KAO WAO NEWS No. 16

 

An electronic newsletter for social justice and freedom in Burma

April 13-27, 2002

 

READERS' FRONT

JUNTA BUILDS ROAD IN MON STATE

ETHNIC LEADERS' HEALTH WORSEN

TENSION OVER STALLED UN TALKS

WLB: FUTURE PEACE BUILDER

KARAOKE SINGERS ARRESTED

FILLING THE QUOTA

NIGHTMARE JOURNEY TO THAILAND

SONGRAN WATER WARS

BURMA EXILES CELEBRATE THINKYAN

MON EMBRACE SANGKRAN

______________________________________________________________

 

READERS' FRONT

 

Dear Readers,

 

All's quiet on the home front in Southern Burma.  Kao-Wao (Cuck-oo bird) is silent during the New Year and now back on track to bring news from the forgotten Burma communities.

 

We warmly 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 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 who 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,

Congratulation to hear the news of tension has eased among the Mon groups.

 

Aunty Rosy

Winnipeg, Canada

 

 

Dear Editor,

It is good news to hear that the Mon armed conflict has eased.  Thanks to MUL negotiation team, all leaders and civilians who support unity and reconciliation.  Please, continue for more solidarity among the movement. The time is very critical now.

 

Nai Mae-Houh

KL, Malaysia

 

 

JUNTA BUILDS ROAD IN MON STATE

(Kao Wao / Three Pagodas Pass, April 10, 2002)

 

The Burma army has defied its ceasefire agreement and gone ahead with the construction of a motor road from Ye to Three Pagodas Pass, a distance of about 70 miles over rough terrain and high mountains, close to the Thailand-Burma border crossing in the cease-fire zone of the New Mon State Party, southern Mon State.

 

On April 12, 2002, before the Songkran New Year, about 120 troops of Burma Army, IB No. 61 retreated from Chae Daike area, located on Halarn-Halockhanee route, fearing  ambush by a combination guerrilla alliance of Hongsawatoi Restoration Party lead by Nai Pan Nyunt and Karen National Union.

 

After the Songkran New Year, the Burma Infantry Battalion No. 61 was reinforced by the Light Infantry Battalion No. 343 based in Mawkanin, Northern Ye and Infantry Battalion No. 29 from 14 Mile of Southern Ye Township to increase security to build the road construction for logistics reasons.  The military combinaton force of about 300 troops were cautious, moving forward slowly to avoid landmines and ambush attack by the KNU and HRP guerrlllas according to a local villager.  It is believed the Burma army will  use the road to launch an offensive against the ethnic armed froces in an attempt to control the area.  The army reached Bleh Doonphite on April 23, 2002 and deployed at Bleh Doonphite, TiWarDou and Bleh Kapore areas.

 

The troops are very close to Halockhanee Mon refugee camp making local villagers nervous over the intrusion of the Burma army, reported a villager, who met the Burmese troops briefly.  Without permission or reason to enter the cease-fire zone, the troops have entered the area since early April with two bulldozers used for road construction.  The New Mon State Pary having reached cease-fire agreement with the military junta on June 29, 1995 sent a letter protesting the intrusion and the building of the road.

 

 

ETHNIC LEADERS' HEALTH WORSENS

(Based on Chinland Guardian and Kao-Wao, April 24, 2002)

 

The health of Mon political prisoners at Moulmein prison is deteriorating reported a recent prison visitor in Moulmein, Mon State during April New Year.

 

According to an anonymous relative who visited the Mon leaders at Moulmein prison, Dr. Min Soe Lin is having vision problems and Dr. Min Kyi Win is having breathing problems due to lack of proper treatment.  He said the leaders were mentally quite strong and have been expecting their release because of international pressure and the visit of UN Special Envoy Mr. Razali to Burma. But with no sign of possible release their hopes are fading.

 

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 the cease-fire agreement with the SPDC military junta and for supporting the Committee for Representing Peoples Parliament (CRPP).  Nai Tun Thein, the Chairman of MNDF was later released from the prison 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, Mon State.

 

Dr. Min Soe Lin is the General Secretary of MNDF and elected MP of Northern Ye Township Constituency 1, Nai Ngwe Thein is one of the founding and Presidium members of the United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD), and Dr. Min Kyi Win holds the post of Joint-General Secretary of the MNDF and elected MP of Mudon Township (South).

 

Ethnic leaders are serving long prison terms, though some political prisoners have been released as a result of the talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and the military junta.   DVB Radio (Democratic Voice of Burma) interviewed a family member on April 24, 2002 on the health of Arakanese leader U Aye Tha Aung whose health is also deteriorating.  U Aye Tha Aung, member of CRPP and the Secretary General of the Arakan League for Democracy, is serving a 21-year long-term sentence at InSein Prison due to his political position and beliefs in democracy.

