KAOWAO NEWS NO. 108
Newsletter for social justice and freedom in Burma
April 1-16, 2006
Dilemma in funding Burmese NGOs
Federal Constitution Seminar held in Kawthoolei
Mon New Year in Canada
Sangkran Festival and Mon Culture
Booming furniture industry fuels uncontrolled logging
Korean Firms to mine copper in Myanmar
Over 80 Burmese Mon arrested by Thai police for illegal entry
Yaba use on the rise among youth at Three Pagodas Pass
Wildlife trade and domestic consumption threatens Burma’s forests
***********************************************
Dear readers,
We invite comments and suggestions on improvements to Kaowao newsletter. With your help, we hope that Kaowao News will continue to grow to serve better the needs of those seeking social justice in Burma. And we hope that it will become an important forum for discussion and debate and help readers to keep abreast of issues and news. 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.
We wish you all for well being and prosperity throughout the Sangkran New Year.
Regards,
Editor
Kaowao News
[email protected], www.kaowao.org
*********************************************
Dilemma in funding Burmese NGOs
(By Cham Toik in Calgary and Saimon in Bangkok/ Kaowao: April 16, 2006)
While Canada has been asked for more aid to Burma, there is growing concern on how those funds should be allocated, Kaowao has learned.
Nai Minnyan, a Mon community worker from Maharchai said some western NGOs are funding organizations based on political motivations, rather than reality, many smaller grass root organizations still lack much needed assistance.
“At a Mon Education School at Bangkadee, for example, migrant workers and their children could not get funding even when they asked for it. The teachers work on a volunteer basis and even when we have approached them (NGOs) for stationary, we got no assistance”, said Minnyan.
“Those NGOs support only a handful of organizations who know how to write proposals to secure funding and who have the resources and time to do it, we are stuck out on a limb, we have no experience in these kinds of affairs,” one teacher commented.
When asked how Canada should fund Burmese NGOs, many Burmese observers say that the smaller Burmese NGOs are often overlooked, underestimated, and under-funded.
During the Burma Forum meeting held in Ottawa, Canada on March 17-18, 2006, the participants urged the Government of Canada to increase humanitarian assistance significantly in order to cope with the increasingly appalling humanitarian situation along the Burma border as well as inside the country. However, the participants also criticized Canada’s NGOs, such as Burma Relief Centre (BRC) and Inter Pares, in which funds are misallocated and mismanaged, resulting in further weakening and dividing Burmese civil society and the disenfranchisement of certain sections of the Burmese population. Some delegates even advised the government to include Burmese Canadian taxpayers in the consultation process on how aid should be provided.
“We appreciate their concern and help for Burma. But some NGOs are lobbying between the government and needed grass root organizations. They play between two sides with their hidden agendas,” said Moe, a participant at the Burma Forum.
‘I think what happens is that at first foreign governments fund the higher-profile groups who are seemingly more legit and accessible to the larger community, over time the smaller community groups start to evolve but find themselves unable to compete with the larger more resourced organizations, now is the time for governments to seek out the unknown grassroots, who are probably more adept at addressing the daily problems faced by the community,” said Ms. Aleta Cooper, a Canadian volunteer with a Burmese NGO.
When asked about the effectiveness of the NGO’s program from neighbour countries, Nai Sahai, a community leader from Ye inside Mon State said, “the NGO business is not helping us here. We rarely hear about capacity building, empowering women and other assistance.”
“Many programs are booming around the border, NGOs workers and various organizations are usually busy attending meetings and trainings while the majority of population jokes about their project as ‘Prochep’ a satire meaning ‘grab’ in Mon,” he added.
“We have no idea how Canada and other donors direct the funding on Burma,” said Chan Ong, a Mon activist in Bangkok. Some Mon refugees reported Canada’s decision to accept refugees from Burma is a welcoming message but since there is no UNHCR program in Bangkok, there is no chance for them to be resettled in Canada. Unlike other ethnic nationalities such as Karen and Karenni, Mon refugee camps are not allowed to set up in Thailand due to the cease-fire agreement between the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Burma’s military reached in 1995.
