KAO WAO NEWS No. 11
An electronic
newsletter for social justice and freedom in
February 16-26
READERS’ FRONT
CEASE-FIRE GROUPS STAND MUTE WITH UN RAPPORTEUR
POLITICAL REFUGEES DENIED FAIR TREATMENT
AN EVENING WITH DR. CHAO TZANG YAWNGWE
MON YOUTH IN ACTION
CHIN NATIONAL DAY
WEARING SARONG AN INVITATION TO ROBBERY
READERS’ FRONT
Dear Readers,
We invite comments and suggestions on improvements to Kao-Wao newsletter. With your help, we hope that Kao-Wao News will continue to grow to serve better the needs of
those seeking social justice in
We reserve the right to edit and reject articles without
prior notification. You can use a pseudonym but we encourage you to include
your full name and address.
HAPPY MON NATIONAL DAY TO ALL!
Regards,
Editor [email protected]
Dear Kao-Wao,
It is the time for NMSP and HRP to sit together and talk in
front of a third party. Waging war among
them-selves will only benefit the SPDC.
Not only two groups but all
Ko Maung
(
Dear Kao-Wao
We are very proud of yours farsighted and excellent works.
If it is possible, please share all new sources of our other comrades such as
Kachin, Karen, Karenni and Chin etc.
I would like to ask is the case of SPDC & NLD is
Let there be sunshine in all of your days! Best Regards,
Oo Thein Maung
Arakan League for Democracy-exile (Youth Wing)
Hi Kao-wao,
You have a lot of information and I've been reading your
statements, it is interesting. Could you write more what is happening among Mon
parties and armed groups?
Than
(February 2002,
CEASE-FIRE GROUPS STAND MUTE WITH UN RAPPORTEUR
(Kao-Wao,
The UN special rapporteur, Mr Paulo Sergio Pinheiro met with
representatives from cease-fire groups in
According to sources in
The meeting as a result, got off to a late start, an hour
behind schedule, due to the lecture given, when the delegates finally were able
to met with Mr. Pinhero, they were refrained from
making direct contact as the Burma intelligence officer himself acted as the
interpreter for the whole meeting.
Not to be discouraged, the seven cease-fire groups got
together and cosigned a Union Day message.
In the message, the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO), Shan State
Peace Council (SSPC), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Karenni People Liberation
Front (KPLF), Shan State Nationalities People Liberation Organization (SSPLO), Kayan New Land Party (KNLP) and Palaung
State Liberation Army (PSLA) urged all people of
On February 17, the humble Brazilian professor, Pinheiro went to Insein Central Jail and met with some
political prisoners, including Dr Salai Tun Than, who was arrested in November. He also met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at her
residence on February 18 with other NLD leaders. According to a Democratic source, Mr Paulo Sergio Pinheiro gave
preference to meeting with the SPDC-sponsored Human Rights Commission, Home
Minister Col Tin Hlaing, and Police Director-General
Police Maj-Gen Soe Win.
Refugee Alert:
POLITICAL REFUGEES DENIED FAIR TREATMENT
(Kao-Wao Reporter,
Political refugees have suffered ongoing stress after being
forcibly moved to Htam Hin
temporary shelter. “In the new temporary
shelter, the refugees are living under duress and insecurity from the irregular
quality of services and amenities provided, such as water, food, health and
medical care,” said Nai Kadhone
(Moe Kyaw Thu).
A major problem is the new camp’s location, being situated
over a small ravine and being built too high up a hill. The previous camp in Ratchaburi province had
been surrounded on three sides by a high hill, which protected the refugees
from strong gusts of wind. The new camp exposes the refugees to strong wind and
rain. The children and elderly suffer the most, as the shelter is substandard
for refugees, the makeshift huts are built only of nipa water palm leaves.
As well, no electricity is provided, if they want to see at
night they will need to buy candles; no activities are planned, no TV, no
computer access. Being that communication is now restricted with camp residents
having no telephone access and no mobile phone as the new location is out of
the phone line forces residents to leave the area without permission and pay
200 bahts for motorbike charge to transport them.
There are 10 makeshift buildings made out of nipa palm leaves and blankets to accommodate over 400
political refugees. One building is 50 feet long and divided by a path with
barracks on either side. Each family is assigned 8 x 8 feet of space
partitioned with the blankets. Barracks N0 1, 2, 3 and 4 are for political
refugees, the 6 others are for the border and rejected cases. (Editor’s note:
UNHCR clarified
The computer and English training classes available at the
other camp have been terminated and are not allowed in the new camp. NGOs,
which had provided educational programs, have not been allowed to relocate with
the refugees and are not allowed to contact their students. At present, the political refugees will have
no chance to attend training classes in the new camp.
