KAO WAO NEWS No. 37
An electronic newsletter for social justice and
freedom in Burma
No. 37, January 30
READER’S FRONT
IMPRISONED MON LEADER’S
HEALTH WORSENS
ROAD TO MONLAND
REOPENED
RUN WITH THE HERD
EDUCATON FESTIVAL
UNDER SIEGE
KAREN RESISTANCE DAY
HELD DESPITE ARMY OFFENSIVE
LEADERS UNCHANGED
AFTER MON CONFERENCE
MILITARY BASE BUILT
ON
FORCED PADDY
COLLECTION IN MON VILLAGES
SHAN POLITICIAN
DETAINED
UPCOMING MON NATIONAL
DAY IN THE WORKS
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READER’S 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
Regards,
Editor
http://www.burmalibrary.org/show.php?cat=1215&lo=d&sl=0
Dear Editor,
We are deeply concerned about the reports of land
confiscation in
Sincerely,
Chan Jit
KL,
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Political prisoners
IMPRISONED MON
LEADER’S HEALTH WORSENS
(Kao-Wao,
The health of Mon political prisoners in
Spokesperson for the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), reported that Nai Ngwe Thein, the senior leader and vice president of the Mon National Democratic Front, was having dental and urinary tract problems. A prison doctor suggested he be taken to a proper clinic outside the prison as the prison has insufficient laboratory instruments to treat his condition inside the jail. But prison authorities turned down the request.
According to a MNDF source from Mawlamyine, his family can visit every two weeks but must speak in Burmese in the presence of a MI No. 5 (Mon State based Military Intelligence), a source close to the leader’s family said.
The Mon National Democratic Front leaders Nai Tun Thein, Nai
Ngwe Thein, Dr. Min Kyi Win, and Dr. Min Soe Lin were arrested in 1998 for
urging the armed New Mon State Party (NMSP) to reconsider its position on its
cease-fire agreement with the SPDC military junta and for supporting the
Committee Representing People’s Parliament (CRPP). Nai Tun Thein, the Chairman
of MNDF was later released and put under house arrest due to his age and poor
health. The remaining three leaders were sentenced to seven years imprisonment
with hard labour, serving their term at the Moulmein Prison,
“While some political prisoners have been released due to international pressure, the voices of Mon and other ethnic leaders at the hand of the dictatorship continue to be silenced, facing long prison terms and torture. Ethnic leaders who have fought the Burmese army for invading their homeland for decades are, according to the Burmese government officials, “terrorists” and will not be released” said, Nai Pong, the leader of MNDF in exile.
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Life in
ROAD TO MONLAND
REOPENED
(Kao-Wao,
The one and only road to Monland reopened in mid January after being closed for over one year due to the armed conflict between the New Mon State Party and the splinter group Hongsawatoi Restoration Party.
The Halockhanee Ye motor road in the Southern part of
When Col. Pan Nyunt announced in November 2001 that he was resuming the fight against the military regime, Burmese army launched an operation against him and his troops, then several skirmishes between the two Mon groups followed, which totally closed the road off to travellers. According to IMNA, the HRP laid land mines along the road to protect their military operations in response to the operation of the Burmese Army since in December 2001.
The source from Sangkhlaburi Thai-Burma border reported that more members from Hongsarwatoi Restoration Party (HRP) have rejoined the NMSP and fighting between the two has subsided allowing the NMSP to repair the 60 km road in two weeks.
The majority of local traders and migrant workers relied on this route because they pay a small tax collection since it is not under the regime’s administration.
A happy truck driver said, "This is the only road for local people and migrant workers to cross the border without passing the Burmese army check points and we are relieved that the road is finally reopened”.
******************************************
Local Security Force
Steal Livestock
RUN WITH THE HERD
(Based on the IMNA report)
Ye, January 29 -- Burmese army and local militia forces stole nine cows to feed themselves in recent weeks, local sources said.
