Taw Oo District Incident Report: A SAC soldier committed conflict-related sexual violence against a 90-year-old villager in Daw Hpa Hkoh Township (November 2023) – Myanmar

abstract

This incident report describes events that occurred in November 2023 in Daw Hpa Hkoh (Thandaunggyi) Township, Taw Oo (Toungoo) District. On November 12, 2023, a skirmish between SAC troops and armed local resistance groups occurred near A— Village, Htee Day Village Area, Daw Hpa Hkoh Township. During the battle, a SAC soldier committed sexual violence against a 90-year-old villager, resulting in lasting physical and psychological consequences. The survivor received no medical treatment and is unable to officially report the incident.[1]

Part 2 – Information Quality

1. Explain in detail how this information was collected.

After receiving information about an incident in the village of A— in February 2024, a KHRG researcher went to document the incident and spoke to the villagers of A—. In May 2024, due to active conflict in the region, the KHRG researcher interviewed a friend of the survivor's daughter at a refugee site. In June 2024, the KHRG researcher was able to visit the village of A— to meet and interview survivor Daw B—.

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

This information was obtained through implementation [two] Interviews: with Daw B—, the survivor; and a friend of the survivor's daughter [the survivor’s daughter had witnessed the incident].