“It has probably become more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in an armed conflict” (Maj. Gen Patrick Cammaert - a former peacekeeper in Darfur)

 

Rape. It may be a small word, but it has a meaning that carries the power to destroy individuals, families and entire communities. All around the world, rape is used against women as a show of power and control. In Burma, it is also used as a weapon of war.

 

Just last week the Burma Army, the military force of the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council), began a new offensive along the border in Karen State. Almost 4000 civilians fled for their lives across the Moei River into Thailand creating an extensive emergency crisis. In the days leading up to the attacks, the Burma Army entered villages in the area forcibly recruiting soldiers and porters.

 

On 12^th June, Naw Pay and Naw Wah Lah chose to stay in their homes rather than try to outrun the Burma Army soldiers heading towards their village, which was a few hours walk from the border. Naw Pay - aged 18, was eight months pregnant and Naw Wah Lah - aged 17, had a six month old baby to care for.  It was a decision with dire consequences. When found by the soldiers they were taken out of their homes and gang raped. Afterwards, both young women and the unborn child were brutally murdered.

 

Tragically, this is not an isolated case. Over the past few years, a number of women’s groups based in Burma have produced reports documenting the systematic use of rape and sexual violence by the Burma Army against ethnic women and girls. The number of known rape victims, some going back as far as 1995, is just under 1,900.  However, this is only a fraction of the true number as so many women are afraid or unable to speak out about what has happened to them. Sometimes rape is carried out with such extreme brutality that for the victim, death can be the only possible outcome.

 

The SPDC, although they would deny it, encourage their military to use rape as part of a deliberate strategy to attain and strengthen control within ethnic areas. The horrific sexual assault and deaths of Naw Pay and Naw Wah Lah proves that ethnic women and girls in Burma live under the constant threat of rape during the course of their everyday lives. It could happen at any time – in their homes, whilst working on the farms, going to the market, travelling to school or collecting firewood.

 

Targeting women- those who are seen as the main carers - can destabilise a community. Rape humiliates and instils fear, which in turn causes distrust and disunity.

 

In 2008 the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution that rape and sexual violence used in armed conflict should be classed as a weapon of war and those who perpetrate it can be tried in an international criminal court for crimes against humanity.  

 

However, words and resolutions mean very little to a regime intent on power at any cost and unless there is real and lasting intervention from the UNSC and the wider international community the SPDC will continue to deny their actions and neglect any obligations to any international conventions they have ratified.

 

We at Partners know we cannot give the families of Naw Paw and Naw Wah Lah back their daughters, wives, sisters, mothers or grandchild, but we can commit to not allow their deaths to be in vain.

We have just been informed by our team that the Burma Army have begun an offensive against displaced villagers along the Thai-Burma border and early this morning heavy bombing has been heard.

There are an estimated 800 Burma Army troops, joined by 300 soldiers from their proxy forces spread along approximately 20 - 30km of border region.

Three days ago there was an ambush which reportedly left four Burma Army soldiers deceased and four wounded. This resulted in the Burma Army retreating a short distance. On Thursday there was a second ambush where one Burma soldier died and four were wounded. This has resulted in the Burma Army reinforcing their troops.

Innocent children and families are hungry and at risk. With their home villages destroyed or in peril, the options to escape to safety are limited. Major evacuations are under way.

Yesterday all women and children were evacuated, leaving the older people and men at the camp last night. They plan to move them today. Since the 3rd of June, more than 3,295 villagers have left their villages inside Karen State Burma and travelled to towns inside Tak province in Thailand. The Thai authorities have been very helpful.

These villagers from eleven different internally displaced persons villages were being forced to be porters and human mine sweepers for the Burma Army in preparation of this attack. Many of these families have already fled previous Burma Army attacks.

As recently as last week, Partners' staff assisted 40 families with essential survival materials, such as mosquito nets, blankets, clothes, pots, pans, and bowls. Partners' staff are rapidly working with ethnic leaders to provide critical assistance to the hundreds of families have arrived at the border seeking aid and refuge. Food and medicine are being distributed.

