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The BurmaNet News, June 19, 1997
- Subject: The BurmaNet News, June 19, 1997
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 03:42:00
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------
The BurmaNet News: June 19, 1997
Issue #752
HEADLINES:
==========
KNPP: STATEMENT 1 AND 2 ON RECENT ATTACKS
AFP: MUSLIMS IN EXODUS DUE TO SLORC'S RIGHTS ABUSES
AP: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL BLASTS BURMA
REUTER: NO BURMA FANFARE FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S B'DAY
WRWAB: WOMEN IMPRISONED IN BURMA
THE NATION: CHETTHA FIRM ON DETENTION CENTRE PLAN
BKK POST: FOR SALE: BURMESE VIRGINS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
KNPP: STATEMENT 1 AND 2 ON RECENT ATTACKS
June 16, June 18, 1997
KARENNI NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE PARTY
THE GOVERNMENT OF KARENNI
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
STATEMENT (1)
June 16, 1997
On May 15, 1997, the Karenni Army attacked the Regional Military Commander
Headquarters in Loikaw, Capital of Karenni, and killed a SLORC major (name
not known yet) and wounded 3 other officers (names not known yet).
On May 15, 1997, the Karenni Army attacked the Headquarters of No. (54)
Battalion of SLORC in Loikaw. The number of causalties is not known yet.
On May 15, 1997, the Karenni Army attacked the No. (1) Hydro Power Plant of
Lawpita, southeast of Loikaw, which is distributing electricity to the whole
of Burma.
More forced relocation in Karenni by the SLORC
During mid-May 1997, SLORC began the forced relocation of 4,000 villagers
from 28 villages in Prusso Township. The villagers were forced to leave
their homes and abandon their belongings, including domestic animals. They
were relocated to build new shelters along the main road from Prusso to
Bawlake. This move is to be completed by 17.6.97.
The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) is trying to block out
all the information mentioned above.
-----------------------------------------------
STATEMENT (2)
June 18, 1997
The SLORC accused students in Karenni of taking part in the attacks which
occurred on 15 May, 1997, and it closed 3 high schools in Loikaw, one high
school in Lawpita, one high school in Deemaw So and one high school in
Prusso. The SLORC said that it closed the above-mentioned high schools due
to student involvement in the attacks.
On June 8, 1997, there was a meeting in Loikaw Hall. The secretary of the
Township Law and Order Restoration Council and the secretaries of Ward or
Village Law and Order Restoration Council from Loikaw Township, Deemaw So
Township, Prusso Township, Bawlake Township, Pasaung Township, and Shadaw
Township, were ordered to attend the meeting. The SLORC told the attending
delegates that it is going to develop all rural areas in Karenni. Therefore
it emphasized that all members of the Karenni National Progressive Party
(KNPP) must come back in order to do so. The SLORC told the delegates to go
to the KNPP controlled areas and persuade the members to come back and
cooperate in the development program. At the end of the meeting the
delegates were also told they would be punished if they failed to persuade
the KNPP to come back. This must be accomplished by the end of this month.
***********************************************
AFP: BURMESE MUSLIMS IN EXODUS DUE TO SLORC'S RIGHTS ABUSES
June 17, 1997
Dhaka -- The UN warned yesterday of a volatile situation as Burmese Muslim
refugees trekked into Bangladesh, driven by forced labour, high rice prices
and alleged discrimination.
Beat Schuter, UN High Commission for Refugees' representative in Cox's
Bazar, said: "The trickling will continue, although we do not foresee any
major influx."
He said the Muslims, known as Rohingyas, were being propelled back into
Bangladesh by economic factors and discrimination by the military junta in
Rangoon.
Mr Shuter added: "These people face different problems, including excessive
rice prices, forced labour and excessive taxation, besides discrimination in
their freedom of movement, forcing them to return to Bangladesh."
Up to 400 Rohingyas tried to cross into Bangladesh last weekend across the
Naaf River. Most were turned away by soldiers, while some sheltered in a
United Nations camp or with relatives.
*******************************************
AP: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL BLASTS BURMA
June 18, 1997
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Burma sentenced more than 1,000 political
activists to prison last year and keeps some in tiny cells used for guard
dogs, a human rights group said Wednesday.
No political prisoners arrested in previous years were released in 1996,
the London-based group Amnesty International said in its annual report on
Burma. In an earlier report, the group called 1996 the worst year ever for
human rights in Burma.
