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Bkk Post - Karen face new formidabl



Subject: Bkk Post - Karen face new formidable foe/The victims of Burmese dictatorship

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Bangkok Post - December 6, 1999=20
=20
ANTI-RANGOON FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Karen face new formidable foe
Rebel leaders claim Burmese junta using amphetamines to destroy Karen =
youth

Nusara Thaitawatb and Subin Khuenkaew

After more than 50 years fighting for freedom against the Japanese =
imperialist army in World War II and then the Burmese military =
dictatorship since 1962, the Karen National Union (KNU) under the =
leadership of Gen Bo Mya is now struggling against another formidable =
foe: narcotics.

Padoe Mahn Sha, the KNU's first secretary, suspects that the Burmese =
government, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), =
wants to systematically destroy Karen youths with drugs.

"The SPDC also wants to destroy our image by spreading false allegations =
that we are involved in drug trafficking," he said. "That is not =
true."Methamphetamine tablets-readily available to Thai youths =
throughout the country since 1997-have been systematically marketed =
inside Karen refugee camps since this year, according to a Karen youth =
leader.

Mae Lah, the biggest Karen refugee camp in Tak's Tha Song Yang district, =
with a population of some 30,000 refugees, is one of the major markets =
targeted by the traffickers, he said.

The affordable price of five baht per tablet is worrisome for Karen =
leaders, who are already struggling to keep the spirit of freedom alive =
among the youth as many fall prey to inertia from extended stay in =
camps.

"It's clear that these five-baht tablets are a bait," said the Karen =
youth leader.

"After more and more become addicted, the price goes up, the addicts =
struggle to find the money to satisfy their addiction, and then we'll =
have trouble," he predicted.

The cost of manufacturing each methamphetamine tablet depends on the =
ingredients, the location of production, and the risk involved. Just =
across the northern border in areas controlled by the United Wa State =
Army (UWSA) opposite Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, the cost is estimated to =
be four or five baht per tablet.

Even if the tablets being marketed in Karen refugee camps in Tak =
province are produced just across the border in Karen State, there is =
little or no profit to be made at five baht per tablet.

Anti-narcotics officials responsible for Tak have yet to confirm the =
source of the methamphetamine tablets being marketed in Karen refugee =
camps.

There are reports of the existence of small mobile factories just across =
the border in Karen State, believed to have been established only a few =
months ago by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Wei =
Hsueh-kang, a powerful brigade commander of the UWSA, the biggest drug =
trafficking group in the region.

An "understanding" between Wei's men and the DKBA, which broke away from =
the mostly Christian KNU a few years ago, was reached earlier this year, =
Thai and Western sources confirmed.

Anti-narcotics officials continue to monitor and assess the shift =
southward by drug traffickers, including the UWSA, as a result of the =
heavy crackdown by the government along the northern border.

A senior official of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) =
confirmed that the KNU itself was being monitored.

"The KNU has been fighting for so long and they have run out of money =
now that they no longer have income from logging and gem mining. Drug =
trafficking could become attractive," he said.

The senior official added that the KNU has no prior experience in drug =
production and trafficking, unlike other ethnic groups in Burma who have =
used opium as medicine and traded the product to fund their struggle =
against Burmese military dictatorship in the 60s and 70s.

"But it's not difficult to get started," said the same senior official.

"The KNU still controls areas in the Karen State and could start by =
escorting drug convoys or providing protection to small mobile =
factories," he said.

Mr Mahn Sha insists the concerns expressed by the ONCB are unfounded. =
"We consider drugs very dangerous for the Karen people and for the Thai =
people as well. We strongly oppose it," he said.

He admitted the KNU was concerned by the shift southward by drug =
traffickers who he claimed are supported directly by the SPDC in order =
to raise much needed revenue.

For now, the KNU can only hope to protect their youth through awareness =
programmes and heavy punishment for those caught using or trafficking in =
drugs.

"The punishment for using and selling drugs is very heavy," said Mr Mahn =
Sha.

"We oppose very strongly any involvement with illegal drugs, their use, =
production or transport," he said.=20
  =20
--------

Bangkok Post - December 6, 1999=20

The victims of Burmese dictatorship

Displaced Karen refugees are at a loss as to why they have been =
barbarically treated by Burmese soldiers=20

NUSARA THAITAWAT and SUBIN KHUENKAEW

Naw Pwe spends her days looking at people walk by her tiny bamboo hut. =
On a good day, she goes out-but never too far-to collect whatever =
edibles Mother Nature is kind enough to give to her children and comes =
back to cook.=20


She also visits neighbours for a chat and when the topics in her small =
world have all been covered, she stays with them anyway for the company =
of fellow human beings, fellow victims of Burma's dictators, now living =
in a refugee camp far from home.=20

