AAAS - Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights

Programs: Science and Policy

http://shr.aaas.org//geotech/burma/Toungoo.shtml

AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

Geospatial Technologies and Human Rights

Burma - Conflict in Karen State
Case Study Report

Toungoo District Image Analysis

AAAS SHR conducted two analyses of the Toungoo District based on reports of attacks on villages and forced displacement occurring between 2006 and 2009. The first analysis, conducted in 2007, concerned reports that southern Toungoo District had been the site of increased military activity in 2006 and continuing into 2007, including military camp development, and dam and road construction. Attacks corresponding with these developments were widely reported by the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) and corroborated by reporting from the Free Burma Rangers (FBR) and the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC).

A number of villages were reported as having been burned and bombarded with mortar fire. Other villages had simply been abandoned, likely due to military harassment. In particular, military activity was concentrated along the east-west road from the Pegu Division in the west to Karenni State in the east, running through the larger-sized settlement Bawgali Gyi, and the southeast running road from Bawgali Gyi to BuSahKee and Papun District. Several dam construction projects in the area also drove attacks as reported by FBR and KHRG.

Archival images from May and March 2004 were compared with a new collection from February 2006. Image analysis located three settlement areas that had been visibly disturbed, abandoned, or destroyed (see Images 14 - 16) and also identified military camps (see Images 17 - 19). These sites are summarized in the map below.

Toungoo District Sites: 2006 Analysis

In 2008, the Free Burma Rangers and the Thailand Burma Border Consortium again identified Toungoo as a hotbed of attacks and forced displacement. This prompted AAAS SHR to conduct another survey of the district in 2009. Images from 2004, 2006, and 2009, each covering a portion of Toungoo district, were compared with one another to derive results. Analysis identified fourteen settlement areas that exhibited a sharp decrease in the number of structures visible in imagery taken after the reported attack. The fraction of structures destroyed exceeded half in nearly all cases, and in a substantial percentage of cases the settlement ceased to exist entirely. The destroyed villages in images one through five were all located within six kilometers of one-another. Those in images six through fourteen, while located twenty five kilometers from the first group, were similarly proximate. The nearly simultaneous disappearance of so many settlements over such a wide geographic region is suspicious, to say the least. In some cases, agricultural activity nearby these settlements shows signs of having been abandoned, a phenomenon that is also supported by field reports. Images 20 - 29 are taken from the 2009 analysis.

Image 14: Removed Structures

The "before" image depicts a small settlement with all structures removed from the area. The identified area corresponds with FBR reported December 2006 village attacks at and near the village of Kwey Key. (Lat: 18.79 N Long: 96.76 E)

Image 15: Cleared Village

The "before" image shows 8 - 10 small structures in March 2004, with the "after" image showing those structures removed by late February 2007. (Lat: 18.86 N Long: 96.89 E)

Image 16: Removed Structures

The image taken 5 May 2004 depicts a mid-size settlement of approximately 25 structures; in the 2007 image at least 3 - 5 of those structures are no longer present. (Lat: 18.82 N Long: 96.71 E)

Image 17: Expanded fence area of Military Camp

The first image shows a military camp near a large settlement in 2005. Expanded layers of fencing should be noted in the 2007 image, along with the presence of small structures within the boundaries. These could be tents or military vehicles or both. (Lat: 18.86 N Long: 96.71 E)

Image 18: New Military Camp

In the 2007 image a possible military camp can be seen adjacent to the settlement; it was built up during the three-year gap between image acquisitions. A close-up of the camp is found in Image 19. (Lat: 18.95 N Long: 96.82 E)

Image 19: Military Camp

The image from February 2007 shows a close-up of the possible military camp seen in Image 18. Layers of fencing can be seen in the upper-left corner.

Toungoo District Sites: 2009 Analysis

Image 20: Removed Village

Before Image: 22-Mar-2004. © 2009 GeoEye. After Image: 04-Feb-2009. © 2009 DigitalGlobe.

The top image depicts a small settlement consisting of about ten structures in March of 2004. The bottom image shows the same location in early 2009. Nearly all structures in the original settlement have disappeared; only a single building - possibly damaged - remains. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 19.11, Lon: 96.82)

Image 21: Removed Village

Before Image: 22-Mar-2004. © 2009 GeoEye. After Image: 04-Feb-2009. © 2009 DigitalGlobe.

Above, a small settlement consisting of about eleven structures is visible in March of 2004. Nothing remains by early 2009, and the clearing is beginning to be overgrown with vegetation. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 19.05, Lon: 96.83)

Image 22: Removed Village

Before Image: 22-Mar-2004. © 2009 GeoEye. After Image: 04-Feb-2009. © 2009 DigitalGlobe.

A village of about seventeen structures is present in March of 2004. Only three are visible in February 2009, and the agricultural field that was present appears to have been abandoned. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 19.11, Lon: 96.83)

Fourteen structures are visible in March of 2004 (above). Only three are present in February 2009. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 19.09, Lon: 96.84)

In March of 2004 (above), this village consists of fifteen buildings. Only one is present in February 2009. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC. (Lat: 19.11, Lon: 96.85)

In October of 2006 (above), a village of substantial size is present at these coordinates. By early 2009, all but two structures have been destroyed. Image was obtained based on reporting by the FBR. (Lat: 19.04, Lon: 96.88)

In 2006, a small village is present in a clearing in the jungle. Three years later, nearly the entire community has been removed, with just two structures left standing. Image was obtained based on reporting by the FBR. (Lat: 19.03, Lon: 96.89)

In 2006, over a dozen buildings make up this village. By February of 2009, only four of the original structures remain, some of which may show signs of damage. (Lat: 19.03 Lon: 96.91)

Of the twenty five structures present in this village in the fall of 2006, only two remain by early 2009. (Lat: 19.01, Lon: 96.88)

Image 29: Removed Village

Before Image: 30-Nov-2006. © 2009 DigitalGlobe. After Image: 18-Jan-2009. © 2009 DigitalGlobe.

In November of 2006, this village contains seven structures. Approximately two years later, the settlement has disappeared. Image was obtained based on reporting by the TBBC.(Lat: 18.78, Lon: 96.79)

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