Living Ghosts
The spiraling repression of the Karenni population by the Burmese military junta
Chapter 7: Internal Displacement
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Chapter Overview
Karenni State is facing a disturbing displacement crisis with more than one quarter of the population displaced in 2007. The SPDC’s continued policies of aggression and attempts to expand development projects in Karenni state have led to thousands of villagers fleeing into hiding. The affects of which are formidable. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are vulnerable to food shortages, human rights violations, exploitation and violence from soldiers if they are found. They face extreme difficulties in accessing health services, education and desperately needed humanitarian assistance (medicine, food, shelter, clothing, etc.). Additionally, displacement results in the disintegration of communities, further marginalizing grassroots people and excluding them from political, social and economic processes that affect their lives and their futures. This chronic displacement will not end until a genuine, participatory solution to the political, economic and social problems in Burma is found.
In this chapter:
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7.1 International Definition for Internally Displaced Persons
Under the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, internally displaced persons (IDPs) are defined as:
“Persons who have
been forced or obliged to flee or leave their homes or place
of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in
order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations on
generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural
or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally
recognized State border.”59
IDPs include people who are in hiding (free fire zones), forced relocation sites and ceasefire areas.
7.2 Situation of Internally Displaced Persons in Karenni State
“When we have to flee
our village we can not all go together. Only two or three
families will group together and each group will flee to a
different hiding place,” W-- M---said.
Currently in Karenni State there are 81,000 IDPs60 – more than 25 per cent of the state’s population. In 2002 there were 57,000 IDPs in Karenni State. While the level of displacement fluctuates (the highest displacement was in 2004 with 88,000 IDPs in Karenni State), an increase of 42 per cent in five years is alarming, especially when this increase represents eight per cent of the total Karenni population - a significant, and concerning, proportion.
The majority of IDPs around the world, between 70 and 80 per cent, are women and children.61 In Karenni State between 56,700 and 64,800 women and children at this moment are living as IDPs, vulnerable to food shortages, human rights abuses, exploitation and violence and who are denied access to basic medical care and education.
IDPs in Karenni State can be categorised into three groups: IDPs in hiding, IDPs in ceasefire areas and IDPs in forced relocation sites. Below are the IDP figures for Karenni State in 2007 broken down into the three categories mentioned above and into township levels.
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Townships
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IDPs in Hiding
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IDPs in Relocation Sites
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IDPs in Ceasefire areas
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Total
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Shadaw
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2,900
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1.300
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0
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4,200
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Loikaw
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0
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1.900
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6.700
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8,600
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Demawso
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0
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0
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38.500
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38,500
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Pruso
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1.400
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0
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6.000
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7,400
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Bawlake
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0
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900
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0
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900
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Pasaimg
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5,700
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700
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5,200
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11,600
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Meh Set
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0
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0
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9,800
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9,800
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Total
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10,000
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4,800
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66,200
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81,000
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7.2.1 Internally Displaced Persons in Hiding
There are 10,000 men, women and children hiding in the jungle. IDPs in hiding choose to stay near their villages and fields rather than moving to relocation sites, ceasefire areas or seeking asylum in Thailand. They do so because they hope to return to their villages and start rebuilding their communities once the threat of danger has passed. Villagers can sometimes return home for a period of time before they are forced to flee again, while on other occasions they can only go back for a couple of hours to collect belongings and search for food. In the worst case it is impossible for them to return at all.
Villagers hiding in the jungle are exposed to extreme temperatures and weather conditions. In the hot season temperatures can reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius and drop to single digits in winter. During the wet season IDPs have to endure heavy rain. Their protection from the elements is rarely adequate and usually consists of what materials could be taken from their village at the time of fleeing and what can be found in their new hiding area.
IDPs also remain vulnerable to soldier violence should their hiding area be found. The Burmese army classifies IDPs as combatants or enemies of the state and employs a “shoot on sight” policy. The SPDC refuses to distinguish between unarmed villagers and combatants. This is a direct violation of the Geneva Convention I-IV, 1949, Common Article 3, which the State of Burma has ratified.
There is no peace for IDPs in hiding. Troop movements and bases are often very close to IDP areas. Soldiers are deployed to search for IDPs and often come within meters of where IDPs are hiding. As a result villagers are always on the lookout or on the run. Entire communities live in constant fear.
7.2.2 Internally Displaced Persons in Ceasefire Areas
 The Burmese army classifies IDPs
as combatants or enemies of the state and employs a “shoot
on sight” policy. 
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There are 66,200 IDPs living in chronic poverty in ceasefire areas. Previously ceasefire areas offered a level of protection for IDPs. However, as these ceasefire groups’ autonomy has decreased, so too has their ability to protect vulnerable people. In the past year the SPDC’s expansion into the KNPLF’s ceasefire area has seen the IDP population in this area decrease.63 One must note that in ceasefire areas there is less active conflict, which reduces some risks for IDPs.
However this is not a solution to the chronic displacement problem in Karenni State. Most ceasefire areas have limited agricultural land, leading to food shortages and IDP movements’ are heavily restricted preventing them from traveling to fields outside designated areas. IDPs are not compensated for lost materials, supplies, land or crops during displacement.
