a series of battles fought between Burmese army backed by local militia led by Danggu Dang and KIA troops backed by Kachin people militia (MHH in Kachin) troops around their village in northern Kachin State. The two sides have been engaged in a series of battles since a combined force of Burmese army’s 137th LIR troops and Danggu Dang’s men launched an attack on Nhka Ga post of Kachin people militia troops under KIA’s 7th Battalion on Aug 28 at 2:30 pm.

A witness who had fled from Nhka Ga to Machyang Baw said Burmese army soldiers arrested Nhka Ga villagers and took them to an upstream village Nawng Hkai. Burmese army soldiers believed to be from 66th Light Infantry Division (LID) bound and blindfolded Nhka Ga village elders Hkaw Dut and Yung Hka Hkyen and took them away to an unknown location, said the witness. He said the government soldiers also arrested several Nhka Ga village women and girls and took into a nearby forest, gang raped them and later released them in naked.

A local Christian minister said a Church pastor Rev. Ram Mai and his second son, Nang Mawn Htin Aung, villager elder Lahkreng Hkaw Dup, and seven other villagers have been arrested and detained by Burmese army soldiers on suspicion of being supportive of Kachin people militia (MHH) and KIA troops since Aug 29. During interrogation, they were bound, hung upside down and beaten by government soldiers. No one knows when the detainees will be released, whether they’re in good health or even if they’re still alive, said the minister.

Local residents fear for an imminent escalation in the fighting as Burmese army has begun transporting more troops, food, guns and ammunition using military transport aircraft to KIA’s 7th Battalion area in Machyang Baw in northern Kachin State. Most local residents living in this area are a Kachin sub-tribe Nung Lungmi group.