``Prison conditions for political prisoners were harsh, often amounting to
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Prisoners suffered from a lack of
medical care and inadequate diet,'' the report said.
It said prisoners were forced to take injections with unsterilized needles,
which may have caused the AIDS that killed a member of Nobel Peace
Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party.
The United Nations and Western governments have regularly condemned Burma's
military rulers for their poor human rights record. The United States
imposed economic sanctions against Burma in April because of its increased
repression of Suu Kyi's democracy movement.
Amnesty International said 2,000 political activists were arrested in 1996,
and more than 700 of them were released. Of those still imprisoned, 175
have yet to receive trials -- including Aye Win, a cousin of Suu Kyi who was
her secretary after her release from six years of house arrest in 1995.
The group described trials conducted by the government as unfair. Prisoners
are rarely allowed lawyers.
In addition, the report said Burma's ethnic groups have suffered greatly at
the hands of the regime, despite cease-fires it signed with many ethnic
insurgents.
Amnesty said 20,000 ethnic Chins were used as forced labor on a road
project, while more than 100,000 Shan and Karenni were forcibly relocated to
cut off support for resistance groups.
Muslims also were persecuted, and more than 5,000 fled the country into
Bangladesh, it added.
The government usually does not respond to reports by human rights groups,
but Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw told the United Nations earlier this year that
his country doesn't have a human rights problem.
*********************************************
REUTER: NO BURMA FANFARE FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI'S BIRTHDAY
June 18, 1997
By Sutin Wannabovorn
BANGKOK, June 18 (Reuter) - Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's
birthday will be celebrated quietly, but exiled political activists and
human rights groups will mark the occasion by declaring June 19 as Burma's
Women's Day, sources close to her said on Wednesday.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate planned to mark her 52nd birthday on
Thursday by offering food and necessities to five Buddhist monks at her
lakeside residence in central Rangoon.
``She wants to make her birthday a simple Buddhist occasion where around 15
people will participate in offering alms to monks,'' one of
her aides told Reuters.
``There will be no speeches or political gathering. As Burmese
Buddhists, we know how to separate religion from politics,'' her aide said.
The aide said Suu Kyi welcomed reports that exiled Burmese and human
rights groups would declare her birthday Burmese Women's Day to highlight a
campaign of ending women's and other human rights abuses in Burma.
``She has learned about people outside the country planning to make her
birthday Burma's Women's Day. This is good news...some kind of appreciation
and aspiration for the democracy movement,'' her aide said.
The Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma), grouping exiled
political and human rights activists, was set to create a fanfare in
observing Suu Kyi's birthday in Bangkok.
``June 19 is significant because it is the birthday of Nobel Laureate and
Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the most internationally
admired women in contemporary times,'' Altsean-Burma said in a statement.
It said the Burma Women's Day would highlight the situation in Burma as a
matter of grave concern for all women.
``The safety and equality of women, let alone their rights as human beings,
are a casualty of brutal oppression perpetuated by Burma's
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC),'' Altsean-Burma spokeswoman
Debbie Stothard said.
The group will stage a silent protest in front of the Burmese embassy in
Bangkok to mark the day and organise a religious function and
hotel reception for hundreds of invited guests.
Burma is due to become a member of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations, or ASEAN, later this year despite Western protest. ASEAN
groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide
victory in May 1990 elections that SLORC has not recognised.
``We invite NLD executive members to make merit at the party headquarters
and have food together, but there will be no political discussion,'' NLD
deputy chairman Tin Oo told Reuters.
``I don't know whether Aung San Suu Kyi will join the merit making at the
party headquarters,'' Tin Oo said.
Suu Kyi, a strict vegetarian for more than two years, was recovering from
an injury sustained from a fall downstairs at her house last
week.