 

Chin professor, Dr. Salai Tun Than has been detained at InSein Prison and another Chin leader Pu Do Thawng is still in Mandalay prison, according to an interview with Dr. Ro Ding by the Chinland Guardian on April 5. The father of Dr. Ro Ding, an elected MP was arrested along with his son on May 21, 1996 by military intelligence and sentenced to seven years imprisonment without trial.  Pu Do Thawng, is an elected MP from Kalemyo constituency No 1, but is imprisoned in Mandalay jail. His family members can meet with him once a month but with conditions: they are not allowed to speak in their mother tongue and with the presence of Military Intelligent Service (MIS). Pu Do Thawng's son, Dr. Ro Ding is in exile and serving as the Secretary of the National League for Democracy - Liberated Area.

 


TENSION OVER STALLED UN TALKS

(Kao-Wao, April 25, 2002)

 

The All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) and Network for Democracy and Development (NDD) jointly sent a letter to the UN Special Envoy to speed up reconciliation in Burma.

 

Hoping the seventh visit to Burma will bring positive changes and the return of true democracy, the third letter of the 3 Burman organizations was sent to Mr Razali Ismail, Special Envoy to UN Secretary General  Mr Kofi Annan on April 22, 2002.  The democratic forces are concerned that the talks that started eighteen months ago have stagnanted between Aung San Suu Kyi and SPDC. No significant changes have resulted and the current political, economic, educational and social conditions in Burma are growing worse by the day.

 

Due to lack of substantive results people are becoming wary about the openness of the junta's commitment to national reconciliation and civilian confidence has fallen. The 3 democratic organizations, ABSDF, NDD and DPNS urged the UN special envoy to facilitate concrete steps and to take more of a leading role to initiate national reconciliation in Burma.

 

The statement, sent out from the liberated area, recommended Mr. Razali to strongly urge the SPDC to release all political prisoners, to allow freedom of movement for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and freedom of existence and association to all political parties.  It also urged for the immediate termination of human rights violations and the withdrawal of the Burma military from the ethnic nationality areas.

 

 

WLB: FUTURE PEACE BUILDERS

(Kao-Wao, April 12, 2002)

 

The closing ceremony for ‘Women as Peace Builder Facilitation Skills Training' was held in a liberated area on April 11, 2002.

 

The WLB (Women League of Burma), an umbrella women organization, prepared the women training on Peace Building was attended by women leaders from various ethnic groups of Chin, Karen, Mon, Shan, Kachin, Tavoyan and Burmese. The workshop is an excellent forum for women grassroots' leaders to exchange information and learn of developments on Burma and international politics.

 

Mi Kyaik Soi Norn a Mon mathematics teacher and Mi Hongsa Norn from MWO (Mon Women's Organization) shared their views on the situation of women in Burma. Both agreed women are far behind and underrepresented in many areas of politics both locally and regionally. The reasons for this include restriction of movement, access to information, and confidence, and having less of an active role in the decision making process. The main problem though is lack of resources that limits opportunity for women leaders to voice their concerns to the international community. A major problem is that individuals cannot leave Burma without a Burmese passport and other legal documentation to go for training, as the government discourages women to leave legally, not issuing passports and bribes have to be paid to officials. Another obstacle is learning English and Thai as most workshops are conducted in either language.

 

About a hundred people gathered for the closing ceremony with speeches by Mi Su Pwint from Burma Women Union, Ms. Shirley Seng, from the Kachin Women's Association of Thailand and widow of Kachin Leader General Zau Seng, and Khin Ohnmar of WLB. The workshop concluded with traditional and colorful dances from the ethnic nationalities.

 


Migrant Watch

 

KARAOKE SINGERS ARRESTED

(By Kaowao/ Mahachai, April 19, 2002)

 

Five migrant girls holding registration cards were arrested for singing Karaoke songs at a fishing community near Bangkok.

 

Thai policemen patrolling the area on their evening shift on February 17, 2002 at Talard Koong, Mahachai, Samut Sakhon province heard singing of the five Tavoyan girls from Burma and followed their voices to their homes. Upon entry they asked for registeration papers. After showing their work permits, the policemen took them to the Maharchai Police station and extorted two thousand Baht from each for singing Karaoke Burmese songs.

 

According to their neigbours, the Tavoyan girls were singing at their own apartment and enjoying the traditional New Year during their holiday but unfortunately were singing too loud and in Burmese, alerting the police to take advantage and extort money from the migrants.

