KAO WAO NEWS No. 6

 

December 25, 2001 - January 5, 2002

 

BREAK AWAY LEADER FORMED POLITICAL PARTY

MANEELOY CAMP IS HISTORY

THAI NEW YEAR’S GALA AT MAHARCHAI

RICE MILL WORKERS EXPLOITED

55TH MON NATIONAL DAY & PUBLICATION

MON COMMUNITY OF CANADA JOURNAL

READER'S FRONT

 

 

BREAK AWAY LEADER FORMED POLITICAL PARTY

(Monland, December 29, 2001)

 

The splinter group led by Col. Pan Nyunt issued a formal declaration of the formation of a new political party named Hongsawatoi Restoration Party and a vow to fight against the military junta, given in a statement signed by Col. Pan Nyunt, the Chairman. Monks and civilians attended the ceremony from both inside and outside of Monland. It outlined in plain words to all monks, community leaders, and civilians how the cease-fire deal between the New Mon State Party and the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) on June 29, 1995, has not yet reached a political solution for the Mon people and only a few groups were benefiting from minor economic and development projects.  It accused the cease-fire agreement as being flawed from the beginning and for over six years there has been no positive results.

 

The statement leaked a meeting between two army officers attended by Col. Nai Saik Htow, Col. Pan Nyunt, Lt Col Htawara of the Mon army and Burmese Brigadier Yae Win on 23/8/2001 where Mon troops were pressured to move from the western areas of motor road to make rooms for the SPDC to expand the Tactical Command Headquarters (SaKaKha) 19 with 10 regiments in the area. The statement warned of the difficult situation for the Mon people regarding forced labour, land confiscation, and human rights violations on an ever-increasing wider scale including the destroying of Mon culture and literature through suppression.

 

Under these conditions, Col. Pan Nyunt, with the support of 153 Mon troops, separated from the NMSP on 8/9/2001 to fight against the Burmese regime for the future betterment of the Mon people.  He said that other armed groups led by Nai Bin, Nai BaRaNa and Nai Soe Lwin were united with him and agreed to form the Hongsawatoi Restoration Party and a national army called the Monland Restoration Army. Hundreds of monks and civilians from the eastern and western regions of Monland gathered together to elect (19) Central Committee, (7) Central Executive Committee and (7) Military Committee members.

 

Col. Nai Pan Nyunt (a) JanahNonrot who served in the NMSP since 1970 and a member of the Central Committee and a senior officer of the Tactical Command No (1) of the Mon National Liberation Army was selected as the Chairman. Major Ong Seik Chai was selected as Vice-Chairman, Major Ong Hmoin as a Secretary General, and Nai Bin, Nai Lavi KaoNyan, Nai Non KaoMarn were appointed as battalion commanders respectively.

 

Col. Pan Nyunt signed the statement No. 2/2001 issued from the stronghold area inside Monland, on November 29, 2001.  In addition to resuming the fight for nationwide democracy it also urged the military regime to hold a tripartite dialogue in accordance with a democratic political system, which must ensure absolute rights for self-determination and national rights; to transfer political power to the elected people’s representatives; to withdraw Burmese troops immediately and unconditionally; and to release all political prisoners and students including the Mon leaders.

 

Meanwhile, the deadline issued from the NMSP is due on December 31, 2001, which gives amnesty to the followers of the splinter group to return to the party forthwith, as observed by a local Mon watcher from the Thai Burma border, “the armed conflict may occur well into the New Year.”

 

 

MANEELOY CAMP IS HISTORY

(Kao Wao Reporter and AFP, December 27, 2001)

 

Despite demonstrations by asylum seekers against the closure of the camp, opponents from rights groups, and the international community, the well-known Maneeloy camp on the morning of December 27, 2001 before the New Year, has been forcibly relocated.  Students from Maneeloy camp were moved to a new center near Tham Hin refugee camp at Suan Phung district in southern Thailand by the authorities.  About 400 ethnic refugees and Burmese students were transported in 10 trucks by the Thai military and police personnel and moved to new center.  The new center Tham Hin is located about 10 km from the Thai-Burmese border in Suan Phung district.  The students claimed earlier the facilities at the new shelter are not up to Maneeloy's standards and is unsafe, being too close to the border.

 

Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon told reporters earlier the final decision was made at a joint meeting among the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, the National Security Council (NSC), the U.N, and the local government of Ratchaburi province where the refugee camp is located. He said the closure of the camp would go smoothly for all parties concerned, including the office of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who started preparations for the move eight months ago.  Thai officials said it was time to shut down the shelter for good, where nearly 4,000 refugees have been repatriated to third countries.  They agreed to the closure of Maneeloy after confirming that 100 Burmese people had entered the center without permission and should be treated as illegal immigrants and prosecuted.