The troop from the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No.106 raided local villagers’ livestock for their daily sustenance, butchering the best part of the cow in their local camps leaving the rest of meat to rot on the ground, the source added, while the rest of the population barely get by on one meal a day,
Local police in La Maing village pulled over someone on a motorcycle with a fresh pack of beef but the man fled. Local residents doubted that police and military Intelligent Officers cared whether to make an arrest or not, but took the goods for themselves and let the thief escape.
Police officer Htein Win was assigned to watch out for thieves in the village where five cows had disappeared before he arrived, now another four cows have gone missing.
Nai Kyaw Min, a local resident said without a doubt that this was an act of the Burmese soldiers, but they cannot say openly. It was easy to solve the case of the missing cows, the local villagers followed the cow’s hoof prints toward the Burmese army camp. The villagers are powerless to get their cows back fearing for their lives if they complain.
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KAREN RESISTANCE DAY
HELD DESPITE ARMY OFFENSIVE
(Kao-Wao,
Amid heavy fighting between the Burmese Army and the ethnic
armed forces, the Karen celebrated their resistance day at the liberated area
near
The President of the Karen National Union, Saw Ba Thin Sein addressed the Karen repeatedly affirming a policy of finding a solution through political negotiation for the institution of a State of the Karen People. But the Burmese regime has invariably followed the policy of total annihilation through military means he said to the crowd during the celebration.
Saw Ba Thin urged the Karen public to pledge loyalty to those who have sacrificed their lives for freedom of the Karen people and to strive on, with unity, until freedom is achieved.
The NCGUB, Burmese government in exile also sent a message in commemorating the Karen’s struggle. The celebration included lively Karen dancing, colorful, musical performances and a military parade.
The Resistance day commemorates the beginning of the Karen
armed struggle against the Burmese government on
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EDUCATON FESTIVAL
UNDER SIEGE
(By Taramon / Zobbu,
A multi-education festival at Than Phyu Za Yat was forced upon villagers by the government’s local Education Department.
Every high school student of the city was forced to pay Kyat 200 for the festival and Kyat 100 for the entry ticket to join the ceremony. According to parents, a dress suit for a performer cost about 10,000 Kyat and parents were forced to pay for making their children’s costume.
The Teachers Association from the town’s high school also printed hats with the school's logo and sold them for Kyat 500 each to local passengers passing by the town. If the travelers were reluctant to buy the hat, they were forced to give some cash for the event, a driver from Ye reported.
Similar festivals at other high schools in
The Celebration Committee gave some prizes to participants, who joined the event, since the costly celebration cost the regime’s Education Department not a single penny with parents being made to pay for everything.
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Mon national affairs
LEADERS UNCHANGED
AFTER MON CONFERENCE
(Reported by Gong Ong,
The fifth congress of the New Mon State Party, held at its
Headquarters, wrapped up on
According to the source from the NMSP, Dr. Nai Shwe Thein, Nai Chan Toi and Nai Ong Min were extended with the existing six CEC leaders.
The NMSP elected seven CEC members at the last conference
but Nai Min Htut, a CEC member, was assassinated by the splinter group last
October. Nai Chan Toi, a young intellectual leader from
The 5th congress elected 7 Military Committee members, 27 Central Committee members and 9 Central Executive Committee members led by President Nai Shwe Kyin and Vice-President Nai Htin.
The NMSP issued a statement including five major tasks to
strengthen the unity among the
The party is not satisfied with the current political situation after the cease-fire agreement as it has nothing to bring on a political solution. We will cooperate with other alliance and democratic forces for a future change, the party’s official statement said.
According to the statement after the conference, the party is deeply disappointed with the regime’s organized land confiscation where land owned by local Mon people is confiscated for military reasons. There will be further problems and misunderstanding between the two sides (NMSP and SPDC) while the government continues to build new military bases located very close to the NMSP controlled area.
“The President is 91 years old and the Vice-President is 82. They need to transfer the tasks to the young generation for future leadership. This is why the party has included more new members in the team” Nai Shwe Thein, a new elected CEC member said to Kao-Wao.