*************************************************
WRWAB: WOMEN IMPRISONED IN BURMA
June 17, 1997
Women, still in prisons and released from prison
No. Name & Age; Date & Place of arrest; Sentence; Org. & Occupation
1. Ma Mya Mya Win; 21-11-88 Rangoon; 2 Months; Student
2. Ma San Yee; 21-11-88 Rangoon; 2 Months; Student
3. Mya Mya Mu; 21-11-88 Rangoon; Student
4. Khin San Ye; 21-11-88 Rangoon; Student
5. Ma Khin Khin Thaung; 1989 Rangoon; Student
6. Daw Kyi Kyi; 1989 Rangoon; Unknown
7. Khin Nyo Lwin (a) Khin Oo Lwin; 1989 Rangoon; Unknown
8. Khin Khin Thaung (23 yrs); 1989 Rangoon; Student
9. Su Wa Wa Baw Zau Rip; 1989 Myitkyina; Principal
10. Daw Kyi Aye; 1989 Rangoon; Laborer
11. Ma San Dar Oo (21yrs); 3-1-89 Mergui; Student
12. Ma Lay Lay Myint; 13-3-89 Mergui; Student
13. Ma Marlar Nwe (18yrs); 13-3-89 Mergui; Student
14. Ma Thi Thi Maw (17yrs); 13-3-89 Mergui; Student
15. Ma Sein Sein Kyu (20yrs); 13-3-89 Mergui; Student
16. Ma Tin Win (18yrs); 13-3-89 Mergui; Student
17. Khin Yu Swe (19yrs); 13-3-89 Mergui; Student
18. Khine Khine Maw (15yrs); 13-3-89 Mergui; Student
19. Ma Mu Mu Lwin (17yrs); 13-3-89 Mergui; Student
20. Ma Khin Khine Nwe; 18-3-89 Rangoon; Student
21. Ma San San Oo; 20-3-89 Rangoon; Student
22. Ma Win Myoo Kyi; 20-3-89 Rangoon; Student
23. Ma Saw Thu Wai; 21-3-89 Rangoon; ABFSU
24. Ma Saw Sandar Win; 24-3-89 Rangoon; ABFSU
25. Ma Hlaing Hlaing Myint; 20-6-89 Rangoon; 3 years; RASU
26. Ma Mar Mar Oo; 24-6-89 Rangoon; 3 years; Student
27. Ma Sanda (21yrs); 19-7-89 Rangoon; 3 years; Student RASU
28. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; 20-7-89 Rangoon; 6 years; NLD-G/S
29. Ma Theingi (32yrs); 20-7-89 Rangoon; Artist
30. Daw Cho Cho Than; 25-7-89 Mandalay; PLP G/S
31. Daw Aye Aye Than; 25-7-89 Mandalay; YSUA
32. Hla Hla Htet; November 1989 Mandalay; 3 years; Maths. Student
33. Khin Sandar Aung (Under 18yrs); 1989 Mandalay; 3 years; Student
34. Nan Wai Yi; 1990-Rangoon; Student
35. Ma Aye Yu Nwe; November 1990 Rangoon; Student
36. Ma Khine Khine Lwin; 12-3-90 Rangoon; Student
37. Ma Dandar Lwin; 12-3-90 Rangoon; Student
38. Ma Tha; 12-3-90 Rangoon; student-RASU
39. Yi Yi Myint; 25-4-90 Mandalay; DPNS
40. Thida Phyu; 25-4-90 Kyounpyaw; DPNS
41. Daw Yi Yi Swe; 7-5-90 Irrawaddy; NLD
42. Htay Htay; 7-5-90 Bassein; NLD
43. Daw Ni Ta Yin Yin May; 16-11-90 Rangoon; 3 years; NLD
44. Ma Khin Mar (a) Tin Lay Yi; 10-11-90 Rangoon; NLD
45. Daw Shwe Wa Soe; 90-91 Rangoon; NLD
46. Daw Khin San Hlaing; 90-91 Wettet; 25 years; NLD (MP)
47. Daw Win May; 90-91 Rangoon; 25 years; NLD
48. Daw San San Win; 90-91 Rangoon; 25 years; NLD (MP)
49. Daw Ohn Kyi; 90-91 Myittha; 25 years; NLD (MP)
50. Daw San San; 90-91 Rangoon; 25 years; NLD (MP)
51. Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein; 19-1-91 Rangoon; 7 years; AFPFL-G/S
52. Daw Pyo; January 91 Rangoon; NLD
53. Ma Ni Ni Dun; January 1991 Rangoon; NLD
54. Daw San San Htay; January 1991 Rangoon; NLD
55. Dr. Daw Than Khin; January 1991 Rangoon; NLD
56. Ma Saw Sandar Nwe; 9-2-91 Rangoon; ABFSU
57. Ma Nu Nu Win; January 1991 Rangoon; ABFSU
58. Aye Aye San; January 1991 Rangoon; ABSFU
59. Ma Thi Thi San; Mar 1991; NLD
60. Ma Tin Htwe; Mar 1991; NLD
61. Ma Thida Aye; June 1991 Rangoon; ABSFU & NLD
62. Ma Aye Mra; June 1991 Araken; ARIF-S
63. Ma Nyunt Sein; June 1991 Araken; ARIF-S
64. Ma Aye Nyo; June 1991 Araken; ARIF-S
65. Ma Aye Hta Nu; June 1991 Araken; ARIF-S
66. Daw Soe Soe Oo; June 1991 Rangoon; NLD
