KAOWAO NEWS NO. 123
Newsletter for social justice and freedom
in
Readers Front
Mon immigrant
Diaspora unite online to solve
Betelnut production suffers due to dry weather
World hits on
Kaowao in 2006
Worldwide, Mon
prepare for Mon National Day
SSA
calls for constructive engagement with China and Russia
Malaysia
detains 176 immigrants from Myanmar
Mon community
in
What lies ahead
for Burma's cease-fires: Ashley South
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Readers'
Front
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
Regards,
Editor
Kaowao News
[email protected],
www.kaowao.org
_________________________________________________
I definitely
agreed with Ashley South's opinion (“What lies ahead for
Even though NMSP
has no soldiers, the regime will put Burmese soldiers dressing as NMSP soldiers.
There are many Mon insurgents seeking the way to reform Mon army. As we know
there is a big block. The new reform will not be making a goal to
federation. Most of split groups often demonstrated and played
self-determination or independence state movement role.
As I have discussed with NMSP's leaders sometime ago,
I 100% can say that they are lack of state and military administration
knowledge. They have no ability to create Politics, Economics, Social
development, and self-educational system in advancement. The worse thing is
they are afraid of losing their power. There is Burmese regime and there is
also Mon regime. Well...what can we do...is this our destination?
Sorry to express my deep feeling. I am always with NMSP if there will be a big
change in positive direction.
Monjean (via monnnet)
___________________________________________________
-- There are
different points of view about the democratization process in
However, some
people who are in favour of the revolution
approach argue that top-down transformation process or revolution approach is
more important in a country like Burma where the state’s infrastructures
discourage the building of strong civil societies and communities. In building
civil society and community development we need trust, respect and social
interaction among people. In
With regard to
the NMSP, I personally believe that the NMSP today is completely different from
the NMSP ten or more years ago in term of socio-political ideology. As a former
member of the NMSP I can vividly see the changes in the NMSP. In the past, the NMSP’s political ideology was that Mon people must be led
by the progressive party like the NMSP to the victory of national liberation.
That was due mainly to the leftist or Marxist political ideology
that assume that people are usually very weak to lead themselves to the
victory. They require the leadership and guidance from a progressive party and
party cadres. However, nowadays the NMSP has tremendously changed the ideology
if not yet completely abandoned. Nowadays, as it is well evident, the NMSP
assume that all Mon people regardless of social classes and status must work
hand in hand toward the ultimate goal of national liberation. All people
including the NMSP, people affiliated with other civil societies
and Mon political organizations at home and abroad must work in a concerted
effort and take individual responsibility in whatever work and field they are
capable of. We can see these from the evidences that, from time to time,
whenever it is necessary the NMSP seek a wider consultation with the grass root
Mon community. And, every year the NMSP and other Mon leaders organize the Mon
National Affairs Conferences and representatives of all civil societies and
political organizations both at home abroad like us are invited to the
conference and freely discuss national issues and current affairs related to
our Mon people. The NMSP is fully convinced that the NMSP alone cannot work
toward the achievement of the ultimate goal of national liberation. So it
encourages Mon people to build stronger Mon civil societies and communities and
thereby to take part and take responsibility in our national movement. So, it
is entirely up to us to make unbiased judgment by ourselves that whether the
NMSP is single-handedly ignoring and leading the people or, the NMSP is
marching together and working hand in hand with Mon people from all walks of life to our ultimate goal of national liberation.
Siri Mon Chan (vis monnet)
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Activism
Mon immigrant
Diaspora unite online to solve
Kaowao:
Since the fall
of Hongsawatoi 250 years ago, the
While statistics
are not available, Mon migrants are able to send millions of dollars of
financial assistance in remittances to their family members in
The OMCC
comprises of community leaders and individuals from
Working
nationally, the Mon organizations is preparing a Mon National Day
joint-statement through a teleconference calling for the release of Nai Yekha, Nai
Cheem Gakao and all
political prisoners and for the Burmese regime to immediately desist from its
extensive militarization and offensive in Mon State, especially in Southern Ye
Township.
The feeling is
that the Mon have been economically successful abroad and some are now looking
to them for political solutions to the problems back home, as one participant
recently said.
“The joint
statement by the Mon community in exile is not the first time, we occasionally
issue statements depending on the situation of the Mon back home; but step by
step, the process is gaining momentum and solidarity after we formed the OMCC”,
said Pon Nya Mon,
Chairman of MRC based in the
The OMCC also
formed a committee to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Fall of the Mon kingdom (Honsawatoi).
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Betelnut production suffers due to dry weather
Kaowao:
Ye -- Production
of betelnut is low and the price has jumped up from
the previous year due to less production because of dry weather.
“The current
price is higher than last year at 12 Kyat (from 8 Kyat) for one betelnut, but production has been low because there is not
enough water for the long summer season in this area. Many farmers have
to set up water pipes from streams for irrigation plus pay daily wages for
it. It is not worthwhile to grow betelnut,”
said Nai Haleh, one grower
from Ye.