 

 

FILLING THE QUOTA

(Kao Wao/ Samutsakhorn, April 24, 2002)

 

According to the Bangkok Post on April 21, 2002, in Tak Province, the Thai authorities will commence repatriating 100,000 undocumented migrant workers to Burma in May via Myawaddy town opposite Tak's Mae Sot district. Most of these workers had employment in Thailand but employers failed to renew work permits by the end date. To date 2,200 Burma undocumented workers have been deported back to Burma.

 

Nai Rorn Sgong, a 28 year old registered worker from Mon State was arrested by the patrol policemen at PongPit, Maharchai of Samutsakhonr Province at 5 PM on April 19, 2002.  Even though he showed a photo copy of the registeration paper, the fishing worker was sent to the police station, stayed for one night and sent to Mae Sod, Tak Province for repatriation.

 

The owner of the factory kept Nai Rorn Sgong's original registeration card having only the photocopy to prove his registration.  He was arrested at random only to meet a quota imposed by the Thai authorities, said a community worker who knows Nai Rorn Sgong.

 

 

NIGHTMARE JOURNEY TO THAILAND

(Excerpt from Bangkok Post, March 31, 2002)

 

In early March, 13 bodies, including five children, were found inside rice sacks, under sacks of fertilizer and animal waste at a garbage dump in Muang district of Prachin Buri province. There were no signs of murder or marks on bodies.

 

Burmese banknotes and some short notes written in Burmese were found on the bodies. Some were wearing Longyis, Burmese sarong, so police assumed they were immigrants. A few days later, police found a link to the human trafficking gangs arresting Boonta Pumi 42, a job broker, together with two Burmeses, Mathui and Thong. Warrants of arrest have been issued for three other persons.  A 15- year old Mon girl, Mi Cho, was one of the few survivors and was sent to a remand home in Nakhon Pathom province.

 

"I live in the village of Thadanar, in Karen State and I have four sister and one brother. My two sisters, aged 27 and 30 are working in Thailand and sometimes send us some money" she said. These two sisters recently persuaded Mi Cho and another sister, Khin Win, who is 23 years old, to come Thailand and work.

 

They walked for three days and and spent three nights in the jungle from their village to Myawaddy, the Burmese town opposite Mae Sot district in Tak province. "When we got there, some strangers greeted us. They said they could take us to Bangkok. They gave us dinner and put us in a truck. They said the journey to Bangkok would take one night."  They were covered with a tarpaulin, which in turn was covered with roses. Beneath the 20,000 roses were two tiers of 32 passengers packed in like sardines: the lower tier included the women and children the men were in the upper tier.

 

"It was very hot inside and I was very thirsty. It was difficult to breathe," said Mi Cho. Some time during the next day, when the truck stopped and the tarpaulin was removed, 13 out of the original 16 men and 16 women had died. Mi Cho's sister was one of them.

 

Commander Wichit Samathiwat of the Thai Institute of Forensic Medicine said the 13 died of suffocation. This was verified by autopsies.

 

Three men and seven women aged between 18 and 30 had died, two other victims were boys and one was a girl. The bodies were stuffed into rice sacks and left in a 100- rai dumpsite in Tambon Nonthorn, Prachin Buri. Mi Cho said that they were never put in gunny sacks and were never ill-treated during the journey. Police say the blue-black bruises on the bodies could have been caused by asphyxiation and the combined body heat of 32 people. Mi Cho never smelled the stink of fertilizer: only roses.

 

Mi Cho says they were sent off in groups, in taxis, to various destination after the 13 would-be workers were found dead. She was put in a taxi with a man and taken to a vegetable farm in Nakhon Pathom, where one of her sisters was working. Two days later police arrived at the farm and took the two sisters away. They were questioned at a police station before her elder sister was released.

 

Mi Cho was sent to the remand home in Kamphaeng Saen district of Nakhom Pathom. "I miss my parents and my village very much" she said. Her wishes will soon be realized, said one of the officers. She will be sent to court for sentencing within a month, then returned to Mae Sot and released.

 

Given another chance, would she return to Thailand? No, never again," said Mi Cho.

 

 

SONGKRAN WATER WARS

(By Lita Davidson in Thailand, April 17, 2002)

 

Thailand celebrated the annual Songkran Water Festival from April 12-15 and like all festivals in Asia people gathered in groups to sling water, sing, dance and party. The reverence for water in Southeast Asia ranges from the intimate sprinkle of scented water to a blitzkrieg of water warfare in the streets.