67. Ma Soe Soe Oo (19yrs); July 1991 Mandalay; ABSFU
68. Ma Myint Myint (39yrs); 2-7-91 Mandalay; NLD
69. Ma Aye Aye Win; Dec. 1991 Rangoon; Student
70. Ma Thu Zar Myo Aung; Dec. 1991 Rangoon; Student
71. Ma May Thwe Oo; Dec. 1991 Rangoon; Student
72. Ma Moe Cho Thin; Dec. 1991 Rangoon; Rels. 1992; Student
73. Thi Da Aye; 23-7-92 Rangoon; NLD
74. Daw Khin Mar Aye (53yrs); 16-12-93 Rangoon; 3 years; PWUL-LBWUL
75. Ma Yi Yi Myint (24yrs); Jan. 1993 Mandalay; 3 years; Maths. Student
76. Dr. Ma Thi Da (27yrs); 7-8-93 Rangoon; 20 years; NLD
77. Daw Khin Aye (53yrs); Rangoon; ABPWSL
78. Daw Hinn Ye; Rangoon; NLD
79. Ma Maw Maw Lwin (20yrs); Rangoon; Student
80. Ma Khin Lay Nwe (24yrs); Rangoon; Student
81. Daw Win Myint; Rangoon; NLD (MP)
82. Daw San May; Rangoon; NLD(MP)
83. Ma Khin Thwe; Rangoon; PDF
84. Min Min Oo; Rangoon; NLD
85. Daw San San Nwe; 1990 Rangoon; 3 years; NLD (writer)
86. Ma Hinn Hinn Nwe; Rangoon; DPNS
87. Ma Hla Hla Than; Rangoon; DPNS
88. Ma Ohnma; Rangoon; ABFSU
89. Ma Gyoun; ABFSU
90. Daw Myint Myint Khin; Rangoon; 5 years; NLD (CEC)
91. Khin Win Kyi; ABSDF
92. Ma Moe Moe Htun; July 1994; Student/NLD
93. Dr. Daw Khin Mar Kyi; 1996 Monywa; 7 years; NLD supporter
94. Ma Khin San Aye; 1996 Monywa; 7 years; NLD
95. Daw Mya Mya Aye; 1991 Monywa; 1 month; NLD
96. Shwezin Zaw Win; 1991 Monywa; 2 years; DPNS
97. Aye Aye Maw; 1991 Monywa; 1 year; NLD
NLD National League for Democracy
ABFSU All Burma Fedration of Student Unions
ABSDF All Burma Students Democratic Front
AFPFL Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
ARIF-S Araken Rojingya Islamic Front-Supporter
DPNS Democratic Party for a New Society
MP Member of Parliament
PDF People's Democratic Front
PLP Patriotic League for Peace
PWUL People's Workers Unity
RASU Rangoon Arts and Science University
YSUA Youth and Student Union Association
G/S General Secretary
Updated by
Women Rights and Welfare Association of Burma
19-6-97 - Burma Women's Day
*******************************************
THE NATION: CHETTHA FIRM ON DETENTION CENTRE PLAN
June 18, 1997
THE military will continue to push for the establishment of "temporary
confinement centres" for illegal immigrant workers awaiting repatriation,
Army Commander Gen Chettha Thanajaro said yesterday.
"It's an effective way to help us tackle the [illegal worker] problem, which
has become more and more difficult to deal with," Chettha said.
He said it has been decided whether to include the proposal in the agenda of
the next "trekking" Cabinet meeting, tentatively set for next month in the
North. "But I think the meeting would be a good opportunity to discuss the
problem."
Chettha said that the confinement centre idea has received strong support
from the National Security Council, which, he said, shares the military's
view on illegal immigration's threat to national security.
The Army commander said he expects the matter will be settled soon by the
responsible ministries. He said he is concerned with the human rights aspect
of the issue, adding that it will be closely monitored by the outside world.
"We must proceed with the plan carefully and carry it out efficiently
without disturbing our relationships with foreign countries or violating
human rights principles," he said.
Meanwhile, Chiang Mai's provincial labour control chief said that only
300,000 migrant workers out of one million in the province are registered
with his office.