This Karen lady who had lived a half century in the village of her =
ancestors said she does not understand why Burmese soldiers had stormed =
Mae La-ar, a village of about 70 households, at the break of dawn a year =
ago. She does not understand why in the confusion, as panicked villagers =
tried desperately to flee the invading soldiers, her husband had to be =
caught and had to be beaten to death as he begged for his life.=20

Night after night, she said, her head replays the same pictures of her =
terrified eight-year-old daughter, whose cries had caught the attention =
of the soldiers. One walked over to her hiding place, from where she =
witnessed every move of the senseless murder of her father, grabbed her =
and took her over to his lifeless body. "Shut up!" shouted the soldier. =
She could not stop shaking and cry ing. The soldier used his rifle to =
hit her arm, breaking it. Pain added to fear in her cries. He hit her =
again, this time on the shoulder, dislocating it.

She fell to the ground, her cries louder. He hit her again, this time on =
the back of her head, taking away her innocent life forever. Naw Pwe =
told her story calmly, her face emotionless, sitting in her hut, empty =
of worldly possessions. She said had it not been for her relatives who =
held her back by her hair to stop her from going to help her loved ones, =
she would have been killed too. But what continues to hurt her deeply as =
a survivor and witness to the atrocity, is her inability to retrieve the =
bodies of her husband and their daughter for proper funeral rites =
according to Karen beliefs. She was too scared to go back.

She said she had heard that Burmese soldiers usually laid mines around =
the perimeter of the villages they raided to prevent the people from =
going back to rebuild their lives. So Naw Pwe lives day by day, thankful =
for the relative safety of this camp for so-called internally displaced =
persons inside the Karen State.=20

Her neighbours, who have also ran away from Burmese soldiers for one =
tragic reason or another, now number about 4,800.=20

Most are Karen. According to non-governmental organisations concerned =
with Burma, there are an estimated two million internally displaced =
people inside Burma, half being ethnic minorities, mostly in the Shan, =
Karen and Karenni States. The main reason for their displacement is the =
brutality inflicted on them to prevent them supporting ethnic armies =
still struggling against the Rangoon government. Han Saw, 47, Naw Pwe's =
camp administrator, said the camp's population has more than doubled =
since it was set up in October last year. The camp is located inside the =
Karen State but a manageable distance to the Thai border, just in case.=20

The latest arrivals, 107 Karen, reached the camp only last month. =
Meanwhile Burmese soldiers continue their war of aggression against =
civilians of ethnic minority groups still to enter the "legal fold". Of =
the total population of 4,764 as of two weeks ago, 478 are under five =
years old and 1,206 are under 12. NGOs are supporting the people with =
various programmes in agriculture and animal husbandry, education and =
vocational training, including weaving for women which is also aimed at =
preserving Karen traditional textile-making skills.=20

The programmes try to make life as normal as possible, raise awareness =
of the people's potential to be self-sufficient, and also to prepare =
them for the day when they can go home. However, the people's livelihood =
still depends very heavily on outside humanitarian aid of medicine and =
rice.=20

The main reason these displaced people stay inside the Karen State is =
the desire to be free. Han Saw said the people realise that they would =
be safer on the Thai side of the border, but they prefer to remain in =
Karen State. The Karen National Union's (KNU) 7th Brigade has formed a =
number of defensive rings around this camp and a few others in their =
area of responsibility, as protection against Burmese soldiers.=20

Maw Pwe said she cannot think of revenge and does not understand what =
the KNU does apart from sending soldiers to stand guard some distance =
from the camp.=20

She said she cannot allow her surviving 17-old-old son to join the KNU =
to fight against the Burmese soldiers because he is her only support. =
Relatives have sent a niece to live with her and help take care of her =
daily needs as best as possible. Her grown daughter now has her own =
family, and is also living in the camp.=20

"I have run away from Burmese soldiers five times in my life, as a =
child, a teenager, a young bride, a mother of two, and last year when I =
lost my husband and youngest daughter." After all these years, she still =
does not know why the Burmese soldiers treat her and her fellow Karen =
with such brutality. "

I don't understand their reasons," she said. I want so much to go home =
but I'm so scared.

