This area is unstable due to hostile military activity resulting in many villagers being forced to hide in the jungle. High levels of SPDC military activity caused delays in the transporting of medical supplies. Some villages in the Thay Kaw Deh area were forced to relocate by the SPDC. Health supplies have to be carried by hand and during the rainy season, there are often delays in medicines reaching the field. There was insufficient medication to treat the patients and for some diseases, no medication was available. Because of food shortages in the areas, villagers often could not afford to participate in workshops conducted by the BPHWT. In addition, some TBAs have reporting poor levels of their own eyesight and they are unable to work as effectively as would otherwise be possible. Specific instances of human rights violations recorded in this area by BPHWT field workers included:
• On 8th October 2009 in the Na Hta area, houses were burned down by the SPDC.
• On 9th October 2009 in Ka Hse Kee village, villagers’ crops were destroyed by the SPDC.
• From the beginning of the year through October 2009, the SPDC used villagers as forced labour to build a military camp at Htike Htu, Pa Yar Lay, and Baw Ka Hta.
• On 17th October 2009 in Ke De village, SPDC Light Infantry Battalions 369 and 367 and SPDC Light Infantry Division 10 killed one villager and burned down 11 houses.
• On 9th January 2010 in Koe Kay Pa village, SPDC Light Infantry Battalions 367 and 369 killed one villager and forcibly appropriated materials and food from the villagers.