Kovit Thong-on said the majority of illegal migrant workers in the province
are Burmese and from minority ethnic groups in Burma. The rest, he said, are
Laotians and Cambodians.
He said that the constant crossing and re-crossing of the border by certain
ethnic groups and hill tribes from Burma into the northern provinces and
back into Burma has made the work of police investigating criminal activity
among the migrants extremely difficult. Kovit said that provincial
authorities and local police have cooperated to arrest the migrants and
temporarily register them as an initial method for keeping them under
control. (TN)
*******************************************************
BKK POST: FOR SALE: BURMESE VIRGINS
June 13, 1997
Bussarawan Teerawichttchaninan
Prostitution: thousands of young women cross the Northern border in the
hope of making their fortunes in Thailand's sex trade, and many return
home with more than they bargained for.
It is with great pride that Srima, a 21-year old woman from the Shan State
in northern Burma, tells how she recently bought a plot of land for her
parents in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, and in the next few months, will
have a small house built there.
After three years of hard work moving from one brothel to another, Srima's
dream has finally come true. With a home in Thailand, the woman
believes, her parents can settle peacefully here, instead of risking their
lives
in the war-torn Shan State.
The family will soon re-unite. And everything seems perfect, except that
Srima - the family's only breadwinner - may not live long enough to enjoy
all this. She is now infected with Aids.
A similar fate befalls many girls from Burma. Across the 2,400-kilometre
border, tens of thousands of Burmese women have come to Thailand in the
hope of "making it" here. Nobody wants to return home empty-handed.
Some girls do manage to send a lot of money back home, but unfortunately
many, like Srima, also end up with Aids.
A combination of factors draws Burmese girls to seek their fortunes here
income disparity between Thailand and Burma, easy transportation and
well-connected international sex trade rackets reveals a recent research
paper, "The Passage of Women from Neighbouring Countries into the Sex
Trade in Thailand" by Dr Kritaya Archavanitkul and Ponsook Kertsawang.
According to the research, Thailand's current economic slump has not
affected the sex industry. The luring of women into prostitution continues
unabated and has even become more sophisticated with less force being
used and more "soft tricks" which prove just as effective.
This means women, especially those from less-prosperous, neighbouring
countries, can be sucked into the flesh trade more easily.
At present, by the researchers' conservative estimation, there are at least
10,000 sex workers from our neighbouring countries of Burma, Laos
Cambodia, Vietnam, and southern China working in Thailand. Most come
from Burma.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Prostitution in Thailand is changing its face. Because of persistent
campaigning by the government as well as non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), each year fewer Thai girls enter the sex business.
To meet the steadily high demand, foreign girls, therefore, are recruited
instead. This technique is becoming more popular among racketeers
because of a plentiful supply, a cheaper price, and Thai men's desire to try
"something different".
"International trafficking of sex workers is encroaching the borders and
reaching into the home of our neighbours," said Dr Kritaya.
Northern Burma is affected the most. "History repeats itself. What is
happening in the Shan State right now is like what happened in the North
of Thailand 15 years ago, when many northern Thai girls left their homes
to enter the sex industry," said the researcher and lecturer at Mahidol
University's Institute for Population and Social Research.
In their survey conducted in over 40 brothels in 18 provinces last year, the
Mahidol researchers failed to find young girls from northern Thailand just
entering the trade.
Such girls are kept in school due to the continuous efforts of the
government and NGOs in campaigning against child prostitution, said the
research paper. Most of the Thai sex workers they found were those who
had been in the business for over three years.
"If anybody want to find 'fresh' girls, they have to look for dek nok (foreign
girls)," revealed Bird, manager of an established massage parlour.
These days, many brothels and entertainment places, especially those of
lower grades, only have foreign girls for service. Shan and Tai-Lue girls
from the Shan State are the largest group.
DOCILE AND OBEDIENT
Apart from plentiful supply and cheap prices, girls from Burma are also
favoured by the procurers and customers because of their innocence.
"Shan girls are sweet and very obedient, while Thai girls give me a
headache. They are drunkards, spendthrifts and gamblers. Sometimes they
even cheat me. Now I employ only Shan girls and I can do business more
easily," said Nuek, 40, who has run a brothel for 12 years.
The language barrier also keeps the foreign girls silent and submissive.
"They often do everything the customers asks," added Nuek. In addition to
their docility, the women's physical appearance is also attractive to
customers. Young and fair with long hair, the Shan girls are beautiful in
Thai men's eyes. But their best selling point is their virginity. Many men
believe that sleeping with a virgin will give them a long life and energise
their sexual appetite.