Yesterday, the Partners Mae Sot staff delivered aid and emergency supplies to these villagers. Three four-wheel drive trucks were fully loaded and supplies were delivered to the camp leader.

We were able to give:
Two trucks of clothing Medicines for 200 cases of each of the following illnesses: malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory, wound care, analgesics etc
30 pots
25 large sized tarpaulins
100 bottles of mosquito repellent
15 boxes each containing 100 dried fish
10 boxes each containing 180 individual packs of Ma Ma noodles
5 boxes each containing 96 packs of small shrimp
72 bottles of cooking oil Rolls of plastic sheeting

All of this was brought in torrential rain, which continued for 90% of the journey - usually this journey takes 1 hour 45 minutes, but yesterday took 5 hours. The team prayed with the camp leader and Isaiah 41:10 came to their minds (Don't be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand)

YOU CAN DONATE TODAY TOWARDS THIS EMERGENCY CRISIS – WE NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE VISIT : http://www.partnersworld.org.uk/donate.html

Thanks for your ongoing support and prayers.

We will endeavour to update you as soon as we hear news.

I'd like to share with you a story from a medic colleague of mine who is based in Chiang Mai. She writes;

"Last Wednesday I spent the whole day at Suan Dok hospital. The place is a mad house. There is no parking, but it seemed like there were thousands of people there. I went with Chet Win, who has a bad heart and needed a cath procedure to determine if he could have surgery or not. We had to wait in line for the elevator - a line of about 200 waiting people - there were even special police managing the chaos. I was hot, sweaty and late for the appointment. I turned and saw a man of about 80 years old with a trach tube coming out of his throat, so I figured i didn't have too much to complain about. When we got to the lab, we had another 3 hour wait. Finally the procedure was done and Chet Win came to tell me the news. He had the saddest look on his face, big tears in his eyes and choked up he said, "There is nothing they can do. My heart is too bad to have surgery." This means that according to doctors he may only live until the age of 30. He got married just one month ago. My heart broke and I had to choke back my own tears.

We then proceded to the recovery room where although Chet Win recieved skilful nursing care, the attitude towards him as a Karen man was sickening. I eventually took one of the medical staff aside and spoke to her. Itold her that I could not believe that they were treating him in this way and that as he only had a couple of years left to live the least they could do was to treat him with a little respect. As a result of this, our last few hours in the hospital were made even more difficult and I am sure we ended up paying a bigger bill than we should have because of it.

I walked to get my car to pick up Chet Win from the main door.  When I sat inside I just cried. I began to get angry at God as well. Then an image of Jesus came to me. The one of Him on the cross looking at the people and saying, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." I fought those words and in a toddler-like tantrum I told God it wasn't true, because these people DO KNOW what they are doing! And where was He in the midst of this? How could He let injustice and oppression and cruelty keep happening to these people? After my anger and sobs subsided, I composed myself, wiped my eyes dry and put a little smile on my face. And then there was a miracle...

...When I reached the entrance and saw Chet Win, he was beaming! He was so happy and full of life and joy - and he had peace in his eyes. He's a buddhist, but he was praising God and thanking Him for being with him. He told me that if we hadn't been there, and if God hadn't helped him then he would be dead already. Just looking at the peace in his face made me realise that the turmoil and heartache of the day was worth it - and if we had to walk through darker places than that it would be worth it just to see that look of peace and joy on someones face. God had been there all along.

And then I remembered Jesus again. His darkest hour was the days leading up to the cross. They mocked Him, beat him, tore at him with their hands and their words. They condemned an innocent man and killed Him on a cross. it was His darkest hour and most sorrowful time, but then....the stone was rolled away and Jesus is alive!

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for jesus' sake, so that His life maybe revealed in or mortal body." 2 Corinthians 4:8-11