 

Inside the camp, asylum seekers held a hunger strike starting December 11 that sent some refugees to Pak Thor local hospital, Ratchaburi Province. Until the deadline, the hunger strike changed into a silent sitting by just drinking water.  "We all demanded the Maneeloy camp to be extended for another (6) months,” said Nai Aung Win, the Chairperson of the Overseas Mon National Students Organization (OMNSO), who joined the strike with other members of Burma Students Association  (BSA).  He was concerned that "the decision to close down Maneeloy camp and to relocate it to Htam Hin new site will marginalize us (political activists) and treat us as normal refugees or displaced persons," a situation that will put their lives in danger.

 

Outside the camp, hundreds of local Thais protested on Monday to call on provincial authorities to close the camp this week.  Protestors carrying banners rallied in front of the Ratchaburi provincial hall, 100 kilometers west of Bangkok, demanding officials to shut the Maneeloy Holding Center. Maneeloy center was opened in 1993 and has been home to thousands of Burma students who had fled the 1988 crackdown on pro-democracy activists by the military junta.  Many of them have resettled in third countries through programmes of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

 

 

THAI NEW YEAR’S GALA AT MAHARCHAI

(By Lita Davidson, December 31, 2001)

 

Thousands of Mon migrant workers gathered at Wat KokKrak Temple complex to bring in the 2002 New Year. The evening began when the full moon appeared low on the horizon, looking like a shiny Mandarin orange, a festive offering for the celebration. The Temple plaza was turned into an amusement park with miles of colorful bright lights strung along its surrounding walls that made the Wats glitter, lighting up the whole area.  Ferris wheels, children’s rides, games, food stalls, and gift stands formed several midways for people to move through. Mon workers, with friends and family, took a break from their 12-hour shifts and crowded room-sized apartments to enjoy the festivities. The women and girls, quite noticeable from their Thai friends, with their long hair neatly tied back and Thannaka applied to their faces, were dressed casually for the occasion wearing sparkling earrings, T-shirts, jeans and jackets.

 

Loudspeakers around the temples’ plaza announced entertainment featuring the traditional Thai Nikae, free movies, and a live performance by the Thai country band Luk Thoom. Thai popular singers included LukNok Suphaporn, Ekkaraj Suwunnaram, along with dancing girls and comedy skits. The 3-hour show was akin to the American Wild West, saloon style; with dancers changing into frilly costumes frequently between songs (20 times) and was accompanied by an eight-piece band. The Thai paraded their stuff on stage to a curious audience of Mon migrant workers, who sat in groups fanned out from the front of the stage, with hundreds standing further back.  They were attentive but expressionless throughout most of the performance and did not applaud once. At the stroke of midnight, unlike most New Year’s revelers around the world who create havoc and mayhem, the well-behaved Mon audience calmly rose and filed out to catch the river ferries back to their small homes.

 

 

Migrant Watch

 

RICE MILL WORKERS EXPLOITED

(Kao Wao Reporter, January 2, 2002)

 

At the “U Thai Product Co. Ltd”, a rice purification mill, (99) Mon people are working in a state of insecurity and are being exploited to pay for their work permits.

 

The (66) previous workers and the (33) new workers will have to pay in full by weekly installments up to (10000) Bahts and (12000) Bahts respectively. The average daily wage for most workers is about 150 B per day, monthly rent ranges from 900-2500 Bahts for a room-sized apartment, then expenses on top of that.

 

The Thai government policy 4 months ago required alien workers to officially register for a work permit and most workers did. The official charge to register per year is 3250 Baht for the first (6) months and 1200 Baht for the rest (6) month period.

 

The employer at the rice mill advanced the registration fee of 3250 Baht on behalf of his workers, however their salary has been cut to pay off on a weekly basis of up to (10000) Baht and (12000) Baht, which is (3) times the original fee. The employer offered the full payment for some workers and half payment for others. The workers know they are being exploited, because the amount of work permit fee has been announced on the TV and in the daily newspapers, but they are powerless to say anything about the extortion practices of their employer, who sets up whatever amount the workers will have to pay.

 

“We have not seen the work permit card since our registration, the employer does not allow us to move out or keep our cards,” a worker said. Last year, they over-paid (8000) and (10000) Bahts for a work permit.  Workers doing the hard and heavy jobs, who must live in a compound, have to pay (900) Baht monthly for a rental room at the work site. (6) Worker leaders had been dismissed from employment last year after demanding for their rights on behalf of all workers. So many are scared to complain about the work permit fee for this year, worrying they will lose their jobs. They know this to be an injustice, but they have no choice and must continue to endure the daily grind of hardship and survive the best they can under these conditions.

