Mon Information Service June 4 -95

[ojasti@xxxxxxxxxx]

		      M0N INFORMATION SERVICE
			 JUNE 4the 1995

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1. WHO ARE THE MONS?

2. NO MORE FIGHTING BETWEEN NMSP AND SLORC

3. NO LONGER ASSISTANCE FOR BURMESE REFUGEES IN BANGKOK


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1. WHO ARE THE MONS?

Concentrated between Burma and Thailand, there are an estimated 8 million 
Mons in the world today. Yet, their rights often go unrecognized. Like 
many indigenous peoples of this region, for the past forty years the 
central government in both Rangoon and Bangkok have ignored and attempted 
ethnocide of the Mon people -- who were the orignial inhabitants in the 
Burmese-Thai region. The Mon language is a distant relative of the Khamer 
(Cambodia) langauge group, having no similarities with Burmese and the 
Burmese alphabet is based on the Mon alphabet. 

After successive waves of Burman and Thai immigrations from the north in 
the last milenia, and after repeated attacks the kingdom of the peaceful 
Mons was defeated in 1757 and the higher culture taken as war booty to 
upper Burma by the Burmese king and many hundred thaunsand of Mon jhad 
been facing genocide. Meanwhile, in Thailand Mons were given speical 
areas to live and found sympathetic favor under the Thai king, himself a 
descendent of the Mons, mostly in areas around Bangkok's main river.

Present Situation

Today, however, the situation is radicaly different with assimilation 
rampant on both sides of the border. Centralization and capitalism are 
working hand in hand to annihilate all indigenous peoples. A planned gas 
pipeline from Burma's Gulf of Martaban will dissect Monland on its way 
into energy-strapped Thailand, and so foriegn policy in the era of 
"constructive engagement" does not favor the Mon people (as was seen by 
the recent Halockhani attack by SLORC troops and the Thai starving out of 
the refugees to return across the border). 

The refugee situation is increasing due to forced labor on 
"infrastructure" projects in the area, such as the gas pipeline and the 
110 miles long dead Ye-Tavoy railway construction. Villages regularly 
undergo forced relocation while harrassment, violence and pillaging 
continue under SLORC's reign of terror. Also, many Mons have been 
targetted for arrest in the Sangkhlaburi area and Kanchanaburi District, 
which is viewed as an attempt by the Thais to put pressure on the  New 
Mon State Party to sign a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese military 
junta. 

One of the biggest problems for the Mon people is recieving outside 
information and spreading out inside information to international 
communities. 

Approximately 50-60% of the Mon people cannot read or write in Burmese, 
and less are able to use English. Thus access to much information is 
prohibitive, especially about health care, politics and international 
news. This is in addition to strict censorship controls and added ethnic 
suppression by the Burmese junta.  

For  more information on the Mon, Please contact    

MIS   (NCM)
GPO Box. 375
Bangkok 10501
Thailand.
************

The New Mon 
State Party (NMSP):  	:Fighting against Burmese military junta by both 
                         arm struggle and political activities;
Mon NAtional Relief 
Committee ( MNRC ) :	: Working for Mon refugees in the Thai-Burma border;
Committee for Publicity 
of People Struggle in 
Monland (CPPSM)	        :Mon Human Rights Group;
Human Rights Foundation
of Monland (HRFM): 	: Human rights group which is working inside Monland;


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2.	NO MORE FIGHTING BETWEEN NMSP AND SLORC 

Fighting between Mon National Liberation Army of New Mon State Party army 
and State Law and Order Restoration Council troops will no longer last 
after a group of New Mon State Party deligates left for Burma for 
cease-fire. This is lead to the forth round of negotiation between NMSP 
and SLORC. The previous talk were suspended by NMSP since November last 
year. This time of talk also will take place in Moulmein and Slorc have 
never agreed with any revolutionary groups in the capatical of Burma, 
Rangoon.  The new negotiation team led by Nai Rott Sa, general secretary 
of NMSP left for Burma on 30/5/95.  

