KAO WAO NEWS No. 4

December 4-14, 2001

1. Burma Army Intrudes Cease-fire Zone

2. Asia’s First Nude Paradise in Burma

4. World joins Centennial Nobel Peace Prize

5; Upcoming 55th Anniversary of Mon National Day

6; Workers protest for registration cards

7. Resurrecting the Railways of Death

8. Readers Front

Burma Army Intrudes Cease-fire Zone

(BeeRee, December 12, 2001)

About 200 troops in a combining column in search of guerillas, of Burma Army, IB 61 and LIB 106 entered Bleh DonPhike and Chae Daike areas within the cease-fire zone of the New Mon State Party in early December. The place is located on the route of Ye-Halarn and Halockhanee Mon refugee camp connected to Thailand's Kanchanaburi Province and Ye Township of Mon State, Burma. They were searching for the splinter group led by Col. Pan Nyunt. The Burma army had patrolled around the mountains without informing the NMSP, an area that is protected and under control of the Mon and which has been their strong hold for many years.

Local villagers and members of NMSP expressed deep annoyance and concern over the intrusion of the Burma army, as reported by a local villager. The troops, after finishing their mission, retreated from the area on December 8, 2001. According to an anonymous senior officer of the cease-fire group, talking to Kao Wao in the liberated area, it is not an appropriate move on part of the Burma army to enter into the restricted zone as it may further strain the already cold cease-fire relations between the NMSP and the SPDC.

The situation of the splinter group has brought disunity into Mon State since September 2001 when Col. Pan Nyunt decided to strike it out on his own. After the group leader publicly announced his aim on resuming the fight with support of troops in the area against the military regime, the Burma army duly launched an operation in search of the splinter group. The Burmese IB no 62 led by Col. Way Tun burnt down Htee Wah Doe Karen village, which is 5 kilometers from Thailand border on November 27, in retaliation against their alleged support for the group. A Mon watcher, at the border said, likewise US search for Osmar Bin Laden in Afghanistan, 5 Battalions of Burma army has launched the offensive searching for the splinter group and it is unsafe to travel from Halockhanee to Halarn even the road is opened after the dry season.

On December 1, 2001, the Burma army was attacked by the Mon guerrillas near ChanGu in southern Ye. While some Mon civilians have welcomed the move by guerrillas to resume striking against the oppressive military junta, some have expressed disappointment that Mons are in opposition to one another while others are alarmed over having to pay extra taxes to the newly formed splinter group. On December 6, Chan Ong from the splinter group approached Taung Bon and Wae Hnok village of northern Ye Township and seized the village headmen as hostages for revenue.

Asia’s First Nude Paradise in Burma

(Ranong, December 7, 2001)

According to The Nation, December 7, 2001, a Thai senator, Vikrom Isiri, has been granted his second 45 year concession business venture to open the first nudist colony paradise in Asia, located on Burma’s St Luke’s island in the Andaman Sea off Thailand’s Ranong province. It is part of other related business schemes undertaken by Vikrom who owns two islands in Burma and who has close relations with the Burma junta. The nudist club is set to open up alongside Burma’s Son Island that boasts a luxury hotel and casino and is Vikrom’s latest pet project. The idea is to boost up the tourist industry in the region and business interests on both sides of the border are gleeful that nudists’ enthusiasts from all over the world will flock to St Luke’s to doff their clothes on Burma’s beaches.

The SPDC has gone to great lengths extolling Burma nationalism against the influence of western culture, monitoring situations which might offend the habits and customs of the people, though when it comes to lining the pockets of the generals, economic expediency wears away the protective mask of nationalism. The nudist club is just another case of the double standard which is practiced by the junta when making deals with outsiders.

World Joins Centennial Nobel Peace Prize

(December 8, 2001, Based from AFP and local reporter)

In Bangkok, some 1,500 people gathered at Thammasat University for a peace concert on Saturday to support the democracy struggle in Burma. The concert was planned to coincide with celebrations in Oslo and around the world to mark the centenary of the Nobel Peace Prize and the 10-year anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's award. In a speech to be made by satellite link to Oslo late Saturday, Thai Senator Kraisak Choonhavan appealed for the democracy campaigner's release.