"Lots of Thai and foreign men go straight to Mae Sai to sleep with virgins
from Burma. This is an established business on the Thai-Burma border,"
said Dr Kritaya.
Agents first contact the parents of young Shan girls, then take photos of
their daughters. They then put together a catalogue featuring photos of the
girls for their customers to choose. When selected, the girls are brought
from villages in Burma to a hotel in Mae Sai.
THE PRICE OF A VIRGIN
The story of Soy, a 19-year-old Tai-Lue girl, is typical. At 16, she was
summoned from the rice fields to have her "first time" with a Japanese
tourist. She earned 16,000 baht. Three months later, Soy did it again with
another Japanese man. For her "second time", the price dropped to 8,000
baht.
The offer of such a large sum of money both puzzles and entices many
villagers in Burma, said Dr Kritaya. Some, therefore, feel that if the "first
time" is worth that much cash, their daughters should do it. Nevertheless,
at the time they have no intention of allowing their daughters to become
prostitutes.
"I felt frightened when the agent brought me to the hotel. But my father
said to me that all women have to lose their virginity. Losing it now or
later is no different," said Soy, who currently works in a brothel in central
Thailand.
Soy went back to work at home after her first and second time. A year
later, she got bored with her job of weaving and wanted to do something
else that could make her a lot of money. She decided to enter the sex
business.
"My dad didn't give me his consent to become a prostitute. Losing your
virginity for money and being a sex worker are not the same, he said. But I
want to stand on my own two feet. I feel useless at home."
Money, it is said, speaks louder than anything else. But in the case of girls
from Burma, it's also the agitation they feel in their tumultuous home
country with its ongoing civil wars that pushes them into Thailand.
What can we do in Burma? We have no money but we need to eat.
Burmese soldiers don't love the people. They force us to work but pay us
nothing. They also extort money or rice from us. If we don't give it to
them, we may get raped," complained Kham Euay, 19, a Tai-Lue girl from
Shan State.
"So coming to seek our fortune here, I thought, is better than starving at
home," added the girl, who is also now infected with the Aids virus.
DUTIFUL DAUGHTERS
Instability in the home, the Mahidol researchers said, together with the
"dutiful daughter" culture are two of the main factors which push girls
from Burma into prostitution.
Like their Thai sisters across the border, Shan and Tai Lue girls from
northern Burma feel that being the family breadwinner is the greatest way
to show gratitude to their parents. "With such perceptions in their minds, it
is no wonder that Shan and Tai Lue women come to the flesh trade in the
largest number of all foreign sex workers," explained Dr Kritaya.
Such is the case with Lah, a 21-year-old Shan woman who now has Aids.
Years ago, Lah's mother told her if she wanted to build a house for the
family, she should go to work "like others".
"At first, I got angry at my mother. But she cried and complained that I
wouldn't sacrifice anything for the family. So I decided to work in a
brothel. Now everyone at home asks me for money. My brother never feeds
the family," murmured Lah.
"They don't know how much suffering I have to tolerate. Can anybody tell
me what else Shan girls can do apart from selling their flesh?"
As Thai sex workers head for richer pastures elsewhere in Asia and
Europe, girls from Burma sneak into Thailand. Unlike other illegal
immigrants from Burma who usually pass through Kanchanaburi, most of
the sex workers use the Tachilek-Mae Sai route to enter the country.
The promotion of tourism in Keng Tung a large city in Shan state and of
the Quadrangle Economic Zone, which comprises bits of Thailand, China,
Burma and Laos, help strengthen the international sex trade rackets in this
area, stated the Mahidol researchers.
Three-quarters of the Burmese women are accompanied by agents or
acquaintances. Generally, they have to pay the agent's commission and
travelling expenses themselves. The expenses can range from a few
thousand to 30,000 baht. All too often, the girls fall into debt even before
they start working.
According to the research, the foreign girls usually began their jobs near
the border for a period of time. When they get acquainted with the Thai
language and people, the agents will bring them to the South.
The agents will put six or seven-girls in a van or pick-up truck and travel
from one brothel to another. Brothel owners pay the agents a fee for the
girls of their choice, with the least beautiful being priced the lowest. The
money is then deducted from the girls' earnings.
According to the Mahidol research, such rackets can exist only with the
cooperation of the Thai authorities.
"We are confident that the police won't bother us. A police officer even
accompanied us in our van," said Fah, a Burmese-Shan girl now working
in a massage parlour.