According to some observers, the target population inside Burma who need to be better informed on issues that affect them, for example for those migrating into Thailand and other neighouring countries, walk right through the cracks into dangerous situations once they step outside their villages.
Some perceive that dependence on foreign aid for humanitarian programs comes with strings attached according to Burmese activists, who say donor organizations, “try to manipulate the border-based organizations.”
The National League for Democracy (NLD-LA) and United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD-LA) issued a joint statement on January 8, 2006 claiming that some foreign NGOs are interfering in the activities among ethnic organizations and use funding money as a tool to manipulate. The statement warned that this “manipulation policy” would create an atmosphere of distrust among groups and further affect the national reconciliation process in Burma. The Arakan National Council or ANC also issued a similar statement on February 13, 2006 claiming the involvement of foreign NGOs in their internal affairs.
Sangkhalaburi based Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) reported Burmese refugees at Htam Hin refugee camp also blamed the NGOs for callous health care after more than 40 people mostly children have been suffering from cholera in their camp, in Ratchaburi Province. The people in the camp were concerned by the carelessness of the NGOs and the medical workers in treating the people suffering from cholera.
But others say that funding NGOs, for instance the Nationalities Youth Forum funded by Canada, has sunk deep roots into the Burmese activist’s community on the border that are trained to report on human rights and environmental abuse taking place inside Burma. Hundreds of youth from inside Burma have graduated from the program with a better insight into human rights and democracy. The program gave them the chance in working together to promote civil society alliances, says a Canadian observer.
************************************************
Federal Constitution Seminar held in Kawthoolei
(Kaowao: April 10, 2006)
A draft Federal Constitution was adopted by delegates from the Burmese ethnic and democratic communities including MPs, women, and youths at a seminar held at Lorhkila Camp in Kawthoolei State.
“The seminar focused on establishing a Federal Union and we achieved this through a greater understanding of each other’s position among non-Burmans and Burmans alike. It is the first step toward a future union based on peace,” said Nai Sunthorn Sripanngern of the Mon Unity League based in Thailand and who lead the Mon State delegates.
However, a Mon activist, Nai Monjeanm, had mixed feelings about the seminar. He felt that the Mons should voice their opinions on whether this draft will be suitable for the interests of the Mon people. The constitution process should be free from outside influence. “The border based political activities rely on project money granted from NGOs, so the politicians should try to communicate their work to a wider public, without NGO money and their political agendas,” comments Nai Monjeanm.
According to the statement from the Federal Constitution Drafting and Coordinating Committee (FCDCC), the Federal Constitution (draft), consisting of 14 chapters and 197 articles, aims not only for the establishment of a democratic state, but also for a genuine federal system as that proclaimed by General Aung San and leaders of the indigenous ethnic nationalities at the Panglong Conference back in 1947.
The statement further invites the SPDC leaders to participate in a national convention attended by representatives of all the people of Burma where free and frank discussions can be discussed to draft a Federal Constitution approved and adopted by the seminar participants.
In the past, the National Reconciliation Program (NRP) led by Dr. Chaotzang Yawnghwe and Dr. Lain H. Sakhong organized ethnic nationalities to draft their state constitutions for a future federal union. Representatives from Arakan, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan have started the process of drafting their own state constitutions and several meetings on State Constitutions have been held along the border.
Interestingly, Burman becomes a new state that is joined with the other seven states and four multi-nationality states in the drafted constitution.
All 101 delegates from 59 organizations are looking forward to the day when it is finally and officially adopted, that day will be decisive, they say, ending Burma’s long civil war, which has been going on now for more than 50 years. The gathering lasted 3 days from April 6 to 8, 2006.
**********************************************
Mon New Year in Canada
(Kaowao, April 16, 2006)
The Mon community in Calgary joyfully celebrated their traditional New Year and Water Festival in their new home in Canada.