“We cannot remain silent like this after seven years of cease-fire agreement, we have to speed up the process for a solution. Even if there is no change in the leaders, there are some changes in our policies and we will not be quiet anymore”, Nai Shwe Thein who holds a new position as a Chief of the Administration Department added.
The party reminded each member to strengthen their role
toward establishing a sovereign ‘
Nai Shwe Kyin (a) Nai Ba Lwin founded the NMSP in July 1958 when the Mon Peoples Front (MPF) surrendered to the U Nu’s Parliamentary government declaring to Mon supporters that it was an exchange of arms for democracy.
Since it was founded Nai Shwe Kyin (90 years), who now lives
in
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Forced labour
MILITARY BASE BUILT
ON
Ye,
The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) government has taken over 300 acres of land on this island in 2001 to build a new military base. According to a source from the New Mon State Party, the Burmese Army LIB No. 62 and No. 31 are responsible for the construction, which includes the deployment of five artillery weapons with 81-82 mm rockets, already allocated in the fishing villages.
The Burmese Army forced one person from each household on daily basis to prepare an army helicopter pad on the island, comprised of 3 Mon fishing villages. The construction site is located on the highest ground, at the top of the island, so the villagers have to dig and move tonnes of soil to level it off for the helipcopter. Villagers are working only with their hands without machinery, tools, or any other equipment.
The source from the New Mon State Party said, the government is planning to build a new seaport close by and the construction is for security reasons. The new seaport will be built in deep water at the Tha Pyay village, Northern Ye Township.
“I cannot work to earn money for my family, I am always
ordered to work for the construction site,” said a local man who fled to
According to the source form the
The Mon have inhabited Kawlagoot island
for many years, relying on fish for their subsistence. There are 2000
households on the island. It is located south of
****************************************************
FORCED PADDY
COLLECTION IN MON VILLAGES
KyaInn SeikKyi,
The Burmese Army Light Infantry Battalion No. 32 led by Major Naing Soe and local militia groups launched an operation from January 16, teaming up with Township State Peace and Development Council led by U Thet Naing Oo.
The armed groups go around knocking door to door in local villages, including Taung Pauk, Pok KhLay, War KaLein, Than PaYar and Kaok Hlon on 17 January led by Lt Myo Aung. The teams move quickly taking as much paddy as they can find from the houses.
Villagers are forced to hand in cash as well to the authorities at the real market price which is more than the government price if they fail to fill the quota set by the military.
“Farmers have sold their belongings to find money for the
deposit cash to the government” a local man who escaped to the Thai
The Paddy Collection Centre deducts the weight of paddy
during the sale claiming for the amount of water in the paddy. Many
villagers, with no other means of survival, have fled to the border areas to
look for employment or cross over into
According to a village headman, many rice fields in this area were seriously damaged by heavy flood this year and farmers are unable to provide enough paddy at the fixed rate.
Paddy Collection Centre (known as SaPar Dine in Burmese) is a prime source of income for the government as well as for the welfare of the Burmese army. The former Ne Win government introduced this project over thirty years ago for export to boost the state budget.
*********************************************
SHAN POLITICIAN
DETAINED
(Cited from S.H.A.N,
The No. 2 man of
Sai Nood (Sai Nyunt Lwin), 52, General Secretary of Shan Nationalities
League for Democracy, the party that won the most seats in
His wife said the reason for the invitation and subsequent internment was not clear. "But he did send word not to worry", said Nang Ohn Tint. "An MI officer also assured us they were doing their best to see all of this came to a happy end."
Khun Toon Oo, president of the SNLD, his immediate boss, close friend and neighbor, was not immediately available for comment.
Sai Nood is one of the few Shan politicians who are natives
of
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UPCOMING MON NATIONAL
DAY IN THE WORKS
(
The Mon Cultural Society in
The meeting was organized to plan for the upcoming event that will take place at Southview Community Centre of Calgary, Alberta on February 15.
For the first time, the Mon youths in
According to the DVB radio (Mon Program), the worldwide Mon
communities from
Back home in Burma, the New Mon State Party and various communities will celebrate the event with military parade, sports and literacy competition, cultural performances, including dance and music, and political statements.
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