ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Acronyms
| AAPP |
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (aka AAPPB) |
| AAPPB |
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) |
| AASYC |
All Arakanese Students and Youth Congress |
| ABFSU | All Burma Federation of Student Unions |
| ABSDF | All Burma Students' Democratic Front |
| ABSL | All Burma Students’ League |
| ABYMU | All Burma Young Monks’ Union |
| AFP | Agence France Presse |
| AHRC | Asian Human Rights Commission |
| AI | Amnesty International |
| ALD | Arakan League for Democracy |
| ALP | Arakan Liberation Party |
| ALRC | Asian Legal Resource Center |
| ALTSEAN | Alternative Asean Network on Burma |
| AP | Associated Press |
| APEC | Asia-Pacific Economic Conference |
| AR | Automatic Rifle |
| ARNO | Arakan Rohingya National Organization |
| ASC | Arakanese Students’ Congress |
| ASEAN | Association of Southeast Asian Nations |
| BA | Burma Army |
| BAD | Border Area Development Program |
| BBC | British Broadcasting Company |
| BBC | Burmese Border Consortium |
| B.E. | Burmese Era |
| BERG | Burma Ethnic Research Group |
| BI | Burma Issues |
| BIG | Burma Information Group |
| BLC | Burma Lawyer's Council |
| BPP | Border Patrol Police (Thailand) |
| BSI | Bureau of Special Investigations |
| BSPP | Burma Socialist Program Party |
| CAPS | Continuous Assessment and Progression System |
| CEC | Central Executive Committee |
| CEDAW | Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination of Women |
| CESCR | Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights |
| CFI | Christian Freedom International |
| CHRO | Chin Human Rights Organization |
| CICC | Center for the International Cooperation for Computerization |
| CID | Criminal Investigation Department |
| CNF | Chin National Front |
| CNLD | Chin National League for Democracy |
| CPJ | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| CPPCR | Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights |
| CPPSM | Campaign for the Publicity of the People’s Struggle in Monland |
| CRC | Chin Refugee Committee |
| CRC | Convention on the Rights of the Child |
| CRMC | Coastal Region Military Regional Commander |
| CRPP | Committee Representing the People's Parliament |
| CSW | Christian Solidarity Worldwide |
| DAB | Democratic Alliance of Burma |
| DDR | Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration |
| DDSI | Directorate of Defense Services Intelligence |
| DKBA | Democratic Karen Buddhist Army |
| DPA | Democratic Patriotic Army |
| DPDC | District Peace and Development Council |
| DPNS | Democratic Party for a New Society |
| DSA | Defense Services Academy |
| DVB | Democratic Voice of Burma |
| ECS | Economic Cooperation Strategy |
| ENSCC | Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity & Co-operation Committee |
| EP | Employee Pass |
| FBR | Free Burma Rangers |
| FEC | Foreign Exchange Certificates |
| FPE | Farm Products Enterprise |
| FTUB | Federation of Trade Unions-Burma |
| FTUK | Federation of Trade Unions-Kawthoolei |
| HRDU | Human Rights Documentation Unit |
| HRG | Hongsawatoi Restoration Group |
| HRP | Hongsawatoi Restoration Party |
| HRV | Human Rights Violations |
| HRW | Human Rights Watch |
| HURFOM | Human Right Forum of Monland |
| IA | Images Asia |
| IB | Infantry Battalion |
| ICBL | International Campaign to Ban Landmines |
| ICFTU | International Confederation of Free Trade Unions |
| ICG | International Crisis Group |
| ICRC | International Committee of the Red Cross |
| IDC | Immigration Detention Center |
| IDP | Internally Displaced Person |
| ILO | International Labour Organization |
| IMNA | Independent Mon News Agency |
| INGO | International Non Governmental Organization |
| IOM | International Organization of Migration |
| IRC | International Rescue Committee |
| IT | Information Technology |
| ITBMU | International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University |
| KDA | Kachin Democratic Army |
| KHRG | Karen Human Rights Group |
| KHRIC | Karen Human Rights Information Committee |
| KIA | Kachin Independence Army |
| KIC | Karen Information Center |
| KIO | Kachin Independence Organization |
| KNA | Karen National Association |
| KNAHR | Karenni News Agency for Human Rights |
| KNC | Karen National Congress for Democracy |
| KNCD | Kachin State National Congress for Democracy |
