KAO WAO NEWS No. 34
An electronic newsletter for social justice and
freedom in Burma
No. 34,
READER’S FRONT
MORE LAND CONFISCATED
FOR NEW BATTALION
SPDC SOLDIERS
SURRENDER TO MON ARMY
DKBA ROB MON
TEACHER’S RESIDENCE
MORE HRP MEMBERS
REJOIN NEW MON STATE PARTY
CHECK POINT BUSINESS
IN
MIGRANT VILLAGERS
SEND TO JAIL
SPDC SOLDIERS KILLED
BY KNU
MRC HOLDS NINTH
CONFERENCE
MON IN
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READER’S FRONT
Dear Readers,
Welcome all to Kao-Wao in the New Year 2003.
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
kaowao@hotmail.com
On “Mon Youth Office Raided By Thai Army” (Kao-Wao,
Dear Kao-Wao,
Thanks for your news. It's very important to have news on time like what you are doing. I'm sorry for our Mon colleges who face with this situation, though we can do very little for this.
In solidarity,
Charm Tong
(Shan Women Action Network)
Dear Kao Wao,
We pray for your friends.
We're wishing you a Christmas that's as happy as can be,
One as cheery , warm and bright as lights upon the tree --
And we're wishing you the very best of happy new years, too,
Because the nicest things in life should always come to you.
Sincerely ,
Japhet
Lahu National Development Organization.
Dear Editor,
I am really concerned about the current action of Thai authorities on our groups at Sangkhalaburi. What expectation do they have by doing this? Is this action a signal for our movement to have terrible experience? How can we relate this situation to political situation in our country? I sense that this time, Thai is not playing any game like it did in the past with the Burmese military regime nor is its attempt to draw the international attention.
If so, what we should do to prepare for our struggle.
What do you think we should do while arm struggle is discriminated among and within
ethnic nationalities? I remember a remark made by an ordinary people inside
Yours sincerely,
Ko Soe Moe (
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Life in
MORE LAND CONFISCATED
FOR NEW BATTALION
(By Taramon, December 26, 02)
The Burmese Army continued land confiscation in
According to Kao-Wao’s reporter
inside southern
According to a secret report of SPDC’s heavy artillery battalion No. 315, the Burmese Military Area Selecting Board chose the area near Thanbyuzayat town. The document said the confiscated land is situated in the mountain range where the weapons can be stocked in a hidden place. The report added that the Army could use local civilians to work for the military camp through negotiations with the township authorities.
The new battalion will strategically control
The Burmese Army had already seized an additional 2000 acres
of land from villagers belonging to Mokanin, Lamine, Jao-Khalae, Taungbon and Leinmaw-Chan in
Northern Ye Township,
These villagers in Thanbyuzayat and northern Ye townships have long used their land for farming
vegetables, fruits, rubber and rice. None of them has received
compensation for the confiscated lands and they have
no recourse to a complaint mechanism or other means of redress. According
to a Mon social worker at Thai-Burma border, many villagers from the area
crossed to
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SPDC SOLDIERS
SURRENDER TO MON ARMY
(Kao-Wao,
Soldiers from a Light Infantry Battalion of the Burma Army
surrendered to a Mon armed group in Ye Township,
On
Those surrendering were Sergeant Pa La Yin, Min Zaw, age 22,
Maung Kyaw Oo from Bago Division, age19, Soe Myint Oo, from
Last November, an armed Mon group led by Nai Hloin attacked the Burmese Army near Khaw Zar village, Southern Ye Township, and in retaliation, the Burmese Navy opened fire on villagers spotted along the seacoast. The Burmese Army LIB No. 273, 282, 299, 343, 267, 280, 31 and 62 has launched a major offensive to wipe out opposition-armed groups in the area in recent months.
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DKBA ROB MON
TEACHER’S RESIDENCE
(Kao-Wao,
Pro-Rangoon Karen soldiers recently broke into a Mon teacher’s residence and robbed the gold, a local Mon teacher said.