The Songkrant Festival was celebrated on Sunday, April 16, 2006 attended by community leaders Rev. Aobhesa, Nai Khaing Waeng, Nai Cham Toik and members of Mon Canadian Society (Alberta).
Men and women, children and adults gathered to share food and New Year greetings with one another. The celebration included New Year Dhamma chanting, offering of alms to the Buddhist monks and visitors.
The aims of the Mon Canadian Society are to promote and preserve the culture, literature, and social life of the Mon and to assist the Mon in the homeland and in exile.
_____________________________________
Sangkran Festival and Mon Culture
(Kaowao: April 15, 2006)
Mon people annually celebrate New Year and Water Festival for three days in Monland. During this period, the older people stay in the Buddhist temples. Monks also preach sermons of the Buddha to lay devotees and guide them in the practice of interior meditation for three days intensively.
In Monland, before noon, young people offer alms to monks and their parents who are staying (observing the precepts) at the Temple.
The pouring water significantly shows to excuse each other they have done wrong by physical, verbal and mental action in the past year. When the evening comes, they devotedly go to temples and pagodas to pay their homage by lighting incense and candle to pray for their future hope.
During Sangkran festival, Mon people organize many activities to unit and protect the community. Pouring and throwing water takes up most of the time, but also supporting Bodhi Tree with bamboo stick, praying and paying respect to the elderly people, including parents, making Sangkran food and singing and dancing to Songkran songs.
Offering Food
Young people visit and pray to their parents, mostly elderly people in the villages and also offer breakfast in early morning, shortly after dawn, to their parents and relatives who follow the eight precepts in monastery or Buddhist temple. They donate Sangkran food to neighbors, relatives, and other needy people in the village.
Sangkran Food
Ingredients of Sangkran food are various onions, herbs, potatoes, dried fish, beans, mango, bamboo shoots, and rice mixed with candle water (to give off a waxy, candle smell).
Elderly people
Elderly people go to the monastery, observe the eight precepts, cite and chant the Buddha Desana or Dhamma (teaching of the Buddha), show respect to the monks’ speech of Dhamma. They also conduct good deeds such as clearing grass, leafs, and tidying up around the Bodhi Tree and the surrounding temple. However, they don’t partake in throwing water, leaving it to the young.
Young people
Young people observe the five precepts in a social group, mostly enjoying Songkran songs and dancing together. They also pour water on the hands of monks and elderly people in the monastery.
Citing Pritta to ward off danger
On the last day of the festival, monks go around to the villages reciting verses from the Prittta, to ward off evil spirits and danger and bring good fortune in the New Year.
Famous places for Sangkran holiday
There are many famous places in Monland; Cak Cai Beach in central Mon State of Thanbuyzayat township, Rogo Pagoda in Central Mon State of Mudon township, Kyaik Memmalot of southern Ye and KyaikMaraw Pagoda in Kyaikmaraw. Young people from Mon State and Karen State go round these places. In the middle of the day, April 15 this year, they go to Cak Cai, on the second final day, April 16 this year, they gather in Kyaikmaraw, and on the final day April 17, they go to Rogo Pagoda.
Hani entertainment
Mon in Thailand play Hani, small (round and black seed) as traditional culture entertainment, just like they do in Monland. Mon in Sangkhlaburi who migrated to Thailand after the Second World War and after the civil war broke out in Monland conduct the same traditional playing the game.
Noung Atah or Sangkran water-container
During Sangkran, Mon conduct Noung Atah or water-container by putting them out front in their houses. Flowers, rice, small bricks, a sewing needle, paper-flag (symbol of preventing danger) and water are all put in the pot or bottle. They are sent to the places where monks gather in the new year for citing Pritta to bring spiritual power by spreading the rice and small brick throughout the area of the houses to ward off bad deities or evil forces coming to the houses.