There is also no medical center, leaving political refugees
with the choice to travel to the Htam Him war refugee
camp clinic, where there is a problem about the quality of services provided,
that more attention is given to the war refugees, and the situation being that
the medicine supplies are intended only for war refugees. Even children are not
prescribed the proper dosage, being given adult dosages instead.
“They give us low quality rice, rice that is rejected and
broken (over grinded), 16 kilo per person, per month, 5 kilo of charcoal per
household, per month was given at the beginning, now they changed the system
and give three feet of long firewood for cooking” he added, which is an added
burden when preparing food.
On
The central committee of Burma Students’ Political Refugee
Organization based in Bangkok, Thailand, demanded that urgent attention be
given to the political refugees both living inside and outside of temporary
shelters and be supplied with better facilities that addressed their needs
including health, social assistance and education.
Interview:
AN EVENING WITH DR.
CHAO TZANG YAWNGWE
Kao Wao recently requested Dr. Chao Tzang Yawnghwe, the Advisory
Board member of the United Nationalities League for Democracy-Liberated Area,
to take time out from his busy schedule to talk about his life experiences as
an activist and freedom fighter. Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from
Rangoon University and tutored English from 1960-63, when General Ne Win seized
power in a military coup in 1962, Chao Tzang became one of the leading founders and served in the
Shan resistance movement of the Shan State Army from 1963-1977.
When resettled in
Today he works with the Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and
Cooperation Committee (ENSCC), the Strategy Planning Committee (SPC), and also
heads the Program Team of the NRP (National Coalition Committee).
Question: Your experience being an ethnic nationality in
CTY: Personally I
have had no problem. I am not obsessed with ethnic identity although I am a
Shan nationalist in the sense that I consider it my duty to fight for the Shan
people. The Shan people are cultured, peaceful, pious, humble, and aspire only
to live quietly as dignified human beings, not subject to oppression by
anyone. They have been unable to do so
for more than fifty years.
Ethnic nationalism is by definition narrow. It is like
racism. It is ugly. I believe that everyone must fight against ethnic
nationalism, especially chauvinism or ethnic-racism. The Burma Army and its
leaders are ethnic-chauvinists. This is why the whole country is suffering in
so many ways for so many years.
Some of us choose to fight Burman ethnic-chauvinism with
ethnic-patriotism. It is necessary to do so. But one must be careful because
the politics of ethnicity can lead to confusion and result in chaotic conflict
- and when this happens, the ordinary and decent folks suffer. In chaotic
conflict, the people do not win.
Most likely the oppressor regime will win because it will
manipulate all the chaos and confusion, and it will create and encourage
conflicts, the more the better.
It is a duty of everyone to love his people, to treasure his
ethnic identity. But one should be able to think strategically, to see the big
picture of any situation and/or the struggle. It is not useful in any way to be
obsessed only with ethnic patriotism.
In addition, one has to consider the fact that ethnic
patriotism is a useful ideological weapon for politicians and leaders aspiring
to be an autocrat or dictator. Slobodan Milosovik was such a leader, as was Adolf
Hitler. Ne Win is also of this type. He used Burman ethnic chauvinism to take
away the rights and freedom of everyone and to make himself an autocratic
de-facto king - thereon destroying the lives of the people of
Q: Your experiences in the Shan armed movement?
CTY: My experience in
the Shan State Army/SSA was very eventful. This is more so because we operated
in the interior, in the frontlines - far away from all borders. The SSA did not
have any border bases, unlike other resistance armies. We were always surrounded
by the enemy.
We - I and my comrades - built up quite successfully an
armed movement and organization that was not wholly dominated by military
officers and men. They had to respect those serving in the civil administrative
capacity, and were not allowed to interfere in administrative matters. Also,
the people were organized into political, youth,
women, self-help groups and organizations, and they were also responsible for
local security.
Discipline in the SSA at that time was very strict. Soldiers
and officers were not regarded as superior to the people, or as more patriotic
than others. They were not above the law. An army that thinks of itself as a
national vanguard, as the savior of the nation, as more patriotic than anyone -
this kind of army is a threat to everyone.
Q: How you handle the differences between armed struggle and
non-violence?
CTY: As noted by many
thinkers and democratic leaders - including Daw Aung San Suukyi
- if you win by violent means, you will rule with the same violence-prone
mind-set when you win.
