The Burmese military government has stepped up its military assault on Karen communities in eastern Burma, according to latest reports by the Free Burma Rangers.

After offensives throughout the rainy season, involving more than 50 battalions, the Burmese army was now stepping up its military assaults in the region, the FBR said in a report on the deteriorating situation.

Six major units were being rotated-“Attacks against civilians throughout northern Karen State are expected to continue when the new units are in place,” said the FBR report.

Since early 2006, more than 30 new Burma Army camps have been built and 76 civilians, including women and children, have been killed in the army offensives.

More than 2,000 villagers have been forced to work for the Burma Army without compensation and over 100 people been use as human shields.

More than 2,000 prisoners have been used as army porters and 265 of them had been killed, the FBR report said. Incidents included the rape of a 35-year-old woman by Burmese soldiers in late January in Bilin Township, Thaton District.

The report said that over 25,000 people had been displaced in eastern Burma since early 2006.  The areas where the offensives are occurring include Taungoo District, Nyaunglebin District, Papun District and Thaton District.