A high demand
for betelnut from other parts of Burma has increased
and many wild lands in the rural area of Ye townships were turned into
cultivated land for betelnut farms with old growth
trees being cut down to make way for production.
Many villagers in
the rural area search for new, rich and fertile land in southern Mon State and
have turned it into cultivated land to plant export and domestic crops, such as
rubber, coconut, betelnut, lime, cashew nut and other
tropical fruits and vegetables.
“When I was
young, we saw many birds and squirrels and hunted some, but we rarely see
wildlife and green forest now,” commented Nai Khin, another farmer from Durae.
The betelnut palm is widely grown in southern
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World hits on
Kaowao in 2006
Kaowao:
According to
Webstats4u webtracker, Kaowao’s
website has been visited by 78,904 web users in 2006. The average
increased to 216 per day compared to 170 users in May, 2005 survey.
The main key
words are interestingly Kaowao, Maharchai
(the largest Mon migrant community on the outskirts of
By country,
The jump in
viewers in
“Most
youth are keen to read Kaowao, not for reaching the
news, but for downloading the audio site, on poetry and news articles in Mon
version,” said Ms. Pakao from Sangklaaburi of Thai Burma border.
Not only are the
Thai Mons and activists reading Kaowao
using the Internet in Thailand, but users are found among refugees and migrant
communities who have some basic computer knowledge even though many thousands
of migrant workers are illiterate.
“I enjoy reading
Kaowao rather than other Mon news, the quality of
writing and a current reporting (in Mon), especially about the murder of
Rev. Jandimar is very interesting,” said Nai Nai from
Even
though access to the Internet and email is restricted by the SPDC regime,
Over 1200 of Kaowao’s readers range from the U.N. officials, students,
and academics interested in human rights and Buddhism, to Mon exiles and
activists living in far flung places of the world like Caribbean Sea and Jvvaskylan in the Nordic and others who, not heard from
them since they left Burma to find out news on events back home.
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Worldwide,
Mon prepare for Mon National Day
Kaowao:
As the auspicious annual celebration draws near, the Mon National Day
Committees have been working hard for the event that will draw in thousands
from cities to villages.
According to Mon Unity League based in Bangkok, the Mon migrant communities are
preparing to celebrate in several locations in Samutsarkhorn,
Pathomthani and Lopburi of
central Thailand.
The Thai-Mon community will host a modest festivity at
Jointly hosted
by Mon Canadian Society, Mon Women Organization and Mon Buddhist Temple
(Canada) the Mon National Day in Calgary took place today from 6:00 p.m to midnight at Penbrooke
Community Hall. Placing a high value on family, these events featured cultural
performances by family members, Mon cuisine and speeches from community
leaders.
“It is a great
opportunity for us, to welcome Canadians and friends in honoring our heritage”,
said Ms. Anjalii Mon, Chairperson of the event.
The Mon National
Day is largely celebrated back home in
Overseas Mon
communities are preparing for a joint statement in four languages (Mon,
English, Thai and Burmese). At this time 13 Mon organizations from
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Kaowao:
The Royal Bank of
Reacting to a Radio-Canada television report about the
restrictions, the RBC spokesman David Moorcroft says the American rules apply
to certain foreigners who want to use a U.S dollar account at any bank, any
credit union, anywhere in the world. The Royal Bank has refused to open
American dollar accounts for people of certain nationalities since April 2006.
“The restriction of U.S dollar accounts, however, will
not affect ordinary citizens or the military junta,” says Ko
Myo, a Burmese citizen living in
RBC is
In December 2006,
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Politics
SSA calls for constructive engagement with China and Russia
S.H.A.N:
Amid harsh criticisms against
"The two countries
may be hearing only from one side, and that is from the Burmese military, and
not enough from us," he told S.H.A.N. "To them, the Burmese military
may seem the only option seeing it is stronger, but force without justice never
fosters peace and tranquility which both want and we should all endeavor to
bring home the point to them."
Yawdserk said the best examples can be found in
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Malaysia detains 176 suspected illegal immigrants from Myanmar
AP:
KUALA LUMPUR,
Malaysia - Malaysian authorities detained 176 suspected illegal
immigrants from Myanmar who set up their own village and passed themselves off
as U.N.-recognized refugees, an official said Monday.
District enforcement workers and civilian volunteers on Sunday raided the
immigrants' settlement, which comprised scores of tents, bathrooms and a
volleyball court on the outskirts of
Many of those detained had documents that they claimed were given to them by
the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, but preliminary checks with
immigration authorities showed the papers were false, Suhaimi
said.
The raid followed complaints by residents in surrounding areas who believed the
immigrants were in
Activists have estimated that
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Kaowao:
The Mon Canadian
Society has elected new leaders at their annual general meeting, according to
MCS source in
While Canadians
were enjoying a leisurely day off from work over the holidays, the Mon migrant
community took the time to catch up on Mon affairs to hold their AGM.
The annual
report and financial statements were discussed and an amendment of the
association was adopted during the gathering on Christmas Eve. “The Xmas
season is a perfect time to get together to discuss Mon affairs since most of
us have some time off work,” said a member of MCS. The AGM was held on
Nai Khaing Waen and Nai Cham Toik
were elected as Presidiums and Pamoik Chan Mon was
elected as the new Chairman of the MCS along with Central Committee members.