	The passed three times, the NMSP delegates travelled to Burma by 
air-way through Thailand. But this time, NMSP delegates went for 
cease-fire to Moulmein through Three Pagoda Pass which is former NMSP 
based. Nai Tin Aung, the NMSP official in charge of foreign affairs,  Nai 
Kao Rott, military committee member of Mon National Liberation Army 
(MNLA) and official incharge of Military Intelligance,  Nai Myint Swe, 
Chief of supply deport (MNLA) and Nai Kyaw Soe, deputy commander of 
Margue district regiment have accompanied with secretary general of NMSP 
to the Moulmein for negotiation. In order to protect the ambush of Karen 
guerrilla, the Slorc escorted Mon delegates with two regiments on the way 
to go to Moulmein. 

	One NMSP official who does not notify his name said SLORC will 
offer some new things to talk including things were not agree in the 
previous talk. He refused to say about the tax of the pipe line which 
will laid down  Mon Land from the gulf of Murtaban to Thai-Burma border. 
"I am sure that the new Mon arm-group will be set up if NMSP reach 
agreement for cease-fire with the Slorc." he added. 

	In the first week of April, a Thai border patol police unit was 
ambushed by an arm-troop of Mon in Thong Pha Pkum district, Kanchanaburi 
province. That troop is not belong to the NMSP and it could be set up 
with separated group with NMSP in acceptance of cease-fire. 	
	
MIS - 3/6/95


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3.	NO LONGER ASSISTANCE FOR BURMESE REFUGEES IN BANGKOK

On 1/6/95, UNHCR Bangkok branch office issued two anouncements for Burmese 
persons of concern including Mon and other ethnics regarding  to their new 
policy to cut off assistance in Bangkok. The UNHCR have provided 
financial assistance for food and accommodation and also medical care and 
educational/vocational training through Foundation In to the refugees who 
are recognized as persons of concern since late 1988. 

	UNHCR  provided special social assistance to the applicant for 
refugee status until late 1990 and have granted 3,000 Baht per month 
(US$120) to each refugee. In  August, 1991, by showing the reason of Thai 
Government policy, UNHCR reduced the allowance to 2,500 Baht per month. 
Although Burmses refugees staged sitting demonstration in front of UN 
escape building in Bangkok, it could not make effect to change the policy 
to grant 3000 Baht per month. 

	Later, UNHCR made a new policy over the ethnic nationalities 
refugees that no any kind of assistance for them in Bangkok and they 
should go back to the border and receive assistance over there. Althoug 
UNHCR suggested them to go back to the border, UNHCR had not issued any 
kind of recommandation letter to travelling to the border and also 
assistance in the border is not provide by UNHCR, just some rice, salt 
and fish paste and chilli (some time) by Burma Border Consortium and 
COEER. 

	An  official who dose not want to notify his name said UNHCR is 
looking forward the response of the refugees regarding these new policy 
and it can be change if too strong response come from the refuees side.  

	Thai government gives so many kind of pressure upon the refugees 
in Bangkok and Thai-Burma border in order to achive good relation with 
Burmese military junta, SLORC.

The following two notice are issued by UNHCR, Bangkok branch office on 
1/6/95. 

MIS - 3/6/95
	

					(a)

UNITED NATIONS 
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Brunch Office for Thailand

Telegrams; HICOMREF Bangkok
Telphone: 2801716/2811671/2829161
Fax	       2800555

PO. Box  2-212, Rajdamnern
Bangkok 10200, Thailand.


	NOTICE TO ASYLUM SEEKERS (MYANMAR NATIONALS)


	THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT POLICY REQUIRES THAT ALL MYANMAR 
PERSONS OF CONCERN BE ADMITED TO THE SAFE AREA, WHERE THEY WILL BE GIVEN 
LEAGAL STATUS.

	PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT UNHCR CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN 
BANGKOK TO MYAMAR NATIONALS WHO ARE RECOGNIZED AS PERSONS OF CONCERN TO 
THE OFFICE AFTER 1 JUNE 1995.  ASSISTANCE WILL INSTEAD BE PROVIDE IN THE 
MANEELOY BURMESE STUDENT CENTRE (SAFE AREA) IN RATCHBURI PROVINCE.