**************************************************
Booming furniture industry fuels uncontrolled logging
(Kaowao: April 10, 2006)
Sanghalaburi -- Rebel groups on the border, a source from the border said, are logging three kinds of hardwood trees at an alarming rate contributing to rampant deforestation in Burma’s southern forests.
Rock Dammar, Ironwood and the Gum-Kino trees by their common names are being ripped down daily and hauled out by smugglers looking for the highest price sold in the border area. The trees are commonly used for making furniture and are destined for furniture industries in the booming business in the Three Pagodas Pass border town, a Mon timber worker said from the border.
While the Burmese government manages the felling of teak, the Forest Department of Burma has no control over this region of the forest where the logging area is controlled by Karen armed groups who strike deals with illegal loggers who sneak in from the Thai side.
Securing ceasefire agreements gave rebel groups access to forest machinery and milling equipment provided by the government, “We have to go to Tha Byu area of Dona Mountain range to get these kinds of trees. We have to drive to the eastern part of the forest in the Thai side and then back to Tha Byu area Burmese side and transport them here (Three Pagodas Pass),” he claimed.
A source close to the logging business at the border said that 6X4 trucks able to carry 9 to 10 tons and 4X4 trucks carrying 3 tons haul about 200 tons of ironwood for the furniture industry daily across the border.
One ton of Rock Dammar logs fetches between 17,000 and 18,000 baht, Ironwood 9,000, and the Gum-Kino tree 11,000.
As the area is too far from the border town and a long days drive, the businessmen select only trees that offer high value, not others. Iron trees are not easily found along the Burma border, as most have been logged, the Mon timber worker said. They have to drive for an hour to get from the Thai side into the Tha Byu area, Kyar-in-Seik-Kyi Township, Karen State.
The businessmen claim to make only about 500 baht in profits for one ton of logs after taxes and fuel, they pays taxes to the three Karen armed groups; namely Karen National Union, Karen Peace Force, Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and also the SPDC. The two armed groups (KPF and DKBA) split from the KNU and reached a cease-fire with the Burmese junta. Many Mon timber businessmen approach the armed groups for their trading business, sources said.
****************************************************
Korean Firms to mine copper in Myanmar
(The Korean Herald: April 13, 2006)
A consortium of Korean companies is pushing to participate in a Canadian company's copper mine development project in Myanmar.
Korea Resources Corp. said it and two other Korean companies - Taihan Electric Wire Co. and Daewoo International Corp. - signed a preliminary agreement in January with Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. to jointly develop a copper mine in Monywa, central Myanmar.
Korea Resources said the Korean consortium plans to buy a 25 percent stake - 10 percent for the state mining firm and 7.5 percent each for Taihan and Daewoo - in the copper mine for $120 million.
A formal contract is likely to be inked in July after a due diligence, Korea Resources said. About 10,000 tons of copper will be shipped to Korea each year once the mine begins production. The Monywa mine is estimated to contain 1.45 billion tons of copper.
**********************************************************
Over 80 Burmese Mon arrested by Thai police for illegal entry
(Democratic Voice of Burma: April 5, 2006)
While 30 Burmese workers are struggling to survive in Malaysia after they were cheated by their Malaysian employer and Burmese agent, more than 80 Burmese Mon nationals, along with their human trafficking agent were arrested by the police near Ranong in southwest Thailand on 5 April.
They were arrested by the Thai district security special police force on an island while waiting for their agent, with 5000 Thai Bahts (US$131) each, so that they could be smuggled into nearby Thai towns, according to DVB staff Maung Maung Hein reporting from Thailand. All the detainees are said to be of the Mon minority race; 35 males, 37 females, 14 children under the age of 16 including a 4 months old baby.
“According to a Thai security officer who arrested the Burmese in Thailand, as the milk-suckling baby and the mothers could not be prosecuted under the (Thai) laws, children under 16 years old will be sent back to their native places or Thaungyin (the nearest Burmese border town),” Maung Maung Hein said. “The mothers and children under 16 years old are being detained at Thailand’s Ranong Jail, and the men who are to be prosecuted are currently being detained at Phan Nga District Jail.”
