A report by the Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO) and Ta’ang Student and Youth Organization (TSYO)
Since January 2013, Burmese government troops have been carrying out military offensives in Palaung areas against the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N), Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The Burmese troops have committed widespread human rights violations during these operations, including rape, forced labour, torture and looting and destruction of properties.
Even though the Burmese government led by Thein Sein has been praised for its reforms, these have mainly been in central Burma. There have been few changes in ethnic areas. Even though the government has been holding peace negotiations with ethnic armed groups, it is still launching offensives against the KIA, TNLA and SSA-N. There has been no political dialogue to find a solution to the conflict and to establish a genuine federal union. Moreover, the number of government troops in Palaung areas has been steadily increasing.
As a result of offensives and abuses by Burmese government troops during 2013, thousands of local people have been displaced from their homes.