7.2.3 Internationally Displaced Persons in Forced Relocation Sites
Currently
there are 4,800 IDPs in eight forced relocation sites throughout
Karenni State. These relocation sites are a result of the Burmese
military regimes mass relocation programme in Karenni State
in 1996. Following the collapse of the ceasefire between SLORC
and the KNPP, tens of thousands of people were forcibly evicted
from their homes during this programme.
Most relocation sites are located close to military camps, army bases and along
main roads. This increases the vulnerability of exploitation
and abuse. IDPs are subjected to force labour demands from the
soldiers and arbitrary taxation (essentially theft). IDPs are
also vulnerable to torture; murder and rape by soldiers and
their movements are heavily restricted.
The relocation sites are also inadequate to sustain a healthy and economically viable livelihood. The majority of relocation sites do not have sanitation facilities, electricity or access to safe drinking water. The land surrounding the sites is often barren and over populated. As productive land has usually been claimed by the original inhabitants or confiscated by the soldiers, opportunities to farm are limited. There are also very few employment opportunities in forced relocation sites.
Many IDPs continue to live in forced relocation sites because the threat of human rights abuses is greater if they leave and return to their communities, than if they were to remain in the sites. However, many people have left these sites seeking asylum in Thailand or have moved to other areas in Karenni State because of the continuing harassment and violence. In 2007 IDPs the number of IDPs living in forced relocation sites has decreased from 6,000 in 2006.64
7.3 Reasons for Displacement
There are two main reasons for displacement: conflict and development.
7.3.1 Conflict Induced Displacement
Under the guise of counter insurgency, the Burmese army carries out military attacks targeting unarmed villagers. Decades of low intensity conflict have seen men; women and children flee their homes, taking to hiding in jungle, in ceasefire areas or being forced to live in relocation sites.
Since 1996, at least 273 villages have been destroyed, relocated or abandoned in Karenni State.65 Military attacks continue, as the Burmese army launches offensives and the armed resistance movement makes counter strikes. Villages are often shelled with mortars and artillery and as troops approach they fire automatic and semi-automatic weapons into the communities with no regard for human life.
IDPs cite human rights abuses, such as land confiscation, forced labour, arbitrary taxation and fines, destruction of property, food stores and crops, which are a by-product of the conflict as a main reason for displacement.
From 2002, 34, 9000 men, women and children have been displaced because of human rights abuses and conflict in Karenni State.66 Given that the population of Karenni State is 300,000, over 10 per cent of the population has been displaced in the past five years due to conflict and human rights abuses.
7.3.2 Development Induced Displacement
A significant part of Burma’s national budget is derived from income generated by foreign investment in so-called development projects. In the 2004/2005 fiscal year, for example, only 40 per cent of the junta’s spending was covered by ordinary tax revenue. The remaining 60 per cent was covered by income from other areas such as loans from the Central Bank and foreign governments and investments from development projects.67 In Karenni State a number of different development projects are being undertaken by the military junta including, mining, logging, hydro-electricity, industrial development and agriculture projects. The SPDC prohibits investors full foreign ownership in the projects and most foreign investment are made in joint ventures with the regime. The SPDC therefore dictates terms and conditions for the projects with little or no regard to the populations these projects are affecting.
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Development Projects
Development projects in Karenni State are undertaken by the SPDC without the permission of the local population. Villagers are not consulted or involved when development projects are planned and implemented. They receive very few, if any, benefits from these projects, and are often displaced because of these so-called “development”. The increased militarisation of development sites and surrounding areas also result in the escalation of human rights violations against the villagers.
None of the profits from the exploitation of Karenni State’s natural resources reaches the people. Instead they go to junta, enabling the Burmese military to further tighten their stranglehold of oppression on the people of Karenni State.
Prior to commencing a development project, the site needs stability. In order to secure complete control villagers are often forcibly relocated to areas close to military bases where they will be easily controlled and monitored by the SPDC. Burmese soldiers will patrol areas that have been depopulated searching for villagers who are resisting relocation orders by remaining in their villages or hiding in the jungle. Villagers are never compensated for their loss of land, property or crops during relocation.