Soldiers of the Democratic Buddhist Karen Army (DKBA) covering their faces with masks entered the residence late on evening in early November and took (5 kyat of) gold. According to neighbors, it was a deliberate act of violation against the Mon population because the DKBA always target Mon homes but never rob Karen residences in the area.
Local Mon villagers from Prang Dai, Kaw Kyeink, Grob Krok and Kadhod Dadaon of Karen State requested a security guard from the New Mon State party (NMSP) but as of yet no assistance has been forthcoming, said a Mon teacher.
According to Nai Chan, a villager, it was not possible that the group was from the Karen National Union because the KNU are not active in the area. The robbers were fully armed and equipped. The villagers do not suspect the KNU of robbing this village he added. Another teacher added that there were many gambling places in the village and that when money was lost, robberies often occurred.
Local villagers have offered to provide assistance to the New Mon State Party, if a security arrangement can be made for the Mon population in these villages. Currently, some Mon families have to hide and sleep on the ground for safety.
The DKBA tries to control the Mon population in the area but the NMSP also maintains the area under its administration. Despite an agreement made between the NMSP and KNU that the area would be under the Mon administration, the DKBA continues to create problems for both sides.
****************************************************************
MORE HRP MEMBERS
REJOIN NEW MON STATE PARTY
(Based on reports from IMNA and Kao-Wao)
Corporal Kyaw Yay and Khit Ta led a group of fifteen families which returned to the NMSP on the afternoon of December 17th at Baleh Doon Pite camp, on the Thai-Burma border. Major Nai Gwae welcomed the returnees and their families at the NMSP office, near the border at Three Pagodas Pass.
“We returned to the party because we have no more rice to eat and no other supplies on which to survive,” said Kyaw Yay during the reception ceremony. He added, “We have no where to go since the Thai Army’s Ninth Division issued its order to leave Thai soil.”
In the past two months, more than a hundred followers of the HRP, including some family members, have rejoined the NMSP. Major Blaing Sorn along with 21 followers returned on December 2 at Tardein village near Three Pagodas Pass. An NMSP spokesperson said the returnees would be assisted in resettling and that they would not be punished.
Col Pan Nyunt, a former member of the NMSP, formed the Honsawatoi Restoration Party in November 2001 after accusing the NMSP leadership of colluding with the Burmese military regime in signing the cease-fire agreement in 1995. The support for Nai Pan Nyunt has fallen since Central Executive Committee member Nai Min Htut and other NMSP members were shot during an attack by the HRP in October 2002.
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Opinion
CHECK POINT BUSINESS
IN
(By Banya Hongsar)
Money changing is a way of life for a few soldiers in the
area between Mon and Karen states in southern
“We can’t make enough to cover the heavy fees charged by more than seven checkpoints along the way!” said a Mon trader in Sangkhlaburi last week.
Among the many groups collecting checkpoint fees from
Kya-Inn Seik-Kyi to
This multi-departmental group recently forced the owner of a
boat to pay K 2,000 for a small boat and K 4,000 for a large boat before
heading to Krong Htaw village. A few hours
later, the boat arrived at Waesa Loi
Mon village where there is a Burmese Special Operations Force that sometimes
collects a security fee of between 3-4000 kyats at
There is only one Mon checkpoint at Waesa Loi village and the fee is much lower than the one at the first place. A large boat has to pay K 1000 and a small boat is K 500 plus K 200 per passenger. A goods fee is applied on a percentage basis on the value of the cargo.
The boat once again headed off this time to Phya-Ya-Ngoat-To, a Lao Shan village. A Burmese Army camp there at the river gate charges every boat regardless of size K 5,000 for a patrol fee, according to what they told the boat owner. A small boat only takes twenty passengers and a large one takes about sixty. The fee is often changed from time to time without previous notice.
Most boat owners are Mon and Burmese. They have formed a group called
“Chaung Zone Boat Owners Association” to arrange and share services.
Following this, there are two more checkpoints, both operated by the Karen National Union (KNU). The first one is at Maung Yeing village and the second one is at Kyaung Chaung village. All boats must pay K 3,000.