	UNHCR HAS DETERMINED THAT THE SAFE AREA MEETS ACCEPTED 
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE PROTECTION AND WELFARE OF REFUGEES.  IT 
IS A SEMI-OPEN CAMP ADMINISTERED BY THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR WHERE THE 
RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDEED FOOD, ACCOMMODATION, COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CARE, 
EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND  A MONTHLY ALLOWANCE. 
THE RESIDENTS OF THE CAMP CAN REQUEST THE CAMP COMMANDER TO LEAVE THE 
CAMP FOR ONE WEEK EVERY MONTH FOR ANY DESTINATION IN THAILAND AND ARE 
GRANTED OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY IN BANGKOK ON UNHCR -SPONSORED 
SCHOLARSHIPS. THE RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE PERMANENT AND UNHINDERED ACCESS TO 
THE UNHCR STAFF MEMBER WHO IS BASED THERE.

	GINEN THE ABOVE MENTIONED REASONS, UNHCR CONSIDERS THAT IT IS IN 
THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL MYANMAR PERSONS OF CONCERN TO LEGALIZE THEIR 
STATUS BY ENTERING THE SAFE AREA.

			
					UNHCR BRANCH OFFICE IN THAILAND 
						      1 JUNE 1995. 


					(b) 

UNITED NATIONS 
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Brunch Office for Thailand

Telegrams; HICOMREF Bangkok
Telphone: 2801716/2811671/2829161
Fax	       2800555

PO. Box  2-212, Rajdamnern
Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

NOTICE TO PERSONS OF CONCERN TO UNHCR(MYANMAR NATIONALS)


	THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT POLICY REQUIRES THAT ALL MYANMAR 
PERSONS OF CONCERN BE ADMITED TO THE SAFE AREA, WHERE THEY WILL BE GIVEN 
LEAGAL STATUS.

	AS OF 1 JULY 1995, UNHCR WILL CHANGE ITS POLICY CONCERNING THE 
PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TO MYANMAR PERSONS CONCERN IN BANGKOK. EVERY 
MONTH, A GROUP OF PERSONS WILL BE CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THE CHRONOLOGICAL 
ORDER OF THEIR NI NUMBERS. THEY WILL BE INFORMED THAT ASSISTANCE WILL NO 
LONGER BE PROVIDED IN BANGKOK BUT WILL INSTEAD BE PROVIDE IN THE 
MANEELOYBURMESE STUDENTS CENTRE (SAFE AREA) IN RATCHBURI PROVINCE. THEY 
WILL BE INFORMED THAT THEY SHOULD TRANSFER TO THE SAFE AREA IN ORDER TO 
BENIFIT FROM THIS ASSISTANCE.

	UNHCR HAS DETERMINED THAT THE SAFE AREA MEETS ACCEPTED 
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE PROTECTION AND WELFARE OF REFUGEES.  IT 
IS A SEMI-OPEN CAMP ADMINISTERED BY THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR WHERE THE 
RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDEED FOOD, ACCOMMODATION, COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CARE, 
EDUCATIONAL/ VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND  A MONTHLY ALLOWANCE. 
THE RESIDENTS OF THE CAMP CAN REQUEST THE CAMP COMMANDER TO LEAVE THE 
CAMP FOR ONE WEEK EVERY MONTH FOR ANY DESTINATION IN THAILAND AND ARE 
GRANTED OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY IN BANGKOK ON UNHCR -SPONSORED 
SCHOLARSHIPS. THE RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE PERMANENT AND UNHINDERED ACCESS TO 
THE UNHCR STAFF MEMBER WHO IS BASED THERE.

	GINEN THE ABOVE MENTIONED REASONS, UNHCR CONSIDERS THAT IT IS IN 
THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL MYANMAR PERSONS OF CONCERN TO LEGALIZE THEIR 
STATUS BY ENTERING THE SAFE AREA.


					UNHCR BRANCH OFFICE IN THAILAND 
						      1 JUNE 1995. 



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