Without such cooperation, procurers and sex workers would run into
trouble with the law as the women are illegal workers as well as working in
a prohibited trade.
"Even the work permit of illegal immigrants and also the temporary permit
for stateless people can't protect these sex workers, although some pay a lot
of money for these cards," said Dr Kritaya.
SEDUCTION TECHNIQUES
The alien prostitution problems are made more complicated by the fact that
agents now use sophisticated methods to seduce foreign sex workers into
the business.
"Currently, the agents don't force women into prostitution. Sometimes they
lure the women into the fringe trade like massage parlours or karaoke bars
and let various forces pull them into selling sex," said Dr Kritaya.
One strong force is the pull of money. When Payom, a Shan woman,
decided to shift from 70-baht-a-day construction work in Bangkok to a
traditional massage parlour in a nearby province, she thought the 4,000-
baht monthly pay would be enough without having to sleep with the
customers.
A month later, the 34-year-old mother of three changed her mind as she
found she had to spend a lot of money on looking good. She started having
sex with her customers for additional income.
"Since I travelled this far, I want to make as much money as I can," said
Payom.
In addition, the structure of some establishments make the women think
they are not selling sex.
In traditional massage parlours where a lot of girls from Burma work, the
women can say no to customers who want sex with them, so they think that
they are not prostitutes.
"Since customers need to woo these girls before asking to sleep with them,
the girls think they are sleeping with boyfriends, not customers. If they
trust the man, they don't use a condom which makes them very vulnerable
to Aids," added Dr Kritaya.
Burmese girls working in Thailand are mostly poorly educated and
ignorant and, therefore, have a high rate of contracting Aids.
For example, many believe that taking a pill like Postinor after sex can
prevent them from getting Aids and, thus, they need not use condoms.
In addition, their lack of Thai language skills, their constant moving about
and short stays in the trade make them less likely to get Aids-prevention
information and services from officials and NGOs.
"Because of the language problem, even those who know they have
contracted Aids receive little information and counselling provided here,"
said the research.
"While some continue to work in sex services, others return to their home
country."
The researchers recommended that the Thai government, in cooperation
with NGOs, aim to eradicate international sex rackets. Meanwhile, they
should offer better treatment to the foreign sex workers already here and
support the organisations campaigning against prostitution in
neighbouring countries.
Moreover, the government should protect the legal and human rights of
these young women and, at the same time, push other ASEAN countries to
see the international sex industry as a regional problem.
"The authorities and those involved should take serious action right now
before it is too late," emphasised Dr Kritaya.
If not, the sad tales of Srima, Lah, Payom or Soy, will be told again and
again as more and more foreign girls come to Thailand to seek their
fortunes.
***Kham Euay's and Mathida's stories are based on information from in-
depth interviews in a paper titled "The Passage of Women from
Neighbouring Countries to the Sex trade in Thailand" published by Dr.
Kritara Archavanitkul and Ponsook Kertsawang in May 1997.
MATHIDA'S STORY
---------------
A SACRIFICE FOR THE FAMILY
If Mathida's lifetime experience could be swapped for an academic degree,
the Burmese woman would probably be awarded a PhD. After years of hard
work and struggle, however, 27-year old Mathida has instead got HIV.
Before political chaos arose in Burma, Mathida lived a happy life in Keng
Tung in Shan State. She graduated from primary school and then, at the
age of 14, married a Burmese soldier. The young wife gave birth to a
daughter before the couple separated.
Mathida remarried and then moved to Tachilek with her mother's new
family. Her second husband is a gambler and a drunkard. He once sold her
to a brothel in Chiang Mai to pay a debt. She worked there for a month,
after which she returned home and forgave him.
Later, civil war broke out in Shan State, and this political turbulence was
matched by disruptions in Mathida's own family. Her stepfather became
seriously ill, and Mathida's mother told her to find some much-needed
money. The obedient daughter realised that the only way she could earn
any cash was to become a sex worker, and decided to work in a brothel in
Mae Sai, Chiang Rai.
Mathida asked for an advance of 10,000 baht from her boss. A month later,
before she could repay this first debt, her mother asked her to send another
sum of money. As time passed, she owned more and more.
As these debts mounted, Mathida could not imagine how long she would
have to work to pay them all off. Day by day, her body became weaker and
weaker.
The reason was that her blood was infected with HIV, a fact of which she
was unaware. A language barrier kept her from approaching Thai officials
who might have helped her, but fortunately the research group from
Mahidol University found her and tried to negotiate with the brothel owner
to let Mathida return home.
