Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA)

May 26, 2003

SPDC-NMSP Conflict on the Case of Forced Labour

The commander of Southeast Command, Maj. Gen. Thura Myint Aung blamed NMSP leaders for their protection of SPDC authorities’ conscription of forced labour, accordingly to a NMSP source.

When a road from Kawbein to Kyonedoe was built recently in Kawkareik Township, Karen State, the local SPDC authorities ordered the Mon villagers in the area. Because of the authorities’ use of forced labour, NMSP Thaton District complained for the practices. On May 12, Maj. Gen. Thura Myint Aung asked NMSP leaders from Thaton District to meet him and he blame them “don’t disturb our projects”.

Kawbein-Kyonedoe road is 16 miles long and it was built since on March 10 and about 4 miles length was now completely built. Along the road there are about 25 villages and some villages like Kharit with 300 households was ordered to build 7400 feet.

Kaw-bein village tract, which has about 2000 households, was ordered to build about one-mile long road first and then now, it is ordered to build another one-mile length road again. Some houses hired labour but many could not afford for payment and therefore, many elderly and children worked in the construction.

The chairman of Kawkareik District Peace and Development Council, Lt. Col. Ko Ko Gyi has taken responsibility in building road and conscription of labour.

“The use of forced labour is against the Order No. 1/99 and if they worked by machines, we told them we would talk the security”, one NMSP senior officer ever talked to Lt. Col. Ko Kyo Gyi, said the source to IMNA.

Commander Maj. Gen. Myint Aung is the one who do not like the ceasefire among the SPDC military leaders and the relationship with NMSP has not improved since two years ago.