Interview #39

Shan Farmer
Murng Nai Township, Shan State, Burma

I came to Thailand because there was a lot of work to do for the [Burmese] military. They ordered us to do such things as building the camp, weeding the camp compound and airport, and fencing the camp, etc. We had to hire other people to do the work for us if we're not free. It costs a lot of money.

In February 2001, I had to clean an area for a new battalion, located at an old village near our village. The military gave an order by letter to the headman, and the headman ordered us to go. I did not know the battalion number. We had six women among 10 villagers from our village. All are middle aged, 30-40 years old. About 30 people in our village tract were ordered to go by rotation. It was one day of work, 10AM-3PM. I had to bring food and tools. About 20-30 soldiers were guarding us with guns. The headman has to order the villagers to do it again if the soldiers think it is not good enough. It was very hard to do because it is a wild land. Our village had to work on ten square yards of land. The soldiers fed us water. The soldiers made shelters and sleep there.

We cannot refuse to go. The Burmese soldiers announced that anyone who refuses to go must be fined 1000 kyat or 1.6kg of cooking oil. Sometimes the villagers argued with the headman about not going even though they might get killed. Finally, they had to go anyway when he said he would inform the Burmese soldiers. I did not want to work for the military, but I was afraid of having to spend money because I do not have any money. It costs 200 kyats per day to hire a person. If Burmese battalions exchange, every household has to pay 200-500 kyats for supporting the battalion's welfare ceremony.

We have to clean the camp one to two times per month and fence once a year. I had to go to fence the camp last year. The Burmese soldiers order villagers to guide their way. The villagers also have to carry the loads. People say that some guides were killed because they could not move from carrying heavy loads. No one wants to go to be a guide. The hired price is 10,000 kyats for five days. Last year, our household paid someone 10,000 kyats to be a guide because my husband was sick.