European Karen Network: New Burma Army Attacks Target Civilians – Europe Must Support Commission of Inquiry

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Media Release from European Karen Network

For immediate release, 27 July 2010

New Burma Army Attacks Target Civilians – Europe Must Support Commission of Inquiry

As the Burmese Army steps up attacks against ethnic Karen civilians in Eastern Burma, the European Karen Network, which represents Karen communities in Europe, today called on European governments to support a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the dictatorship.

On 23rd July Burma Army soldiers attacked Tha Dah Der village in Mutraw (Papun) District, Karen State, burning 50 homes, a school and a church. Approximately 540 people from this and neighbouring villages are now in hiding in the jungle. They have only a small amount of food they were able to carry with them, and no shelter. It is the rainy season in Eastern Burma at the moment.

Hundreds more civilians are fleeing towards the Thailand border as the Burmese Army and troops from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, which has been allied to the dictatorship, prepare for a new offensive. The offensive is expected against Democratic Karen Buddhist Army soldiers who are refusing to join the Burmese Army as a border guard force, which the dictatorship is demanding ahead of their fake elections later this year.

The European Karen Network has also received a report that a Karen woman in Mutraw (Papun) District was raped by a Burmese Army soldier on 10th July 2010.

The new attack on 23rd July and the rape on 10th of July are against civilians, not soldiers, as such constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The European Karen Network calls on European governments to:
•Support a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the dictatorship in Burma.
•Provide cross-border aid to those displaced by the attacks.
•Stop ignoring attacks against ethnic people and making policy solely based on developments in Rangoon and Nyapyitaw.
•Call on the dictatorship in Burma to stop attacks against Karen and other ethnic civilians.

“The dictatorship talks about reform and elections but its real intentions can be seen in its actions, burning civilian villages and raping women.” said Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, board member of European Karen Network from Germany. “The people ruling Burma are criminals and the international community is letting them stay free. European governments are complicit in these crimes because they fail in their responsibility to take action.”