According to the
new constitution, the Chairman of MCS will select a Central Executive Committee
from the newly elected CC members.
The aim of the
MCS is to assist the members of the Mon community in
The first Mon
Association in
The majority of
the Mon living in
The first
Central Committee meeting will be held on
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Opinion
What lies
ahead for
Ashley South
Between 1989 and 1995, 20-plus armed ethnic groups agreed cease-fires with
the Burmese military government. This year, these agreements are likely to come
under renewed pressure.
Since the fall
of ex-prime minister Khin Nyunt in October 2004, the
situation for most cease-fire groups has deteriorated, as they no longer have
access to the centre of power in
Since it reconvened in 2004, 28 cease-fire groups have sent over one hundred
delegates to the National Convention - although most realise
that this process is designed to perpetuate and institutionalise
military rule. The NMSP, KIO and several other cease-fire groups have issued
demands regarding the type of (broadly federal) constitution they would like to
see emerging from the convention. In doing so they have sketched the
outlines of what a future political settlement to "the ethnic
question" in
With the National Convention drawing to a close, it seems likely that the
military government will turn its attention to the cease-fire groups. With
arrangements for a new constitution in place, the government will likely seek
to "regularise" their situation, either by
incorporating the cease-fire groups into state command-and-control structures,
as local militias, or by forcing them to disarm - as occurred with two groups
in
Some organisations may be willing to settle for a degree of autonomy and
restricted political participation under the new constitution, which designates
six sub-provincial administrations. According to this view, any constitution is
better than continued direct rule by the military: although the space available
to ethnic nationality and other parties under the new constitution will be very
limited, it will at least allow them to participate in above-ground politics, from
"within the legal fold". However, other cease-fire groups (including
the NMSP) have indicated that they will refuse to hand over their weapons until
a comprehensive political settlement is reached.
Probably, Tatmadaw Regional Commanders will be given scope to pick-off
non-compliant cease-fire groups, as the opportunity arises. Although the regime
may hope to gain some international credit by taking on organisations
associated with the drugs trade, the most powerful ethnic armies, such as the
20,000-strong United Wa State Army (UWSA), will
probably be left until last. Such considerations leave militarily weaker
cease-fire groups, such as the NMSP, looking vulnerable.
The cease-fires
have resulted in a mixed picture of positive and negative developments. Problems
associated with the cease-fires are well documented, and include the Tatmadaw
expansion into previously contested zones, accompanied by widespread land
confiscation to build new army bases. Also, land has been confiscated in the
context of "development projects", and under the Tatmadaw's
self-support policy. Another problem associated with the cease-fires is the
continuing incidence of forced labour and other rights abuses in areas adjacent
to cease-fire zones. Most assessments of the cease-fires are produced by
opposition groups and supporters. These generally underestimate positive
developments, focusing instead on the many ongoing problems in these troubled
regions. The positive aspects of the cease-fire are less widely discussed, and
tend to focus as much on process, as on the substance of short-middle term
results. Positive developments include a relative decrease in the most serious
forms of human rights abuse, in those areas where cease-fires have held.
Efforts to rehabilitate and resettle displaced populations and reconstruct
communities have also been a result of the cease-fires. The post-cease-fire
re-emergence of civil society networks is among the most significant, but
underappreciated, aspects of the social and political situation in
In response to criticism from the ethnic communities they seek to represent, a
few cease-fire groups have grappled with internal reform. The NMSP and KIO in
particular have demonstrated a degree of democratic political culture,
reflecting their 20 years of participation in pro-democracy alliances, such as
the National Democratic Front and Democratic Alliance of Burma.
Policy-making within NMSP and KIO leadership circles usually involves a fair
degree of debate and disagreement - which has sometimes resulted in damaging
schisms and splits. Both the NMSP and KIO deserve credit for eliciting public
participation in decision-making, by consulting with villagers, religious and
civil society leaders from their communities, regarding whether and how to
engage with the military government.
The NMSP is in a particularly difficult position. The three small blocks of
territory granted to the party under the June 1995 cease-fire agreement are
vulnerable to Tatmadaw incursion. Neighbouring
The cease-fire
groups will soon have to decide whether or not to participate in the restricted
political space outlined in SPDC's new constitution. In part, such decisions
will depend on the position of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy. The NMSP's attempt to "sit on the
fence" will not be tenable for much longer. The party has been dealt
a weak hand of cards - but has so far played them pretty well (sometimes as
much by luck as judgement). While retaining relations
with the government, the NMSP is the only cease-fire group that still enjoys
credibility within opposition circles (including most exile groups), and
remains in contact with its old
insurgent allies.
In 2007 the cease-fire groups are likely to come under renewed pressure from
the SPDC. However it responds, the NMSP deserves credit
for having got this far, while still preserving its basic integrity.
Ashley South
(The
Nation:
Ashley South is
an independent writer and consultant, working on humanitarian issues and ethnic
politics in
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