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7.4 Karenni IDPs compared to other IDPs in eastern Burma
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States and Divisions
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IDPs in Hiding
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IDPs in Relocation Sites
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IDPs in Ceasefire areas Total
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Total
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Karenni
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10,000
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4,800
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66,200
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81,000
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Southern Shan |
13,700 |
24,100 | 123,000 | 163,000 |
| East Pegu | 18,700 | 12,200 | 0 | 30,900 |
| Karen | 51,600 | 9,700 | 55,600 | 116,900 |
| Mon | 600 | 7,200 | 41,600 | 49,400 |
| Tenasserim | 4,400 | 51,000 | 5,600 | 61,000 |
| Total | 99,000 | 109,000 | 295,000 | 503,000 |
Karenni State has the third highest number of IDPs in eastern Burma following Southern Shan State (163,000) and Karen State (116,900). IDPs in Karenni State represent 16 per cent of eastern Burma’s displaced population. However, if the number of IDPs is compared to the total Karenni population, Karenni State has the most severe level at 27 per cent. This is significantly higher than the 2 per cent of the population in Karen State that is displaced69 and 8 per cent in Southern Shan State.70
7.5 Displacement in Karenni State compared to other level of displacement in other countries
| No. of people Displaced72 | Total Population | Percentage of population displaced |
| Karenni | 81,000 | 300,000 | 27 per cent |
| Burma | 503,000 | 52,000,000 | 0.97 per cent |
| Bangladesh | 500,000 | 150,448,339 | 0.33 per cent |
| Indonesia | 150,000 -250,000(73) | 234,693,997 | 0.085 per cent |
| Philippines | 120,000 | 91,077,287 | 0.13 per cent |
| Sudan | 5,000,000 | 39,470,000 | 12.67 per cent |
| Colombia | 3,800,000 | 44,380,000 | 8.56 per cent |
| Iraq | 1,700,000 | 27,500,000 | 6.18 per cent |
| Uganda | 1,700,000 | 25,827,000 | 6.58 per cent |
| Democratic Repulic of Congo | 1,100,000 | 63,655,000 | 1.73 per cent |
Globally there are 24.5 million internally displaced persons in 52 countries.71 Sudan, Colombia, Iraq, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have the five largest displaced populations in the world. These five nations have more than half of the world’s IDP population. As far as a percentage of displaced persons against total population is concerned, the level of displacement in Karenni State is significantly higher than any percentage in any of these five countries.
7.6 Responsibility to Protect
As IDPs have not crossed a recognised international border, the responsibility to protect displaced population lies with the sovereign nation. The UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement state that international humanitarian agencies should be given access to displaced populations and that delivering aid should occur without hindrance. National authorities are also obliged to help the IDP population reintegrate into society, without discrimination, so that they are able to fully participate in public affairs and can access public services.
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An end to displacement occurs when IDPs can return home or be resettled, safely and with dignity.
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Of course for the Karenni and other ethnic IDPs in border regions of Burma, this is a profound irony considering it is the sovereign nation that is causing the displacement. The military regime in Burma is responsible for displacing the population and their willingness to assist IDPs is very limited. The regime places heavy restrictions on international humanitarian aid agencies restricting their access to IDP populations.
When the sovereign nation is unwilling to assist the country’s displaced population, the responsibility to protect falls to the international community. Previously members of the international community have been reluctant to intervene because of state sovereignty, leading to the failure to adequately protect innocent people. Nowadays the international community is starting to recognise their responsibility to protect vulnerable populations. This change was reaffirmed by state leaders at the UN’s 60th Anniversary Summit in 2005 and by the UN Security Council in 2006. In cases where the sovereign nation is unable or unwilling to protect vulnerable populations, the international community then has a responsibility to use diplomatic, humanitarian and enforcement action to protect.74
Footnotes
59 “Introduction, UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement”, United Nations, 1998
60 “Internal Displacement in Eastern Burma: 2007 Survey”, Thailand Burma Border Consortium, October 2007
61 The Internally Displacement Monitoring Centre, http://www.internal-displacement.org , access November 13th, 2007
62 “Internal Displacement in Eastern Burma: 2007 Survey”, Thailand Burma Border Consortium, October 2007
63 “Internal Displacement in Eastern Burma: 2007 Survey”, Thailand Burma Border Consortium, October 2007
64 “Internal Displacement in Eastern Burma: 2006 Survey”, Thailand Burma Border Consortium, November 2006
65 “Internal Displacement in Eastern Burma: 2007 Survey”, Thailand Burma Border Consortium, October 2007
66 “Internal Displacement in Eastern Burma: 2007 Survey”, Thailand Burma Border Consortium, October 2007
67 “Inflation in Burma: When the State budget deficits are financed by the money printing machine”, Burma Issues Newsletter, August 2007
69 This figure was calculated by dividing the number of IDPs in Karen State by the population of 6 million (Shoot on Sight: The ongoing SPDC offensive against villagers in northern Karen State, Burma Issues, December 2006) and multiplying by 100 (116,900/6,000,000x100 = 1.9 per cent of the population in Karen State is displaced)
70 This figure was calaculated by dividing the number of IDPs in Southern Shan State by the population of 1.978,234 (2003 Statistics from the Myanmar National Planning Department) and multiplying by 100 (163,000/1,978,234x100=8.24 per cent of the population of Southern Shan State is displaced)
71 “Internal Displacement Global Overview of Trends and Development in 2006”, The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, April 2007
72 The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, http://www.internal-displacement.org , accessed November 13th, 2007
73 An average of 200,000 is used for the calculation
74 “Internal Displacement in Eastern Burma: 2007 Survey”, Thailand Burma Border Consortium, October 2007
To read other sections of the report please use the links below:
Executive Summary
Introduction
Oppression
Livelihoods
Health
Education
Drugs
Threats to Regional and Internationl
Stability
Recommendations
Appendices
To email BI about our report, Living Ghosts, or the situation in Karenni State please click this link.
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