In Chiang Mai, the commemoration also took place on December 8, 2001. The Women League of Burma organized this event with about 200 participants actively joining in the colorful occasion. Among the guest speakers were U Aye Saung of the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB), Khun Kyar Nu of the National Reconciliation Program, Dr. Tint Swe of Burma government in exile, Dr. Thein Lwin of Nation Health and Education Committee (NHEC) and Mi Sue Pwint from Burma Women Union. The celebration statement had been signed by 28 organizations from different democratic and ethnic groups was read by Ms. Monica from the Women League of Burma. The statement included a formal call for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners; to initiate a tripartite dialogue; to stop military operation in the ethnic areas and establishing genuine peace in Burma.

US, Indiana based Monland Restoration Council (MRC) issued a statement to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Nobel Peace Prize to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. While the whole world is celebrating for her, Nobel Peace Prize laureate is under house arrest at her lonely residence in Rangoon. Suu Kyi has been awarded several international appointments and honors from all around the world, a total of 63 in all, among the many countries which have awarded Doctorates of Law are Canada, USA, Britain, India, Japan, Thailand, Italy and many others. The Nobel Peace Prize was the 4th award granted to her in 1991.

Resurrecting Railways of Death

(Rangoon, December 4, 2001)

According to the Bangkok Post, December 4, 2001, Thailand and Burma have agreed in principle to resurrect two old railway projects linking the two countries. The plan to revive the Kanchanaburi to Three Pagodas Pass and Kanchanaburi to Ye railway routes was agreed during a meeting between the Thai-Burmese Cultural and Economic Association in Rangoon. The meeting was co-chaired by Gen. Pat Akkanibutr, the defense minister's chief adviser and Air vice Marshal Kyaw Than, a former Burmese air force chief.

When the New Mon State Party agreed to a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese junta in 1995, Thai companies approached the junta and the Mon group about building a highway to stimulate business development in the region. The infrastructure project along side the old railway was postponed due to security reasons brought on by the threat of the KNU and an unwillingness of the New Mon State Party, who feared that the cease-fire agreement could be derailed. The location is strategically important, as it is located along the old railroad route that was once known as the Railway of Death during the Second World War.

Upcoming 55th Anniversary of Mon National Day

Mon National Day is largely celebrated in Burma especially in the areas of Mon inhabitants in Mon State, Karen State, Rangoon and Pegu. The celebration has now expanded to Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Canada, the U.S. and Finland where Mon communities live and enjoy some freedom in third countries and as migrant workers. The Mon civilization, culture and literature are treasures, which the world is only beginning to recognize.

In preparation, the Monland Restoration Council (USA), formed the 55th Anniversary of Mon National Day Celebration Committee in November. The Mon National Organization of Thailand based at Samutsakhorn Province, has also formed the Mon National Day Celebration Committee to commemorate the upcoming event.

In Canada, the Mon Canadian Association of Toronto, held a meeting on December 09, 20001 to jointly celebrate the Mon National Day with other Mon communities in Vancouver, Calgary, and world wide. From a confirmed source, the New Mon State Party will also celebrate this event in many areas under its control despite the move by the splinter group that has shaken the party recently.

Mon Youth Community (Bangkok) has also invited all Thai Mons to join its Annual General Meeting at Wat Sam Khok, Pathum Thani on Sunday, January 6, 2002 in welcoming the 55th Anniversary of Mon National Day.

Migrant Watch

Workers Protest for Registration Cards

(Samutsakhon, December 9, 2001)

Workers of a fish processing factory at Rommit Thailand factory held a protest in a claim to keep their worker’s identification cards at Maharcahi on December 6, 2001. To crack down on the angry workers, the owner called in the police who promptly arrested the demonstration leaders on the same day. Mon workers called the local NGOs and reporters for this unjust treatment, shortly after, workers were released two days after the lock up and were then granted their request to retain their worker identity cards that were returned to them on December 8, 2001.

Many migrant workers in Samutsakhon Province registered with the Labour Ministry this year but owners refused to assist with their registration fee. The registration fees were exploited by employers, who charged from 3500 to 5000 B, when the original fee was set at 3250 Baht for each worker. Many owners have kept the cards of alien workers and who are not permitted to hold these cards under any circumstances, making it difficult for them to move around, even to visit the clinic.

READERS’ FRONT

Dear Kaowaos,

Congratulation for doing such as great job and I'm really proud of all your hard work. For more consideration, however, could you provide more information inside homeland on the situation between gov & our peoples'conditions? In terms of their economic transition before and now, borderline conflict and follow by cease- fire between MNSP and Burmese Government news. I think it would help overseas people to see the big picture in their mind. Wishing you success.

Nai (North America, December 8, 2001)

Dear readers,

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Editor

KAO WAO NEWS GROUP