Interview #38

Shan Farmer
Murng Nai Township, Shan State, Burma

I left my village in April 2001 and arrived in Thailand shortly after that. I came to Thailand because of the shortage of food and also because I had to do a lot of work for the Burmese military. In February 2001, I had to guide the Burmese soldiers to where they were guarding road construction. It is a one-day walk from our village. The headman ordered us to go according to the letter order of LIB 246. I saw the letter, asking for two guides, time to meet and place to meet, with the battalion's seal. I had to go with five other villagers. Every five days, two villagers in our village tract had to go by rotation.

I brought my own food, rice, cooking oil, salt, bean-cake including pots and plates. In the construction place, I was ordered to carry water and firewood for the soldiers. I could not take a rest without their permission. There were about 100 soldiers guarding the road construction. I saw one tractor constructing the road and five trucks carrying teak passed the road every three to four days. . . .

In March 2001, I had to cut ten pieces of bamboo for the military during one day of work. The headman ordered us to go according to the written order of the military. Our village tract was ordered to give 50 pieces of bamboo, ten each from five villages. We sent them by two ox carts to the battalion, which is based in our village. We had to bring our own food and tools. I heard that a new battalion would be built in our village.

I do not want to work for the military. No one dares to refuse. The military warns that the one who refuses to work will be punished by digging the road, imprisonment, etc. It is written in a letter that is given to the headman. We have to hire [other villagers for] 150-200 kyat per day if we cannot go. I heard last year that someone was imprisoned in an underground hole because he refused to do the military's order. . . .