I don't have the energy to run any more. It's best for me to stay here. =
I'll probably stay here until the day I die."=20

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>
<DIV>Bangkok Post - December 6, 1999&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>ANTI-RANGOON FREEDOM FIGHTERS</DIV>
<DIV><BR>Karen face new formidable foe<BR>Rebel leaders claim Burmese =
junta=20
using amphetamines to destroy Karen youth</DIV>
<DIV><BR>Nusara Thaitawatb and Subin Khuenkaew</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>After more than 50 years fighting for freedom against the Japanese=20
imperialist army in World War II and then the Burmese military =
dictatorship=20
since 1962, the Karen National Union (KNU) under the leadership of Gen =
Bo Mya is=20
now struggling against another formidable foe: narcotics.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Padoe Mahn Sha, the KNU's first secretary, suspects that the =
Burmese=20
government, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), =
wants to=20
systematically destroy Karen youths with drugs.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"The SPDC also wants to destroy our image by spreading false =
allegations=20
that we are involved in drug trafficking," he said. "That is not=20
true."Methamphetamine tablets-readily available to Thai youths =
throughout the=20
country since 1997-have been systematically marketed inside Karen =
refugee camps=20
since this year, according to a Karen youth leader.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Mae Lah, the biggest Karen refugee camp in Tak's Tha Song Yang =
district,=20
with a population of some 30,000 refugees, is one of the major markets =
targeted=20
by the traffickers, he said.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The affordable price of five baht per tablet is worrisome for Karen =

leaders, who are already struggling to keep the spirit of freedom alive =
among=20
the youth as many fall prey to inertia from extended stay in =
camps.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"It's clear that these five-baht tablets are a bait," said the =
Karen youth=20
leader.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"After more and more become addicted, the price goes up, the =
addicts=20
struggle to find the money to satisfy their addiction, and then we'll =
have=20
trouble," he predicted.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The cost of manufacturing each methamphetamine tablet depends on =
the=20
ingredients, the location of production, and the risk involved. Just =
across the=20
northern border in areas controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA) =
opposite=20
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, the cost is estimated to be four or five baht =
per=20
tablet.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Even if the tablets being marketed in Karen refugee camps in Tak =
province=20
are produced just across the border in Karen State, there is little or =
no profit=20
to be made at five baht per tablet.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Anti-narcotics officials responsible for Tak have yet to confirm =
the source=20
of the methamphetamine tablets being marketed in Karen refugee =
camps.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>There are reports of the existence of small mobile factories just =
across=20
the border in Karen State, believed to have been established only a few =
months=20
ago by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Wei Hsueh-kang, a =
powerful=20
brigade commander of the UWSA, the biggest drug trafficking group in the =

region.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>An "understanding" between Wei's men and the DKBA, which broke away =
from=20
the mostly Christian KNU a few years ago, was reached earlier this year, =
Thai=20
and Western sources confirmed.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Anti-narcotics officials continue to monitor and assess the shift =
southward=20
by drug traffickers, including the UWSA, as a result of the heavy =
crackdown by=20
the government along the northern border.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>A senior official of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) =
confirmed=20
that the KNU itself was being monitored.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"The KNU has been fighting for so long and they have run out of =
money now=20
that they no longer have income from logging and gem mining. Drug =
trafficking=20
could become attractive," he said.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The senior official added that the KNU has no prior experience in =
drug=20
production and trafficking, unlike other ethnic groups in Burma who have =
used=20
opium as medicine and traded the product to fund their struggle against =
Burmese=20
military dictatorship in the 60s and 70s.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"But it's not difficult to get started," said the same senior=20
official.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"The KNU still controls areas in the Karen State and could start by =

escorting drug convoys or providing protection to small mobile =
factories," he=20
said.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Mr Mahn Sha insists the concerns expressed by the ONCB are =
unfounded. "We=20
consider drugs very dangerous for the Karen people and for the Thai =
people as=20
well. We strongly oppose it," he said.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>He admitted the KNU was concerned by the shift southward by drug=20
traffickers who he claimed are supported directly by the SPDC in order =
to raise=20
much needed revenue.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>For now, the KNU can only hope to protect their youth through =
awareness=20
programmes and heavy punishment for those caught using or trafficking in =

drugs.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"The punishment for using and selling drugs is very heavy," said Mr =
Mahn=20
Sha.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"We oppose very strongly any involvement with illegal drugs, their =
use,=20
production or transport," he =
said.&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>--------</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Bangkok Post - December 6, 1999 </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The victims of Burmese dictatorship</DIV>
<DIV><BR>Displaced Karen refugees are at a loss as to why they have been =

