The civil war in northern Burma is severely affecting civilians. A Kachin woman was kidnapped and gang-raped on the frontline of Mu Bum Mountain by Burmese Army troops, alleged family members.


Sumlut Roi Ja, 28, and the mother of a 14-month daughter belonging to Hkai Bang near the China border in Sub-Loije Township in Manmaw (Bhamo) district, was kidnapped and gang-raped for nearly a week since October 28 by Burmese soldiers in the Mu Bum post, said her relatives.

Her relatives said, Roi Ja with her husband and father-in-law were detained by Burmese soldiers, when they were harvesting corn in their farm in Mu Bum Mountain.

Later, her husband and father-in-law escaped from the custody of government soldiers, while she was brought back to the Burmese frontline post, added her family members.

Eyewitnesses said they saw her naked body on the stone platform in the Burmese military post after she was gang-raped by dozens of Burmese soldiers in the military post.

Roi Ja has not been released till November 3, said her relatives.

The Hkai Bang is situated on the mountainside of Mu Bum and the villagers there cultivate paddy in the mountain, which is close to the Loije in Kachin State and Jang Hkawng in China’s Yunnan province.

Roi Ja’s gang rape has shocked the villagers of Hkai Bang and they are now fleeing to safer places, said villagers.

Three women were abducted earlier and have been kept at the military post so far. They are treated as sex slaves for Burmese soldiers in the post. They are also forced to cook and carry water, according to two porters, who recently escaped from the military post.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch condemned the Burmese government, which is talking of major democratic reforms in the country but intentionally perpetrating human rights abuses on Kachin people--- raping girls and women, arresting and killing civilians, and burning homes of civilians since the government started a new war on the Kachin people on June 9.