Informed that she had HIV, the owner agreed, but the researchers had to
pay 3,500 baht to cover Mathida's debt.
Mathida was very happy to go home. Despite her worsening health and
meagre savings, she spent a lot of money on toys for her child, clothes for
her sisters, and also a cassette player for the whole family.
The Burmese woman was determined never to work again as a prostitute,
but she had very few choices. Her stepfather died, and her large family
needed someone to earn money to feed them. That person had to be
Mathida.
At first, she worked for a short period as a waitress at a bar in Tachilek.
Her 2,000-baht-a-month salary, however, was not enough to provide for all
eight family members.
Within a few weeks, Mathida had to break her promise to herself. Now she
is heading for Malaysia. Her second husband found this work for her, and
her family has received a large cash advance. This means Mathida has
already fallen heavily into debt.
The Mahidol researchers never had a chance to talk to Mathida about her
illness, and she has no idea what she will face in the future.
But for the education of her daughter, the happiness of her mother, and the
welfare of the whole family, she is ready to endure it.
KHAM EUAY'S STORY
FLY AWAY, LITTLE BIRD
I wish I were a small bird so I could fly as far as I desire. I'd laugh at
those
big, clumsy ones who are too heavy to fly," said Kham Euay, a 19-year-old
Tai Lue girl from Burma.
"But right now, I can go nowhere," she lamented.
Four years ago, Kham Euay, then 15, left her home in a small town in
Shan State, despite her mother's objections. An uneducated country girl
like her, she thought, could not pursue any kind of profession that would
make as much money as being a sex worker.
"I wanted to build a comfortable house for my mother and send my
younger sister to school. That's all," recalled the dutiful daughter who is
currently working in a brothel in central Thailand.
Kham Euay started working in a tea house in Bangkok where she met
several girls from her home town. Her "first time" with an old Chinese
man earned her 15,000 baht. However, splitting it with the tea house owner
reduced her share to 7,500 baht. Kham Euay sent all of it to her family.
>From then on, the girl earned 40 baht for each man she had sex with, and
each day she had more than 10 customers. She saved an average of 8,000
baht a month. - After working hard for eight months, Kham Euay decided
to go home, as she believed she had made enough money. However, she re-
entered the business six months later. She explains: "I could make no
money at home. I had already done this kind of job, so I had nothing else to
lose, did I?"
Kham Euay's journey to the South started again. At first, she worked in a
karaoke bar in Chon Buri. She then became a call girl in Bangkok's
Saphan Khwai area. This time she was not so lucky. The girl fell ill,
infected with a sexually transmitted disease. To quell her fear of Aids, she
had a blood test. The doctor told her that her blood was positive, but when
Kham Euay asked whether that meant she had Aids, he didn't answer.
The young woman then quit her job, returned home and married her Shan
boyfriend. But married life soon turned bitter. Her in-laws could not accept
an ex-prostitute into the family. The couple split months later. Kham Euay,
therefore, took up the flesh trade for the third time.
She always worried that she might be infected with HIV as she was
continuously ill. She often got the flu, her hair fell out and nodules kept
popping up on her limbs.
"Why didn't the doctor tell me whether I had Aids or not? I have dreams I
want to pursue, but he left me in uncertainty. I need to know to have more
control of my life. I want to go home," the Tai Lue girl said.
Although she wanted to re-unite with her family, Kham Euay did not want
to return empty-handed. She planned to stay in the business for a year to
save up a sum of money.
"My hometown is the best place. I can breathe in the fragrant air. When
thirsty, I can ask neighbours for water. Thailand is not a paradise as
everybody thought. For me, it's a nightmare," she revealed.
Kham Euay has recently been informed that she is indeed infected with the
Aids virus. However, it is not her own health that she's most concerned
about, but her elderly mother's.
"Can I still cook for my mum? .Can I wash her clothes? Will doing that
infect her?"
Although she has paid all her debts, Kham Euay intends to continue
working. She now uses a condom every time she has sex. However, her
illness hinders her from making as much money as she desires.
"Some days I just feel too ill to work. At times, I have lesions all over my
body, and customers find that unappealing."
But she is determined to go home by the end of this year.
"I never blame anybody for this disease. It was me who wanted to seek my
fortune here. But I'll never let my sister come to Thailand. I'm afraid she'll
be lost. And too often we can't correct the wrongs we have done. But life is
always like this, isn't it?"
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