These desperate Burmese nationals took such risks to enter Thailand illegally because the Burmese army has been frequently forcing them to be military porters and landmine sweepers, causing them untold economic difficulties and miseries.
*******************************************************
Yaba use on the rise among youth at Three Pagodas Pass
(Kaowao: April 2, 2006)
The use of Yaba (crazy medicine in Thai) is booming along the border area of Three Pagodas Pass with observers saying that over 50% of youth have used it, with Karen ceasefire groups being the main suppliers of the drug in the area, residents say.
“While there are no official statistics it is difficult to determine the scope of its use in the area, but many young people are using Yaba, a combination of methamphetamine (a powerful and addictive stimulant) and caffeine,” a Mon community source said. They estimate that over fifty percent of youth are using the illegal drug.
“I think many young people have used it. Especially most of the KPF (Karen People Front) and DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) soldiers who use it often and who are also dealing in the drug,” he explained.
The two ceasefire groups and their business partners including local Mon businessmen are involved in Yaba trafficking. Their mission is transporting the drug into Thailand. As the area is used for cross border traffic, the use of Yaba is attracting local young people to try the drug. Most of the truck drivers who regularly haul logs out of the forest are addicted to the drug while working long hours driving along mountain roads.
Also of major concern is the spread of AIDS with some drug users. According to medical sources in the area, many young people have little understanding of the spread of AIDS and have become infected with the HIV virus and have no idea how they were infected or of knowledge in transmitting the disease to other people.
*********************************************
Wildlife trade and domestic consumption threatens Burma’s forests
(Kaowao: April 2, 2006)
A black bear weighing over 150 kilograms was shot recently by a homemade gun in the deep forests of southeastern Mon State, a hunter from the Ye township said.
“The bear’s body had many old bullet wounds made from M 16 ammunition on its side. The Mon soldiers in the past couldn’t kill him with an M 16 machine gun, but this time he was shot dead with a homemade gun by a hunter,” he added.
While the forests are shrinking in much of Mon State due to deforestation, the deep forest in southeastern Mon State is still relatively pristine and rich in biodiversity, such as the Asiatic black bear and wild elephant, indigenous species to the region.
“The Mon armed group authorities who have controlled this area of forest for five decades have no desire to preserve the wildlife and the forest resources,” says a Mon environmental activist based on the Thai-Burma border.
“The bear was seen at night in the mountains; they spotted it with a torch light and shot it. Soldiers in the forest shoot bears to eat, like that one it was taken home, butchered and eaten,” he explained.
According to a source close to New Mon State Party, only experienced hunters can reach the area the bear was shot in the deep mountain forest. The local hunters shoot wild goat, monkeys, pigs and other mammals and birds, which are hunted often in the surrounding forest for domestic consumption.
At least four people were needed to carry the bear back to the village. The people from the area said they shoot bears often for its meat and sell its hide to traders on the border; sometime they catch bear cubs alive and transport them to the border to sell to both legal and illegal Thai wildlife traders at Three Pagodas Pass. A bear cub weighing about seven kilograms is sold for around 7000 baht.
***************************************
KAOWAO NEWS GROUP
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Tel: + 66 7 169-0971 (Thailand)
Tel: + 1- 403 - 248 2027 (Canada)
http://www.burmalibrary.org/show.php?cat=1215&lo=d&sl=0
Online Burma Library -- http://www.burmalibrary.org
ABOUT US
Kaowao Newsgroup is committed to social justice, peace, and democracy in Burma. We hope to be able to provide more of an in-depth analysis that will help to promote lasting peace and change within Burma.
Editors, reporters, writers, and online volunteers are dedicated members of the Mon activist community based in Thailand and around the world.
Our motto is working together for lasting peace and change