barbarically treated by Burmese soldiers </DIV>
<DIV><BR>NUSARA THAITAWAT and SUBIN KHUENKAEW</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Naw Pwe spends her days looking at people walk by her tiny bamboo =
hut. On a=20
good day, she goes out-but never too far-to collect whatever edibles =
Mother=20
Nature is kind enough to give to her children and comes back to cook. =
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><BR>She also visits neighbours for a chat and when the topics in =
her small=20
world have all been covered, she stays with them anyway for the company =
of=20
fellow human beings, fellow victims of Burma's dictators, now living in =
a=20
refugee camp far from home. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>This Karen lady who had lived a half century in the village of her=20
ancestors said she does not understand why Burmese soldiers had stormed =
Mae=20
La-ar, a village of about 70 households, at the break of dawn a year =
ago. She=20
does not understand why in the confusion, as panicked villagers tried=20
desperately to flee the invading soldiers, her husband had to be caught =
and had=20
to be beaten to death as he begged for his life. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Night after night, she said, her head replays the same pictures of =
her=20
terrified eight-year-old daughter, whose cries had caught the attention =
of the=20
soldiers. One walked over to her hiding place, from where she witnessed =
every=20
move of the senseless murder of her father, grabbed her and took her =
over to his=20
lifeless body. "Shut up!" shouted the soldier. She could not stop =
shaking and=20
cry ing. The soldier used his rifle to hit her arm, breaking it. Pain =
added to=20
fear in her cries. He hit her again, this time on the shoulder, =
dislocating=20
it.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>She fell to the ground, her cries louder. He hit her again, this =
time on=20
the back of her head, taking away her innocent life forever. Naw Pwe =
told her=20
story calmly, her face emotionless, sitting in her hut, empty of worldly =

possessions. She said had it not been for her relatives who held her =
back by her=20
hair to stop her from going to help her loved ones, she would have been =
killed=20
too. But what continues to hurt her deeply as a survivor and witness to =
the=20
atrocity, is her inability to retrieve the bodies of her husband and =
their=20
daughter for proper funeral rites according to Karen beliefs. She was =
too scared=20
to go back.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>She said she had heard that Burmese soldiers usually laid mines =
around the=20
perimeter of the villages they raided to prevent the people from going =
back to=20
rebuild their lives. So Naw Pwe lives day by day, thankful for the =
relative=20
safety of this camp for so-called internally displaced persons inside =
the Karen=20
State. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Her neighbours, who have also ran away from Burmese soldiers for =
one tragic=20
reason or another, now number about 4,800. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Most are Karen. According to non-governmental organisations =
concerned with=20
Burma, there are an estimated two million internally displaced people =
inside=20
Burma, half being ethnic minorities, mostly in the Shan, Karen and =
Karenni=20
States. The main reason for their displacement is the brutality =
inflicted on=20
them to prevent them supporting ethnic armies still struggling against =
the=20
Rangoon government. Han Saw, 47, Naw Pwe's camp administrator, said the =
camp's=20
population has more than doubled since it was set up in October last =
year. The=20
camp is located inside the Karen State but a manageable distance to the =
Thai=20
border, just in case. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The latest arrivals, 107 Karen, reached the camp only last month. =
Meanwhile=20
Burmese soldiers continue their war of aggression against civilians of =
ethnic=20
minority groups still to enter the "legal fold". Of the total population =
of=20
4,764 as of two weeks ago, 478 are under five years old and 1,206 are =
under 12.=20
NGOs are supporting the people with various programmes in agriculture =
and animal=20
husbandry, education and vocational training, including weaving for =
women which=20
is also aimed at preserving Karen traditional textile-making skills. =
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The programmes try to make life as normal as possible, raise =
awareness of=20
the people's potential to be self-sufficient, and also to prepare them =
for the=20
day when they can go home. However, the people's livelihood still =
depends very=20
heavily on outside humanitarian aid of medicine and rice. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The main reason these displaced people stay inside the Karen State =
is the=20
desire to be free. Han Saw said the people realise that they would be =
safer on=20
the Thai side of the border, but they prefer to remain in Karen State. =
The Karen=20
National Union's (KNU) 7th Brigade has formed a number of defensive =
rings around=20
this camp and a few others in their area of responsibility, as =
protection=20
against Burmese soldiers. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Maw Pwe said she cannot think of revenge and does not understand =
what the=20
KNU does apart from sending soldiers to stand guard some distance from =
the camp.=20
</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>She said she cannot allow her surviving 17-old-old son to join the =
KNU to=20
fight against the Burmese soldiers because he is her only support. =
Relatives=20
have sent a niece to live with her and help take care of her daily needs =
as best=20
as possible. Her grown daughter now has her own family, and is also =
living in=20
the camp. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>"I have run away from Burmese soldiers five times in my life, as a =
child, a=20
teenager, a young bride, a mother of two, and last year when I lost my =
husband=20
and youngest daughter." After all these years, she still does not know =
why the=20
Burmese soldiers treat her and her fellow Karen with such brutality. =
"</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I don't understand their reasons," she said. I want so much to go =
home but=20
I'm so scared.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I don't have the energy to run any more. It's best for me to stay =
here.=20
I'll probably stay here until the day I die."&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
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