Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA)

September 3, 2003

More displaced persons escaped from their native homes

Over 50 Mon families have fled to the border with Thailand to escape from the systematic persecution in conflict areas and poverty during in the month of August, said a relief worker in Halockhani Mon refugee resettlement area.

The source said most new arrival families fled from the areas from southern part of Ye Township and some came from Yebyu Township area. A few families came from the middle part of Mon State, especially from Kyaikmayaw and Mudon Townships.

“Most villagers from southern part of Ye Township and Yebyu Township fled from fighting and serious human rights violations, but the families from middle part of Mon State fled because of economic hardship and unemployment” said by a relief worker.

He added that some families also left into Thailand to seek jobs. Only about 25% of the families who fled from serious persecution, such as forced labour in porter service and mistreatment related to suspicion of rebel-supporters decided to stay in Halockhani resettlement area. The resettlement area is locating just right on the border but in Burma, opposite of Kanchanabui Province of Thailand.

Because the rebel movement in the area, the Mon and Tavoyan farmers in Ye and Yebyu Township area are also accused as rebel supporters. One family from southern part of Ye Township said that they escaped from arrest because the Burmese soldiers in the area tried to arrest them after a fighting between Burmese Army and rebel army.

The fighting in the southern part of Ye Township and Yebyu Township has been in on-going situation. The civilians in Yebyu and Tavoy Township, Tenasserim Division, are also forced to attend the military training school to be members in the paramilitary. At the same time, men were also arrested to be porters during the Burmese Army was launching the military offensives.