 

In Chiang Mai, streets were packed to overflowing capacity with people, trucks, and motorcycles converging into a twisted mass of wet skin and metal. Plenty of water was on hand as people climbed into the back of pickups arming themselves with high-pressured water guns, buckets, jugs, and hoses, to team up along the moat to haul buckets of water into barrels in the back of pickups. For 3 days the moat was the scene of trench warfare out of the back of a pickup. Along with the stored water and large blocks of ice, provisions of alcohol were thrown into the plastic barrels. Men took center stage in the primal carnival, dancing wildly to loud disco music while swilling back alcohol and doing the Thai hula hula with swinging hips and exposed wet bellies. Roving gangs in the thousands wanting more of a thrill raced on the highways in pickups with people hanging dangerously off of tailgates and on top of roofs to scout out victims, motorcycles with 2 or 3 people to a bike roared along beside them.

 

It has been said there is a fine line between comedy and tragedy. From the beginning to the end of Songkran about 821 people were killed with close to 80,000 injuries. That's comparable to two Boeing 767s taking a nosedive into Chiang Mai with no survivors, a tragedy. Only in this case no one is assigned blame and since it is party time all is forgiven, a comedy show. As one foreign observer noted after witnessing a motorcycle death "What do you expect when millions of people (the actual number is about 61 m) take to the streets." Most of those deaths are motorcycle fatalities, as most don't care to wear motorcycle helmets. Most of those injured are men.

 

Peace to all water revelers.

 

 

BURMA EXILES CELEBRATE THINKYAN

(Kao-Wao / Chiang Mai, April 16, 2002)

 

Burmese exiles joined in the annual celebration of the Songkran Water festival from April 13 to 16, gathering at local temples and venues at various locales in Thailand.  Water was served with the main meal of rice and poured, splashed, and slung on those standing idly dry.

 

In Chiang Mai a small Burma community gathered together to sing Karaoke, set up as the main entertainment feature, with popular love and Thinkyan New Years songs. While on tour of the moat in Chiang Mai, Burma activists and former student demonstrators during the 1988 uprising in Burma, greeted fellow revelers with ?Mai lin-namn mai-suay' in Thai, which roughly translates to "If not throwing water, it's not pretty."   One water merrymaker from Mandalay led the pickup caravan by presenting garlands of flowers and Mya-Nandar songs to women who splashed him with water followed by bows of gratitude.

 

 

MON EMBRACE SANGKRAN

(Based on MRC and Kao-Wao, April 20, 2002)

 

The Mon community of Fort Wayne, USA, celebrated Sang-Kran and water festival at the Mon Buddhist Temple in Indiana.  With good cheer more than two hundred people participated with seven Buddhist monks. Celebrating along with the Mons were Srilankan, Thai, Laotian, Burman, Karen and American.

 

Food was served to the monks and devotees received New Year Chanting and blessing water from the monks. Part of the tradition requires participants to line up in a queue to purify the Buddha statue and the monks with ornaments and perfumed water. After, all guests and hosts were served with the traditional Mon Sangkran food of dry fish, which is mixed with sour mango. All teenagers and adults were gleefully throwing water at each other while others were singing and dancing to Karaoke songs.

 

In Thailand, the Mon migrant communities at Samutsakhorn and Karnchanaburi Provinces also celebrated the New Year peacefully on their holiday break from working.

 

While the Burma and Thai communities go all out in a water war during Songkran, Mon young and old enjoyed a traditional Atah Sang-Kran celebration in their own way.  At Maharcahi fishing communites, during the evening on April 15 and 16, thousands of Mon migrant workers went to Wat Cook and prayed at Kyaik Lagane (Shwedagon) a Chedi built in Mon style to gain merit and blessing for good luck and a successful new year.  The compound was decorated in traditional Mon style with people wearing Ka-Yaing Mon dress (red sarong), speaking mother tongue and celebrating in good cheer amid the police crack down on illegal labour. The Mon migrant population in Mahachai is estimated at 100,000. On April 20-21, Mons commence with water splashing in Monland and the Thai-Mon communities at PhraPadaeng celebrated at the same time after completion of blessing.

 

The Mon communities at Thong Phapum and Sangkhalaburi gathered at temples and private homes donating Sang-Kran food and paid respect to monks, relatives and elders who went to the temple for blessing and donation.

 

According to Venerable Dhamma Dinna, the Abbot of Mon Buddhist Temple in Indiana, most of the Asian countries, Monland, Burma, Thailand, Lao, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Nepal and Srilanka change the Cula or Jula era in accordance with the Lunar calendar. In fact, the word "Sangkran" is decended from Sanskrit or Sakkata word of "Sakranti". It means "Transition" from old to new or from old year to New year. The Mon adapted the Sanskrit word ?Sakranti" to "Sang-kran" in Mon. The Thai pronouces it Songkran and the Burmese call it "Thinkyan".

 

 

KAO WAO NEWS GROUP

kaowao@hotmail.com

 

ABOUT US Kao-Wao 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 overseas volunteers are dedicated members of the Mon activist community based in Thailand. Our motto is working together for change.

 

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