The next gate at Tar Dein village is under the control of the New Mon State Party. The Mon officers are also charging the security fee of K 1000 for large boats and K 500 for a small one.
After nineteen hours and two overnights on the river, passengers arrive at Krong Htaw pier and there is a final checkpoint on the border-trading route. Here the owner again paid a fix amount fee for multi-departmental group that includes Mon, Karen and Burmese officials.
To make things more complicated; some boat owners who are close friends of the Military Intelligence officers don’t have to pay as much as others who are not on such friendly terms. However, the Burmese LIB in these areas takes a larger amount than other groups. The KNU charges the least of all groups on the route.
Three
According to the October edition of Guiding Star, an
independent Mon newspaper, there are more than thirty gates along the Ye to
Every passenger who travels along Mon and
The first intention for the cease-fire groups is to achieve peace and national stability. But the unlawful acts of these gun holders are utterly unacceptable in the new society even though the military government proudly announces as an opening a new page’ for political developments in the country.
Since Thai-Burma bilateral relations have been normalized
recently, the elite groups who hold arms are the ones who are benefiting the
most in this area. Daily news and border reports show that the situation
of the ethnic people as well as Burmese at the borders is at risk where there
is potential for clash among those who hold arms. Currently, the route to
Than-Byu-Za-Yat from
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MIGRANT VILLAGERS
SEND TO JAIL
(By Taramon)
3 Pagodas Pass, Dec 26, 02 -- The State Peace and Development Council authorities have been providing phones to informers in Mon State to report on migration to the neighboring Thailand.
To crack down on migrant laborers, informers have received money by reporting on local people who have been trying to work as migrant laborers, according to a Mudon township resident. Many Tapadon (Kwan Baw) villagers from northern Mudon township have been arrested for trying to migrate to Thailand and sent to the jail, said Mi Sai, a young woman from that village, who has recently arrived at Three Pagodas Pass border town.
One informer from her village, said to be about 36 years
old, is receiving money for reporting to the Military Intelligence (MI) about
villagers trying to migrate to
"The MI gave the guy a cellular phone to inform
whenever he sees villagers leaving the village with packages that suggest they
could be migrating to
The SPDC has issued an order banning illegal migration to neighboring countries and human traffickers and migrants are being arrested according to the law, according to a statement issued by the authorities.
Meanwhile, many people have migrated to
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SPDC SOLDIERS KILLED
BY KNU
(Cited from KNU,
Information intercepted by a Karen guerrilla communication unit indicates that Burmese army commanders have admitted that their Karen Operation is a high-risk for SPDC troops to maneuver in.
The KNU guerrillas of the 201 battalion attacked the
mountain-top Burengnong Camp of the SPDC troops
opposite the Phop Phra
district of Thailand's
The KNLA attack was supported by 75 81-mm mortar, a 0.5-in. (12.6-mm) heavy machinegun from a neighbouring hill some 700 yards away. One Burmese soldier, who was trying to surrender with his hands-up to the KNL, was shot by his own troops.
On
On the 1st of January, two soldiers of SPDC forces stationed
in the area were seriously wounded in a sniping attack by KNLA forces near the
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MRC HOLDS NINTH
CONFERENCE
(MRC,
Fortwayne, IN, -- The ninth annual conference of Monland Restoration Council (MRC) was successfully held on December 25 and 26 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
According to an MRC source, activities and financial reports of year 2002 were evaluated and the MRC awarded certificates of honor to members who had contributed financial support. On the second day of conference, the strengths and the weaknesses of MRC were reviewed and future activities were widely discussed.
The conference decided to launch a campaign to call for the release of Mon leaders and expand its branch offices to members in other countries. The conference also elected Nai Mon Jit, formerly joint-secretary, to serve as Secretary General, because of the resignation of the previous Secretary General, Nai Ong Htaw Mon.
The MRC has become the strongest Mon community in overseas
since many student refugees have migrated to
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MON IN
(Kao-Wao,
In preparation for the 56th Anniversary of Mon National Day
Celebration, Mon communities in
The Indiana-based Monland Restoration Council in the
The Mon Cultural Society (MCS) in
The Mon Community in
In
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