Programs: Science and Policy
http://shr.aaas.org//geotech/burma/Papun.shtml
AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program
Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights
Burma - Conflict in Karen State
Case Study Report
Papun District Image Analysis | Toungoo District Image Analysis | Dooplaya District Image Analysis
Shan State Image Analysis | Shwegyin District Image Analysis | Myawadi District Image Analysis | Thailand Image Analysis
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Papun District Image Analysis
Papun District, like Thandaung District to its north, has been a perennial conflict zone for years. Due to its proximity to the Thai border, it is the source of many of the refugees who occupy camps in Thailand, upon whose testimony the Thailand Burma Border Consortium relies to reconstruct events within that country.AAAS SHR surveyed areas in Papun District in 2007 and again in 2009. The first analysis relied upon coordinates received from the field identifying a specific set of villages burned on and around April 22, 2007. Reports indicated that 33 military camps were built in the area in 2006 and existing camps were enlarged and used as bases for military operations and internment. Attacks in this area are documented in Karen Human Rights Group reports as well as by the Free Burma Rangers, and supported by information from Thailand Burma Border Consortium.
Images from 2000, 2006, and 2007, covering a portion of Papun District, were compared with one another
to derive results. Imagery analysis located nine settlement areas that had been visibly disturbed,
burnt, or destroyed (see Images 1 - 4 and Images 7 - 11). A military camp and an auxiliary
military camp were also identified in the study area (Images 5 and 6). Analysis of 93 sq. km.
surrounding the military camps indicated 31 possible sites of forced relocation, indicated by the
appearance of new villages and groups of structures between imagery collected in 2000-2001 and a new
satellite image acquired in late 2006. Samples of these 31 sites are presented in Images 12 - 13.
Figure Two summarizes these locations.
Images 1 - 4 and 10 - 11 correspond with the reported attacks around March through May of 2006, and
the area believed to be the site of the village burnings in April 2007 is presented in Images 7 - 9.
Of special interest, reporting concerning the April 2007 attacks identified a number of villages that
had been burned by the military in the northern Papun District area. Given the report of burning,
which produces recognizable scarrring on the land surface, a new image of the areas was ordered,
though no before imagery of some areas was available. Despite the fact that the monsoon clouds had
moved in for the season, in mid-June the clouds cleared briefly one morning and an image was
successfully collected for the area.
AAAS SHR revisited Papun in 2009 after reports that the district ranked second only to Thandaung District in intensity of conflict during 2007-2008. Imagery from 2006 and 2009 was analyzed by AAAS SHR and shown to largely corroborate these reports, revealing the destruction of entire villages, as well as isolated dwellings in the forest. In some cases, one settlement would appear to grow at the expense of others - a pattern that could be consistent with reports of forced relocation collected by humanitarian workers familiar with the situation on the ground. Images 14 - 17 are from the 2009 analysis of Papun.
Papun District Sites: 2007 Analysis
Image 1: Removed Village
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The "before" image depicts a settlement in the Papun District adjacent to rice paddies in 2000 (red dots added for ease of
identification). The "after" image from 12/2006 shows the same area of land as with
all structures removed. Note: a similarly sized settlement appeared 1 km north in the interim. This area
was reported attacked in April 2006. (Lat: 18.41 N Long: 97.26 E)
Image 2: Removed Village
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The image from 11 November 2000 shows a 6-structure settlement; all structures are removed from
the 2006 image. This area was reported attacked in April 2006. (Lat: 18.42 N Long: 97.26 E)
Image 3: Removed Village
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The "before" image shows 5+ structures along a densely-wooded ridge in 2000. All structures are
removed in the corresponding 2006 image. The area was reported attacked in April 2006.
(Lat: 18.39 N Long: 97.24 E)
Image 4: Removed Village
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The first image depicts a settlement of 6-10 structures in 2000. The majority of structures are
removed in the "after" 2006 image; significant forest growth is also seen. This area was reported attacked in April 2006.
(Lat: 18.36 N Long: 97.24 E)
Image 5: Military Camp
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This particular camp was identified from a report disseminated by the Free Burma
Rangers that reported a major expansion of the camp in 2006. Bamboo fencing was erected around the
camp, visible in the "after" image above. (Lat: 18.42 N Long: 97.23 E)
Image 6: Satellite Military Camp
13-Dec-2006. © 2007 DigitalGlobe.
