BURMESE ARMY’S FORCED LABOUR IN BUILDING NEW AIR BASE

January 9, 2003

Burmese Army’s battalions forced one person from each

house on a daily basis in building an air base ground

for army helicopter landing in Kalakoke island,

southern part of Mon State.

Island has three villages and all villagers from every

household are forced to work in the construction since

the beginning of January by two Burmese Army’s

battalions IB No. 62 and IB No. 31.    Everyday more

than 60 people have been forced at 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

at the workplace without payment and food.   The

villagers from every two quarters of each villge are

forced to work.   Villagers are forced to dig a hill

until the army gets equal level ground for possible

landing of helicopter and installation of air force. 

After deploying an Artillery Regiment on the island by

equipping with five 81 MM motors two months ago, the

Burmese Army again planned to build an air base on a

hill near a village in the middle part of the island.

The purpose of deployment of more troops including air

force and artillery regiment in this island is to

safeguard a deep sea port which is underplanned by

Thai business firms and SPDC to be built in this

island.  The plan unveiled in the recent opening

ceremony of Thai-Myanmar Culture and Business

Committee’s booklet.

Since 1996 Thai business companies especially trading

firms planned to build a motor road from a

Thailand-Burma border point, Three pagoda Pass to the

island’s deep seaport.  However  the project failed

due to economic crisis in Thailand.   Thai business

companies expect they could get shorter rough to

communicate with South Asia countries and Burma if the

road and deep sea port are completely built. 

Independent Mon News Agency