Ruled by a repressive military government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and led by the dictator Than Shwe, the Southeast-Asian nation of Burma has a population of around 43 million people who are locked into a struggle for survival and freedom. Around 600,000 of these people, mainly ethnic minorities, are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), driven from their homes by the actions of the military government, yet still living within the borders of Burma, hiding in the jungles.

Internally displaced persons is the international term for people who have been forced or obliged to flee their homes or places of habitual residence, as a result or in order to avoid the effects of an armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border. A refugee is defined as someone who has fled his/her country because he/she fears persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinions.

As of October 2004, at least 526,000 people were documented as internally displaced in Eastern Burma. 365,000 people have fled to temporary settlements in ceasefire areas controlled by ethnic nationalities, 84,000 civilians remain in hiding for certain times in the forests and mountains of 'free-fire' conflict zones in eastern Burma, and another 77,000 villagers are in state-controlled relocation sites after having been forcibly evicted from their homes(1).

IDPs live precarious and transient lives in the jungles of Burma's border areas where ethnic minority populations are concentrated, and in the more urban central plains. There are regular reports of torture, arbitrary executions, sexual violence, indiscriminate use of landmines, and forced recruitment by both government troops and armed rebel groups. There is also systematic use of forced labour, and restrictions placed on farmers' access to their land and confiscation of land and property, resulting in civilians unable to earn a living as farmers or labourer. In such context, they are often forced to flee. They are denied the stability of having a home and a livelihood, and are pushed into a constant state of movement - never having the opportunity to maintain a home, their farms, access to education and medical facilities or any peace of mind. They generally do not receive more than the most minimal humanitarian assistance.

In much of the international public consciousness, Burma is linked with the figure of Aung San Suu Kyi, the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner. Still under house arrest, she will turn 60 on June 19, 2005. In 1988, students, professionals, and others launched a nationwide uprising aimed at ending authoritarian rule during which millions of people courageously marched on the streets, calling for freedom and democracy. Thousands were brutally killed by the Burmese army at that time. Yet, since its land-slide victory in the democratic elections of 1990 the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has been denied their right to govern Burma, and endured periodic closures of their offices and detention of their members. The continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, and other members of her NLD party, is a clear sign of the SPDC's continuing unwillingness to allow any moves towards democratic change or grassroots freedom in Burma.

The Context for “Always On the Run”

The SPDC uses fear as its primary weapon in its attempts to control the villages in ethnic areas. In the 1970’s, the SPDC introduced the ‘Four Cuts Policy’ which aimed to cut off armed opposition groups, primarily based in ethnic areas, from food, funds, recruits and intelligence. To do so, the primarily target of the Burmese army turned to be villagers. Since the 70’s, villages are regularly attacked, burned down and the villagers have no other choice then to flee into the jungle where they wait until they can return to their destroyed homes. Villagers that are not being displaced are often used as forced laborers, are arbitrarily forced to pay taxes, are looted, or even beaten or raped by the military forces.

The SPDC began an offensive in northern Karen and Karenni States in eastern Burma towards the end of 2004(2), which resulted in thousands of displaced people. During the time of the offensive, the SPDC was building or re-constructing several roads in this area and villagers located close to these roads were forced to work without pay on the construction. The SPDC also increased the number of military bases in this area with the forced labour from neighbouring villagers. It would appear that the SPDC offensive was intending to move the frontline with the Karen armed opposition group, the Karen National Liberation Army, further East towards the Thai-Burma border.

The area in question is also close to where the SPDC has planned to build two dams on the Salween River(3). It therefore seems likely that the offensive is in relation to the planned building of the dams, as much of the area was still in hands of the opposition groups. This military offensive is also likely related to reshuffling of the SPDC leadership which took place in October 2004 in which Prime Minister Khin Nyunt was ousted and replaced by hardliner General Soe Win, who has appeared less inclined in pushing for peace talks.

The Making of “Always on the Run”

A Burma Issues staff-member filmed “Always on the Run” in one village in a small community with approximately one hundred inhabitants. He was forced to leave after only one week, even though he had planned to stay longer, because the situation became too dangerous. At that time, it was clear that the SPDC might attack this and other surrounding villages. All the villagers kept their belongings packed day and night, ready to flee into the jungle at any time, to stay out of the hands of the SPDC who would either kill them or put them into forced relocation camps. The village that was filmed was also facing serious food shortages such that there was not sufficient food to feed the villagers let alone the Burma Issues staff-member.

One week after he left the area was attacked and the villagers fled into the jungle as well as many other villages in the surrounding area. They fled into the jungle with only the belongings that they could carry and had to stay there without shelter. This happened during the cold season in northern Burma where temperatures at night can drop as low as 10 degrees Celsius. The villagers returned a few weeks after the attack on their village. Luckily, the SPDC did not burn it down or lay landmines in the area.

An Uncertain Future

SPDC activities continue in the area, with the result that villagers live in constant fear. They are still ready to flee and do not have any certainty about their future. Their lives are thoroughly disrupted. Thousands others elsewhere in northern Karen State remain in hiding for extended periods and others flee to Thailand where their futures are equally jeopardized.

Because of the SPDC’s extensive control over activities in this area, it is difficult to get information in and out of northern Burma. However, it is established without speculation that human rights abuses continue uninterrupted in this area. As the numbers of SPDC soldiers has recently increased, more incidents occur all the time. Villagers’ animals are often stolen, SPDC soldiers demand money (‘tax’) for any reason, and villagers are forced to work as laborers. As the SPDC becomes more and more established in this region, the lives of villagers have become more vulnerable and uncertain.

The video “Always on the Run” was produced by Burma Issues in association with WITNESS to show the dire situation faced by internally displaced people (IDP) living inside Burma and to call for increased international action to support IDPs and address the root causes of the conflict in Burma. It was screened in parallel briefings at the recent UN Human Rights Commission to highlight the necessity of action to protect IDPs in Burma.

At the WITNESS website (www.witness.org) viewers can take action to contact US Congress and Senate, as well as the United Nations, and join global action around the June 19th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi. Also on the website previous video collaborations between Burma Issues and WITNESS including 'No Place to Go: Internally Displaced People in Burma' and 'Entrenched Abuse: Forced Labor in Burma'.

End Notes:

1. "Internal Displacement and Vulnerability in Eastern Burma", Thailand Burma Border Consortium, OCtober 2004
   
2. Special News Brief, Burma Issues Newsletter, November 2004 and January 2005
   
3. Burma Issues Newsletter March 2005