This image is of a suspected military camp developed between November 2000 and 13 December 2006.
This is likely a satellite camp, lying about a kilometer from the larger military camp depicted in
Image 5. (Lat: 18.42 N Long: 97.23 E)
Image 7: Removed Structures
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This settlement in the image pair above has experienced the removal of at least 3 structures.
This corresponds with reported attacks in the area in April of 2007. (Lat: 18.56 N Long: 97.06 E)
Image 8: Structural Burn Scars
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The settlement in the image pair above shows burn scars for about 12-14 structures . This corresponds with
reported attacks in the area on April 22, 2007. (Lat: 18.54 N Long: 97.05 E)
Image 9: Structural Burn Scars
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Two burn scars can be seen in the image "after" above between two standing structures, corresponding with
reported attacks in April 2007. This corresponds with reported attacks in the area on April 22, 2007. (Lat:
18.54 N Long: 97.06 E)
Image 10: Removed Village
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The "before" image shows 2 - 5 small structures in November 2000, with those structures removed by
the December 2006 image. The location is 4.1 kilometers from the military camp shown in Image 5.
(Lat: 18.43 N Long: 97.25 E)
Image 11: Removed Village
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The "before" image, taken in 2000, shows a small cluster of huts and a path. The "after" image from December 2006 indicates that those structures have been removed.
The location is 4.1 kilometers from the military camp shown in Image 5.
(Lat: 18.43 N Long: 97.25 E)
Image 12: Possible Relocated Villages
After Image: 13-Dec-2006. © 2007 DigitalGlobe.
The two villages in this image appeared between February 2001 and December 13, 2006, the date the image was acquired.
Reporting indicates numerous instances of
forced relocations to this area, which lies 3.7 kilometers from the military camp shown in Image 5.
In Papun District, analysis of 93 sq. km. surrounding the military camp indicated 31 possible sites
of forced relocation, indicated by the appearance of new villages and groups of structures between
imagery collected in 2000 - 2001 and a new satellite image acquired in late 2006. (Lat: 18.42 N Long:
97.26 E)
Image 13: Possible Relocated Villages
After Image: 13-Dec-2006. © 2007 DigitalGlobe.
Four areas of housing shown in this image appeared between November 2000 and the date of the image acquisition, December 13, 2006.
Reporting indicates numerous instances of
forced relocations to this area, which lies 5.6 kilometers from the military camp shown in Image 5.
In Papun District, analysis of 93 sq. km. surrounding the military camp indicated 31 possible sites
of forced relocation, indicated by the appearance of new villages and groups of structures between
imagery collected in 2000 - 2001 and a new satellite image acquired in late 2006. (Lat: 18.41 N Long:
97.29 E)
Papun District Sites: 2009 Analysis
Image 14: Removed Village
Before Image: 13-Dec-2006. © 2009 DigitalGlobe. After Image: 08-Feb-2009. © 2009 DigitalGlobe.
A village of ten dwellings is present in this location at the end of 2006 (top). By 2009, all have been destroyed, with one new structure erected in the interim. Additionally, the small orchard located in the south of the earlier image has been abandoned. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 18.42, Lon: 97.13)
Image 15: Removed Village
Before Image: 13-Dec-2006. © 2009 DigitalGlobe. After Image: 08-Feb-2009. © 2009 DigitalGlobe.
A village consisting of fourteen structures occupies this location in 2006 (top). By the beginning of 2009, all save one have been destroyed. As the remains of the razed dwellings are clearly visible, their destruction was likely recent. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 18.49, Lon: 97.14)
Image 16: Removed Village
Before Image: 13-Dec-2006. © 2009 DigitalGlobe. After Image: 08-Feb-2009. © 2009 DigitalGlobe.
A village of twelve dwellings (top) is visible in 2006. All but two have been destroyed by early 2009. As in image seventeen, the visible remains of the razed dwellings are evidence of the structures' relatively recent destruction. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 18.45, Lon: 97.14)
Image 17: Removed Village
Before Image: 13-Dec-2006. © 2009 DigitalGlobe. After Image: 08-Feb-2009. © 2009 DigitalGlobe.
At top, in 2006 a small village of nine structures is present. All have been removed by February of 2009, and the surrounding land has been clear-cut. Many new structures appeared in a village to the northwest during the same interval, a fact which could represent evidence of forced relocation. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 18.43, Lon: 97.19)
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