| KNLA | Karen National Liberation Army |
| KNLD | Kayah State all Nationalities League for Democracy |
| KNPLF | Karenni National People’s Liberation Front |
| KNPP | Karenni National Progressive Party |
| KNU DOI | Karen National Union Department of Information |
| KNU | Karen National Union |
| KORD | Karen Office of Relief and Development |
| KPA | Karen Peace Army |
| KRC | Karen Relief Committee |
| KSO | Kayin Solidarity Organization |
| KTWG | Karen Teacher Working Group |
| KWO | Karen Women's Organization |
| LDC | Least Developed Country |
| LDF | Lahu Democratic Front |
| LIB | Light Infantry Battalion |
| LID | Light Infantry Division |
| MAMD | Mon Army, Mergui District |
| MAN | Muslim Agency for News |
| MAP | Migrant Assistance Program Foundation |
| MAPT | Myanmar Agricultural Produce Trade |
| MDC | Mizoram District Council |
| MDF | Myanmar Defense Forces |
| MI | Military Intelligence |
| MICB | Muslim Information Center of Burma |
| MIS | Military Intelligence Services (aka DDSI) |
| MMA | Myanmar Medical Association |
| MMCWA | Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association |
| MNA | Myanmar Nurses Association |
| MNDF | Mon National Democratic Front |
| MNRC | Mon National Relief Committee |
| MOC | Military Operations Command |
| MOGE | Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise |
| MOI | Ministry of Interior (Thailand) |
| MoU | Memorandum of Understanding |
| MP | Member of Parliament |
| MPF | Mon People's Front |
| MPF | Myanmar Pharmaceutical Factory |
| MRA | Mon Revolutionary Army |
| MRC | Myanmar Red Cross |
| MSC | Military Strategic Command |
| MSF | Medecins sans Frontieres |
| MTA | Mong Tai Army |
| NBC | Norwegian Burma Council |
| NCCM | National Catholic Commission on Migration |
| NCGUB | National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma |
| NCO | Non-commissioned officer |
| NCUB | National Council of the Union of Burma |
| NDA-K | New Democratic Army – Kachin |
| NDD | Network for Democracy Development |
| NDF | National Democratic Front |
| NGO | Non Governmental Organization |
| NHEC | National Health and Education Committee |
| NIB | National Intelligence Bureau |
| NLD | National League for Democracy |
| NLD-LA | National League for Democracy - Liberated Area |
| NLM | The New Light of Myanmar |
| NMSP | New Mon State Party |
| NPE | News and Periodicals Enterprise |
| NPMHR | Naga People's Movement for Human Rights |
| NSA | Non State Actors |
| OCMI | Office of Chief Military Intelligence |
| OHCHR | Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights |
| OSS | Office of Strategic Studies |
| PAB | Provincial Admission Board |
| PDC | Peace and Development Council |
| PDP | Parliamentary Democracy Party |
| PLF | Palaung Liberation Front |
| PLO | Pa-o Liberation Organization |
| POC | Person of Concern |
| PR | Permanent Resident |
| PSB | Press Scrutiny Board |
| PYNG | Palaung Youth Networking Group |
| RCSU | Refugee Counseling Services Unit |
| RFA | Radio Free Asia |
| RM | Malaysian Ringgit |
| RPG | Rocket Propelled Grenade |
| RSF | Reporters Sans Frontiers (Reporters Without Borders) |
| RSO | Rohingya Solidarity Organization |
| SAIN | Southeast Asia Information Network |
| S.H.A.N. | Shan Herald Agency for News |
| SHRF | Shan Human Rights Foundation |
| SID | Special Investigations Department |
| SLORC | State Law and Order Restoration Council |
| SMNC | Sangha Maha Navaka Committee |
|
SNLD |
Shan Nationalities League for Democracy |
| SPDC | State Peace and Development Council |
| SSA | Shan State Army |
|
SSA-N |
Shan State Army - North |
|
SSA-S |
Shan State Army - South |
| SSNA | Shan State Nationalities Army |
|
STD |
Sexually Transmitted Disease |
| SUA | Shan United Army |
| SURA | Shan United Revolutionary Army |
| SUARAM | Suara Rakyat Malaysia |
| SWAN | Shan Women's Action Network |
| SWAPB | Social Welfare Association of People from Burma |
| TACDB | Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma |
| TB | Tuberculosis |
| TBA | Traditional Birth Assistant |
| THRF | Tavoyan Human Rights Foundation |
| TOC | Tactical Operation Commander |
| TPDC | Township Peace and Development Council |
| UNA | United Nationalities Alliance |
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commission for Refugees |
| VPDC | Village Peace and Development Council |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Program |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Social, and Cultural Organization |
