Forced Labor Used for Military Outpost Construction

Pelatwa: The Burmese army has been using local tribal people from the western Burmese border area as forced labor in the construction of army outposts along the Burma-Bangladesh border since the beginning of October, said one villager from the border.

"Our community in the area had been forced by local army officials to work on construction at Latpenwa army outpost, which is being renovated by the army authority as a defensive position," he said.

The Latpenwa outpost is a key strategic outpost for the Burmese army and it is located in Paletwa Township in Chin State on the western border near Bangladesh. The Burmese army has been reconstructing the outposts so it could serve major defensive operations on the western Border.

According to a local source, many Khami villages are located in the area surrounding Latpenwa outpost and the people there are the main targets for use as forced labor by the military authority.

"Villagers from several villages in the area are summoned by army officials every day from 7 am to 4 pm to work on the construction site, and we have to go there with our own food. The army officials have not assisted with payment of wages for the construction," he said.

Khami people from several villages, including Thae Daung, Fyut Chaung Wa, Bu Chaun Phyr, Htut Pin, Chin Letwa, and Shin Ma Tean, have had to work daily at the army outpost.

"Our villagers have been forced by army officials to work at many construction work sites, like bamboo and wood cutting, digging earth for bunkers, constructing barricades, and carrying materials like cement, iron, and tin, for the outpost," he added.

One column from Light Infantry Battalion 538 based in Rathidaung is now posted at the Latpenwa outpost, the army source said.

Many villagers in the area have not been able to attend to their own livelihoods because they've been forced to work on the outpost, and it is currently a crucial period for farmers because the mountain paddy is ready to be harvested.

According to local source, the Burmese army authority has been renovating many army outposts located along the western border, including Kha Mon, Pri Zaw, Toke Pi, Wanet Ron, Kin Tha Lin, Mrit Waa, Kha Mong Wa, and Latpenwa.

Many new temporary outposts are also being constructed along the border and many people are being forced by authorities to work on the construction without pay.

Local sources also say that Burmese army authorities are using locals as porters to transport army equipment from one place to another along the border after a number of army battalions have been deployed to the area.