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An interview with a Burmese soldier from 385th Infantry Battalion who joined the S.S.A. (Shan State Army).
Q. : May I know your name and your biography?
A. : My name is Cho Lwin Oo, age 32, a Buddhist Burmese from the delta region, in the town of Pa Thein Kone, district of Bassein , Irrawaddy (Ayeyawadi) division. My parents are U Kyaw and Daw Kyi Kyi Win, and I am the elder of their two children. I left my younger sister with my parents at Pa Thein Kone. As we are poor, I only managed to complete primary school (4th standard).
Q. : And what about your rank, post and your battalion?
A. : I am an ordinary soldier and my private number is 177370. My assigned battalion is 385th infantry battalion, based at Mo Ngyin (Mong Yang) in the Kachin state. When I was posted there, the battalion was 160 strong in men including officers. Sergeant Maung Maung was my platoon leader and Lieutenant Win Naing was my company leader. I had no chance to learn the name of the battalion commander until I left the camp.
Q. : Where and when did you contact SSA?
A. : In early 2001, I was sent to a front line, in central Shan State that covers Laikha, Murng Kerng, Pang Long and Kho Lam area. On 5th March 2001, when we were bivouacing near the camp of 515th infantry battalion at Laikha, I deserted and on 11th March 2001 entered Wan Zing tract. Later I managed to make contact and surrendered my arms to the SSA's 758th Brigade.
Q. : Why did you join the Burmese Army and again desert it?
A. : Among the soldiers of the Burmese Army, 75 percent have been forced as conscripts with less than 25 percent join on their own. I came to know about this during my experience in the army. In about mid 2000, I left home and went to Tavoy to find a job, where I got one in a fishing boat. Near the end of August, our boat was hit by a storm and we came to a port to repair. At Tavoy port, I was captured by the Burmese soldiers as a porter. After I was locked up in their camp for one night, I was sent to the Tavoy recruiting camp, with 16 other forced conscripts. Some are jobless wanderers. Some poor peasants are promised with good opportunity to join the army.
Q. : From there did they send you directly to the boot camp?
A. : No, first we have to pass the medical check up. The result came out on 18th September 2000, with all of us passed. And on 19th September we were enrolled into the army. From there we were sent to the No. 8 Military Training School (boot camp) at Shwe Bo, Sagaing division.
Q. : Can you describe the life in the boot camp?
A. : It's a strange and unexpected experience in my life. Although it is a four and half month long course, we were made to break stones at Ngar Twin Gyi village, Kant Balu township for one month. Each team consists of 7-8 recruits for a quota of kyins per day (1 kyin = 100 cubic feet). Except 2 meals a day we had no other allowance. Breaking stones in the quarry was very dangerous, there were accidents every day, from minor injury to severe cases, such as broken limbs and fratured skulls. If the victims became invalid, they are dismissed from the Burmese Army and sent home. Therefore the actual training was only three and a half month.
Q. : And after that training?
A. : After the training, we are sent to our assigned battalion. 10 men in our batch, including myself are sent to the 385th infantry battalion, based at Nam Mar, Mo Ngyin district, Kachin state.
Q. : Was there a definite term to serve the Burmese Army?
A. : Before we were trained in the boot camp, we had to sign for 10 years service, but by the end of the training the term became 30 years.
Q. : Are there any under aged children in the training school or in the army?
A. : Not only in the training school, even in the army units, nearly 30 percent of the recruits are between age of 13 to 17. Anybody who can handle a rifle is considered good enough to be recognized as a soldier. Age-limit is only written in the penal code.
Q. : Was there a special assignment for you in your battalion?
A. : At my base, my company leader assigned me to look after the battalion's poppy fields. His reason was that I have had some experience as a farmer in my home town.
Q. : What do you mean, with the battalion's poppy fields?
A. : Battalion's poppy fields means the opium poppy fields, which is grown by members of the Tatmadaw (Burmese Army). According to the order of the Northeastern Command, every battalion under this command must grow opium, at least 50 acres per battalion. Preparing the soil and planting seeds are done by forced labour, who are local people. Once it is grown, members and families of the battalion take care of the poppies until harvest time. The products of the battalions under the Northeastern Command are gathered and sent to the markets in northern Shan State.
Q. : Are you saying that SPDC is now directly involved in illegal drugs?
A. : Sure, every soldier and local people in the areas are the eye-witnesses of their involvement. Once, I was assigned to guard a convoy bound for the Chinese border. There were six 4-wheels Toyota trucks and 7 Mitsubishi Pajaro jeeps in the convoy carrying what my superior said "important goods" that were "narcotic drugs and jade". The officers receive in millions of kyats from each trip, but not a penny for the common soldiers except kind meals served by the traders along the journey. That was one of my first taste of discrimination in the Burmese Army.
Q. : Is there any drug sold or used by the men in your battalion?
A. : When I was in the base, I did not see any soldier or NCOs using or selling drugs. But for the officers, there were always drugs in every ceremony or feasts after they had succeeded escorting a convoy. I have seen some junior officers injecting heroin into their veins.
Q. : What is the situation of discrimination in the Army?
A. : We are totally discriminated from the officers. All ordinary soldiers are taught only to obey orders, and to be satisfied with what you are given. You must not complain about your surroundings. The pay 4,500 kyats is just enough for a uniform and after that, there is nothing left for the whole month. So, we have to rely on home-shops, sold by the wives of the officers. By the end of the month, your pay is taken away by those debtors before it reaches your hands. It's like the old Burmese saying, "Even though it is meant to be given but one has never received it; Even if being fed, it is still not being sufficiently done". That has been my life in the Burmese Army. Besides, you have to work for the welfare and personal profits of the superiors. Such dissatisfaction in the Army causes soldiers to abuse and rob the defenseless people, once they reached the free-firing front lines.