If we look at successful armed and violent revolutions all
over the world and throughout history, such revolutions "eat their own
sons and daughters", and the best and the brightest are among the first to
be eliminated by the revolution. Because the brightest and the best are no
longer around, the revolution invariably becomes corrupt, tyrannical, and
self-serving.
Armed struggle is a science. Shooting up and killing lowly or low-ranking enemy (government) soldiers is not science. It is also not armed struggle. It is shooting and killing without strategic thrust.
For example, the Burmese communist, CPB, waged this kind of
"armed struggle". It said its aim is to kill a lot of Ne Win's
soldier - as many as possible. The CPB did kill a lot of lowly enemy soldiers,
but it was directionless fighting, a war without strategy and direction. In the
end the CPB was defeated.
Therefore to wage an armed struggle, the first requirement
is to have the ability to fight strategically, ie., to use one's army - and
brain power --to change the strategic situation, to immobilize the enemy.
As a negative example, I would like to point out to the way
war was waged by the CPB. They concentrated on storming government garrisons
mainly in the jungles and mountains. It was successful and the CPB killed a lot
of lowly soldiers. But there was no strategic value to their victories. Ne Win
had a lot of low-ranking soldiers to waste.
The CPB almost never staged effective ambushes on army
convoys on the roads, near towns - the nearer the better. When a large convoy
is ambushed and destroyed near a town, this shakes up the enemy's morale very
badly. Fear grips the top officers, and they can’t hide their defeat from the
public.
Fighting strategically therefore is the key. War is not
about killing. War is about brainpower, and it is won firstly up here, in the
head. War is about psychology, making the enemy feeling weak although they may
be many times stronger, more numerous.
As many philosophers of warfare say, war is politics. At the
heart of war is politics. If one loses the political war, the armed might that
one possess, no matter how mighty, becomes useless. Ten, twenty battlefield
victories can be neutralized, cancelled-out, by one political move.
Q: What motivated you to carry on the movement?
CTY: I don’t like
what the military has done to the country and the people. Military rule is a
cancer. And military rule was not necessary, and it is still not necessary. In
fact, military rule is never needed nor necessary in
any country.
It is the responsibility of everyone - every good sons and
daughters of all ethnic segments in
I believe we can do this. This is why I am still in the
fight. If I did not believe that this putrid cancer can be removed, I would not
be doing what I am doing now.
Q: Why is the State Constitution so important for the future
of
CTY: State
constitutions are at the heart of any federal arrangement. Federalism means the
de-centralization of power so that power is distributed to the people, the
local communities, through power structures that empower the people.
No one can dispute the fact that the
The Panglong vision - shared by all non-Burman leaders and
by U Aung San -was to establish a democratic, federal Pyidaungzu
based on federalism: an arrangement based on the equality of states and their
self-determination. Further, no one state was envisioned as being the
mother-state (Pyi-Ma), superior to or above other
states.
One goal of the state constitution drafting (SDC) process is
to make leaders, activists, intellectuals, and politicians, etc., examine and
explore their own future, their goals, visions, and to work out among
themselves the kind of state they would like to live in.
When they begin the exercise of actually drafting their
state constitutions, they will not only begin to understand federalism,
democracy, etc., but to also understand how the people can be empowered to
govern themselves through their local governments, their state governments, and
the federal government. They will also be compelled to think seriously about
ethnic self-determination and will also be compelled to think about how to
incorporate this legitimate aspiration of all ethnic groups in their state
constitution.
In short, the state constitution drafting process is both
learning and a working process, and it is needed if the political slogans are
to be translated into concrete and rational reality.
The
I think the Shan drafting commission is on the right track.
Consulting with the people (bottom-up), consulting among leaders and political
parties, consulting between activists and cadres, discussions on constitutional
matters - they are very crucial. The next stage will be discussions between the
different drafting committees about the articles, clauses, provisions, etc. of
the drafts (or "model" constitutions).
Q: Why do you think
the Panglong spirit is important? What
are the challenges ahead?
CTY: As indicated
above, the Panglong Accord gave birth to the Union/Pyidaungzu,
and it also led to the obtaining of independence. That is why Panglong is
important.
The Panglong spirit is important because it provides a solid
and historical basis for democracy, peace, and real people's power. It is
because our leaders aspired to these goals in 1947 - fifty five years ago -
that they met at Panglong. The goals they aspired to, and which the people also
wanted, is not fulfilled up till now, today. This is sad.