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commission for Refugees |
| UNICEF | United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund |
| USDA | Union Solidarity and Development Association |
| UWSA | United Wa State Army |
| VOA | Voice of America |
| VPDC | Village Peace and Development Council |
| WGAD | United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WLB | Women's League of Burma |
| WNO | Wa National Organization |
| YCOWA | Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association |
| YMA | Young Mizo Association |
| ZNC | Zomi National Congress |
Abbreviations
|
approx. |
approximately |
| Brig. | Brigadier |
| Capt. | Captain |
| Comdr. | Commander |
| Col. | Colonel |
| Cpl. | Corporal |
|
ft. |
feet |
| Gen. | General |
| Ind. | Independent |
| Lt. | Lieutenant |
| kg. | Kilogram |
| km. | Kilometer |
| Maj. | Major |
| m. | meter |
| mm. | millimeter |
| n.a. | not available |
| Sd. | Signed with signature |
| Sgt. | Sergeant |
| sq. | square |
Terms
| baht |
monetary unit of Thailand (see “Measurements”) |
| Bo | military commander |
| Daw | an honorific used to address an adult female |
| furlong | (see “Measurements”) |
| Kawthoolei | Karen name for the Karen nation |
| Khun | polite form of address in the Thai language |
| Ko | Burmese form of address to a young male |
| kyat | monetary unit in Burma |
| longyi | Burmese word for sarong |
| Ma | Burmese form of address to a young female |
| Mahn | Burmese form of address to a Karen male |
| Maung | Burmese form of address to a young male |
| Mehm/Min | form of address to a young Mon male |
| Mi | form of address to a Mon female |
| Nai | Burmese form of address to an adult Mon male |
| Naw | Burmese form of address to a Karen female |
| plah | Karen measurement of distance, from elbow to fingertip (1 plah is under 2 feet) |
| pya | 100 pyas = 1 kyats |
| pyi | eight-condensed-milk tins |
| Sai | Burmese form of address to a young Shan male |
| Sangha | Buddhist order of monks |
| Sao | male of Shan royal descent |
| Saw | form of address to a Karen male |
| Sayadaw | presiding monk of a Buddhist monastery |
| Shwedagon | The Great Pagoda in Rangoon |
| Tatmadaw | Burmese Armed Forces |
| Thakin | master; lord (used to address the British colonial rulers; later politicized by the Burmese independence movement in the 1930s) |
| tickle | (see “Measurements”) |
| tin | (see “Measurements”) |
| tract (village) | area consisting of 4-6 villages |
| U | an honorific used to address an adult male in Burma |
| viss | (see “Measurements”) |
Measurements
| acre | 1 acre = 4,840 sq. yards = 0.407 hectare |
| 2.471 acres = 11,960 sq. yards = 1 hectare | |
| 640 acres = 1 sq. mile = 2.590 sq. kilometers | |
| baht | 1 baht = 100 satang |
| FEC | 1 FEC = US$1 = kyat 6.5 (official) |
| 1 FEC = Kyats 750 (unofficial) | |
| furlong | 1 furlong = 220 yards (1/8) mile = 201 meters |
| lakh | 1 lakh = 100,000 |
| tin | 1 tin = 16 pyi |
| 1 pyi | (rice/condensed milk tin) = approx. 250 ml |
| viss | 1 viss = 3.6 lbs = 1.633 kg |
| 622.22 viss = 1 long ton (2,240 lbs) = 1.016 metric tons |
NOTE ABOUT SPELLINGS:
Since there are no standardized transcriptions in the Roman alphabet for Burmese, Mon, and other ethnic languages, words are spelled variously, according to different spelling conventions or by how they sound (the spelling of Halockhani refugee camp is a classic example of this, by Westerners as well as Thais and locals). In addition, spellings have further been confused by the ruling junta’s official Burmanization of well-known English terminology (e.g. Myanmar for Burma).
In order to avoid confusion and politicization, this report will restrict its use of language to the established and more widely-accepted anglicized spellings, since this report to written in English.
A list of alternative spellings from various sources are provided as follows:
Ayeyarwady: Irrawaddy
Bagan: Pagan
Bago: Pegu
Bamar: Burman
Dawei: Tavoy
Hinthada: Henzada
Hpa-an: Pa-an
Kayah: Karenni
Kayin: Karen
Kyaing Don: Kengtung
Magway: Magwe
Mawlamyine: Moulmein
Muang Tai: Mong Tai
Myeit: Mergui
Myanmar: Burma
Pathein: Bassein
Pyay: Prome
Sittoung: Sittaung
Sittwe, Sittway: Akyab
Tanintharyi: Tenasserim
Thandwai: Sandoway
Thanlwin: Salween River
Taungyin: Moei River
Toungoo: Taungoo
Yangon: Rangoon