Q. : Have you ever been ordered to abuse the people as you like? Are there such orders for other soldiers?
A. : No, there are no such orders from my superiors. But they have shown the way in oral and practice. For example, on reaching a village, they show how to capture and have a victim, tortured and interrogated. You can accuse the victim as you like and confiscate all his properties before he is released or detained or executed. During these times, the superiors turn blind-eye,if nothing was happening. In one incidence, I ran into trouble with my column leader. It happened in February 2001, when our column was patrolling around the town of Pang Long, we found a family tethering their mules on the plain not far from Pang Long. This family consists of an elderly couple and their 10 year old daughter (or probably grand daughter), who could not answer any of our questions, because they could not speak Burmese. These victims were bound and dragged along. On reaching a village, the village headman beg for their pardon to release them on bail. But the column leader refused to release them. In that night, my company leader called me and said, a grave had been dug and ordered me to kill these poor people. When I was accompanying these people to their grave, a strang feeling filled my mind, looking these old couple and the poor girl, they remind me of my family in the delta region. I found that I could not kill them in cold blood. So, I decided to release them on my own account. As there was no much time, I could only manage to untied the old man and let them run through the darkness. After they had disappeared in the darkness, I fired a few rounds into the empty grave with my rifle and start to bury with a shovel. Before I could finish my company found out what I had done. He scolded and rebuked that he would kill me for not obeying the order of the superiors. Since then our relationship became sour, suspicion grows and we could not face each other. I believed, one day I could be killed in action by bullets of our own men. This was one of my cause for desertion.
Q. : Would you tell us some of your battles?
A. : I was in the Burmese Army only for five months, during this time I had not fought a battle. As far as I know all these men of the Burmese Army in the free-firing front line are spending most of their times by bullying and looting the rural people.
Q. : Is there discrimination between Burmese and non-Burmese groups in the Burmese Army? What is your opinion on this?
A. : As an ordinary Burmese I believe and accept that all non-Burmese people are honest and equal with the Burmese. But in the Burmese Army, I have learned well that non-Burmese people are regarded as inferior races. I have seen some Arakans, Karens, Kachins and Chins in the Burmese Army, but not a Shan. They may work hard but promotion and reward is not for them. In the frontline we frequently receive orders saying that "a Shan rebel or any person suspected of being a sympathizer must not be left alive". These discriminations only create hatred among the races. It's only the Burmese military junta themselves who are going against their own stated vow of "not to allow the Union to disintegrate".
Q. : Why do you desert the Burmese Army and on arrival in the SSA how do you feel?
A. : In truth, I desert the Burmese Army, because I could not stand the discrimination in the army and on other hand I do not wish to be a cold blooded murderer or robber against innocent defenceless people. I wish to be free from these tragedies, so I just left my post and wandered deep into the jungle. When I reached Wan Zing tract, I was exhausted due to lack of food and sleep. With fear in my heart, I had managed to enter a small house and surrender my arms to the owner, whom we could not understand each other due to language barrier. But he fed me well with the meagre food he had and let me rest for the night. The next day some men from SSA came to pick up me. The warm welcome of the men and officers of the SSA made me feel the difference with the Burmese Army. I knew at once SSA is not a bunch of non disciplined bandits. They are fighting for their just rights representing their people.
Q. : Have you any idea to call along some of your comrades, when you desert?
A. : You have no one to trust in the Burmese Army, because nobody knows what is really in the mind of your close companion. Careless talks could cause you trouble. But I dare say, all common soldiers share the same dissatisfaction due to this discrimination and everybody is looking for a way out.
Q. : What kind of a weapon did you carry at the time of desertion?
A. : When I deserted, I brought with me what I was carrying, one MA1 rifle, 130 rounds of ammunition and 3 magazines.
Q. : What do you wish to say to your comrades those are left behind?
A. : Please stop your gang lying to the people. Don't lie any more even with the order from your superiors. May you be blessed with a way out.
Q. : What is your future plan?
A. : In this time I need not to think twice. If I go back home, I may be killed or spend the rest of my life in jail. I have devoted my life to SSA and will do my best with my duty.
Q. : Have you any hope of reunion with your family?
A. I hope, one day, if I am still alive I will join them. The lord looks after the righteous one.
Q. : Can you tell me the best and the worst thing SPDC has done?
A. : Don't ask for the best, they have done nothing good. The worst is their autocracies and discrimination committed against the non-Burmese people. Narcotic drugs have become a large source of income for all their units in the Burmese Army.
Q. : And your opinion on SSA?
A. : Tough I have not learnt about Shan history, I have found that SSA is fighting to protect their people. The autocracies and discrimination, committed by the Burmese Army alone is enough for Shans to take up arms to protect their people. With a well recorded history, the necessity of a well disciplined Shan Army is more than enough. I hope Shan people will win the war against the evils and regain their rights.
Q. : Do you wish to say anything more? comment?
A. : As long as discrimination is prevalent in the Burmese Army, there will be no family spirit, in which we could live together in peace and trust. Every Burmese loves his own nation, the same is with non-Burmese people. What I hate and am concerned most is the autocracy and discrimination of the SPDC, which will cause inter-races hatred. Even among our own Burmese there is such discrimination, it is many times worse with non-Burmese people. To all my comrades, we are all good Buddhist. We need not only care for ourselves, we need to share the difficulty of others. Being born as a human being, don't let your good deeds get lost by your inhuman deeds, by the orders of the tyrants. There is a world with love and shining hope, I pray for you all that you find an escape from the world of blood and tears.