The challenges are many - basically because the military and
successive military regimes have done much violence to the Panglong spirit,
although they pay shallow lip-service to Panglong and the Panglong spirit -
every year without fail since 1962. Very hypocritical.
It is most likely that the Panglong spirit will be a very
hotly contested in the dialogue, if dialogue happens. The military camp will
oppose federalism because it is opposed to the idea of equal status for all
states.
Furthermore, there are still a lot of people, Burmans and
non-Burmans alike, who do not understand federalism. Some non-Burmans like to
equate federalism with Burmanization or being
dominated by the Burman or by the Burman mother-state (Pyi-Ma).
Some Burmans equate federalism with separatism, secession, balkanization, and
so on. These elements can cause a lot of problems and also inflame emotions.
This would be dangerous.
Q: How do you want to see the future of
CTY: Like everyone, I
would like to see a Union of Burma as a peaceful and prosperous place: a
country where the people of all ethnic-belonging can live in freedom under the
protection of the law and the constitution - of both the
I would like to believe that the future of the Shan people
is bright and hopeful. If
On the other hand, if Shan leaders are witless,
emotion-driven, hot-headed, and do not know or understand politics, ie., if they are politically illiterate and intellectually
infantile, I fear life will be worse. It will be an endless hell, a slide down
an endless slippery slope.
MON YOUTH IN ACTION
(Kao-Wao, Sangkhlabur,
MYPO (Mon Youth Progressive Organization) which was formed
last year at Sangkhalaburi border town joined the
meeting chaired by Students and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB) at Thai Burma
border on February 21.
SYCB held the meeting to discuss ways to join in the process
of the Strategy Consultation Committee. The member organizations from Pa-O,
Arakan, Karen, Mon and youths form
MYPO Vice-Chairman Hong Kun, Joint-Secretary Nai Zwel Nyi,
and Nai Joon Tameh attended the meeting representing for the first time
after MYPO joined SYCB. Hong Kun told to
KaoWao that MYPO was formed to coordinate activities
and build solidarity among Mon youths.
In forming MYPO, youth leaders from different regions selected 17
central committee members including seven women.
An English language
training and publication of youth magazine will be implemented soon by MYPO
office said Hong Kun and they will not only be working at forging solidarity
among the Mons but to network with other ethnic
youths, democratic forces and the international community as well. Meanwhile,
the Chairman of MYPO, Banya Mon is in
CHIN NATIONAL DAY
(Based on CFIS, Chin Forum,
The 54th Chin National Day was celebrated in
About four hundred participants of Chin, NGOs, and
A statement by the Chin Community of Germany (Chin Gemeinde in Deutschland) spoke of the time when around 60
Chin were arrested in 1972 after they had peacefully submitted a proposal to
the military government for the establishment of a federal system, which
guaranteed self-determination and equal rights for the Chins and other ethnic
nationalities.
The Chin National Front (CNF) issued a statement urging for
a more conscious effort toward national unity without losing sight of the
importance of active participation in the National Revolution. The statement articulated its approval for a Tripartite dialogue called by the United Nations and
supported by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as the only way for a political solution in
Migrant Watch
WEARING SARONG AN INVITATION TO ROBBERY
(Kao-Wao, Samut
Sakhon,
Since February 10, 2002, Thai authorities have commenced
their annual campaign of repatriating undocumented (illegal) workers back to
neighbouring countries, targeting nine provinces; Tak,
Ranong, Phuket, Samut Sakhon, Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Samut Prakan and Sa Kaeo. The workers
have been warned to renew their registration cards.
In Samut Sakhong,
the authorities checked workers’ registration cards, about 30 workers without
work permits were arrested during the first phase of the crackdown. On another front, local policemen continue to
extort registered workers as a normal part of their working shift in the fish
processing Mon community.
On
The sarong is a traditional dress worn by women in
Meanwhile, a workshop on Cooperation between Thai Government
Organizations and NGOs in solving problems after the ‘2001
Registration of Migrant Workers’ was held on February 14-15, 2002 in Chiang
Mai, Thailand. NGOs called on the government to allow more civil participation
for groups to address the real issues concerning migrant workers concerning
national security and access to health services and education. Many problems, such as extortion were brought
up at the workshop.
(Chiang Mai,
On
The teacher-students were given exams after each module and
awards of excellence were granted to 4 teachers recognized for their
encouragement to other trainees, enthusiasm, skills, ability, and for receiving
high marks. First prize went to Thaung Nyunt from
Kao-Wao News Group [email protected]