The Burmese military have launched fresh attacks on residents of Toungoo district, northern Karen state, killing and arresting people at random and forcing thousands to flee to the surrounding jungles.

Fresh batches of troops moved into Taungoo last month as part of an operation against the Karen National Liberation Army brigades one and two.

Burmese infantry battalions 66 and 124 have been operating in Thandaung and Htantapin in Taungoo and have banned farmers from their land and planted landmines around villages.

According a report by the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People, between February 8 and 14, at least 135 people were kidnapped from Kaw Thay Der, Kaw Law Kar, Ku Thay Der and Sar Bar Law Khi villages for use by the military as forced labourers.

On February 15, the mutilated body of an unidentified person was found in Bla Khi area. The victim’s throat had been slit and left hand cut off, CIDKP said.

The Karen National Union’s information officer David Takabaw said about 20 Karen civilians were reported to have been killed by the Burmese military.

“Thousands of the Karen villagers are now hiding in the jungles and some are on the way to flee into Thai-Burma border,” Takabaw said.

“The military is committing human rights abuses on Karen civilians and also it’s obvious that they don’t respect the peace talks that we have verbally agreed upon.”

The KNU and the military started peace talks two years ago when Karen leader general Mya visited Rangoon in January 2004.

The KNU said they are willing to continue peace talks but that the military had consistently refused to meet them.