Mon displaced communities could not produce sufficient paddy crops

A local Mon relief organization, Mon Relief and Development Committee (MRDC) released in its monthly October report that the displaced Mon communities in three resettlement areas could not produce sufficient paddy crops.

The repatriated Mon refugees from Thailand after 1995 NMSP-SPDC ceasefire were resettled along the border have not really returned back to their homes but have remained along Thailand-Burma border. As they are not recognized refugees accordingly to international principles, those displaced Mon returnees involve ‘self help’ programs and have tried to grow paddy in mountainous area to gain sufficient foods for their survival.

The repatriated refugees are resettled in three resettlement areas called, Halockhani, Bee Ree and Tavoy, and the population is about 11, 000 said the MRDC source. Those resettlement sites are in Ye Township, Yebyu Township and Three Pagoda Pass Township of southern Burma.

“Only 25% of the total families in Tavoy resettlement site ….. about 30% of total families in Bee Ree resettlement site ….. 20% of total families in Tavoy site …. have paddy-growing farms’” mentioned in the report and many displaced families could not find lands because of the long travel and worst security condition in the surrounding areas.

The report also added that the birds’, wild animals’ and insects’ attacks the paddy plants affect the decrease of crop production and the displaced farmers could not find the way to prevent these worst situation.

The displaced communities also created the development fund project by the help of MRDC and plan to increase their agriculture activities. However, the returned refugees are too hard to live without helps from MRDC and New Mon State Party, said the source.

Recently, an umbrella relief organization based in Thailand, Burmese Border Consortium, also released a report “Reclaiming the Right to Rice” and highlighted about the situation of displaced ethnic Karen, Shan, Karenni and Mon persons along eastern Burma border and their food security.