 

There are few holidays, New Years and a significant religious day, and they are required to work overtime without payment. Mon workers are also blatantly discriminated against regarding health insurance compared to other workers who are not required to pay, the Mons need to pay 3% of their income per pay period.  Recently, at the New Year celebration, fellow Thai co-workers, who do the same work, were awarded bonuses of 3 or 4 Unit Baht of gold (1 Unit is worth about 5800 Baht), while Mon workers received cheap cassettes.  One Mon worker expressed his situation, seeing no place for help.  “The employer pays the salary regularly, but when they record the working hours they reduce it every time. The boss takes little care and makes many mistakes, somehow we receive less payment of the hours we worked.”

 

If anyone is interested in finding about more, please visit to “U Thai Product Co. Ltd.”, 36/4 Keang Kelk Road, Bang Phli, Samut Prakarn, Bangkok.

 

 

55TH MON NATIONAL DAY & PUBLICATION

(Bangkok, December 31, 2001)

 

In welcoming the New Year 2002 and the Mon National Day celebration, a number of Mon groups based in Thailand issued calendars, postcards, and newsletters to distribute to the Mon public as souvenirs and public awareness.  In Bangkok, the organizations from Mon Literature and Culture Association of Phetchburi, FEBC Radio International (Layeh GaKao Mon Program), and individuals Mi Aah Htow and Mehm Charn Lawee (Hnee Padow) have produced calendars, pocket-calendars, and postcards for the New Year gifts.

 

Mon Information Service (Bangkok) has also published its newsletter “KhaoSarn Mon” in Thai language compiled of news and articles on the current situation in Monland that focuses on the new Mon armed group, activities of the Mon Unity League and the Thai Mon communities.

 

In preparation and fund raising for the 55th Anniversary of Mon National Day Celebration, the Mon National Organization of Thailand based at Samutsakhorn Province, has distributed T-shirts designed with colourful emblems and is available for 150 Baht.  Mon Youth Community (Bangkok) has also invited all Mons to join its Annual General Meeting at Wat Sarmakkhe of Sam Khok, Pathum Thani on Sunday, January 6, 2002 in welcoming the 55th Anniversary of Mon National Day.  The AGM will start from 8 AM and run all day with speeches, election, food breaks, and entertainment to be held in the evening.

 

 

MON COMMUNITY OF CANADA JOURNAL

(MCC, December 31, 2001)

 

The Mon Community of Canada published a Special Journal issue No. 2 compiled of activity reports, statements, and protest photos.  The journal was distributed for the Mons inside Monland, Thailand, as well as overseas during New Year’s Eve.  The Mon Community of Canada (MCC), formerly known as the Mon National Organization of Canada (MNOC), was founded in 1995 by a small group of Mon resettled in Canada.  The aims of MCC are to promote and preserve the culture, literature, and social life of the Mon, to cooperate with the international communities in ending the civil war and to establish a federal union in Burma, and to assist the Mons back in the homeland and in exile.  Due to the wide geographic distribution of Mon, the Mon community in Canada is now expanded into 3 organizations, in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto where more Mons have resettled from Thailand in the past few years.

 

 

READERS’ FRONT

 

Dear readers,

 

Welcome all to Kao Wao in the New Year 2002.  We invite comments and suggestions on improvements to our eNewsletter. 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 Thailand. And we hope that it will become an important forum for discussion and debate and help readers to keep abreast of issues and news. Above all, we hope the newsletter will be used as a vehicle for those want to share their views and experiences.

 

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.

 

Regards,

Editor kaowao@hotmail.com

 

 

Dear Kao Wao News,

 

You have given informative stories about the splinter group.  The New Mon State Party should encourage more opened civil societies in Monland. All Mons should find the way to avoid armed conflict among them.  Mon communities in Australia, Canada and U.S also need to get involved. Is there any news regarding Mons overseas?

 

Yours sincerely,

Rehmonnya PoeyMon (Thailand) 27/12/01

 

 

Dear Editor,

 

It is very useful and precious for me. I really appreciate your efforts and wish you and your entire colleagues well and a happy new year.

 

Sincerely,

Kyaw Kyaw Soe Japan 26/12/01

 

Dear Kaowao,

Your group is doing a good job and wonderful coverage of all news around in Thailand and Monland.  I would like to suggest one thing that if you can add source and news writer in your bulletin, it will be grateful.

 

With regards,

 Weang Nai (December 27, 2001)

 

 

Dear Kao Wao,

 

I am interested about Kao Wao newsletters.  If Kao Wao has some news, please let me read your news. If you need some help, please let us know. I'll help

you if I can.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Sumana

Calgary, Canada.

December 28, 2001

 

KAO WAO NEWS GROUP

kaowao@hotmail.com