KAO WAO NEWS No. 46
An electronic
newsletter for social justice and freedom in Burma
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READERS' FRONT
CEASE-FIRE GROUP
WARNED TO CLAM UP
STUDENTS MADE TO PAY
HIGHER TUITION FEES
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
OF BLACK FRIDAY
ENDANGERED HERITAGE
GROWS ON THAI SOIL
CHIN MEETING PROMOTES
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
SOCIAL WELL BEING OF
WOMEN UNDER THREAT
MON CEASE-FIRE: A NO WIN SITUATION
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READERS' FRONT
Dear Readers,
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
http://www.burmalibrary.org/show.php?cat=1215&lo=d&sl=0
_____________________________________________________
Hi Kao-Wao,
Thank you for sending your news. It is very useful at
helping me to keep track on what is happening in
I've been following reports on the crackdown in
This would allow
Jeff
Dear Kao-Wao,
The junta is not only brutal but also stupid. Keeping
Suu Kyi inside the jail will result in more pressure from the international
community and the UN. There will be more action taken whilst improving
the campaign for freeing
Maung Maung (
Dear All,
I would say that there will be no change in
I have no good ideas to win over the military junta.
Neighboring countries can only talk at the military. Who cares? I am
sorry to say this and I don't see a way to get out of this.
Kwae Mon (via Monnet)
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CEASE-FIRE GROUP
WARNED TO CLAM UP
(Kao-Wao:
The cease-fire group New Mon State Party has been urged by
the Burmese army not to spread news and information about human rights
violations committed in
The request was made at an informal meeting between the
cease-fire group and the senior member of current ruling regime, the State
Peace and Development Council in Moulmein, capital of Mon State.
The Burmese Army gave the warning shortly after the New Mon
State Party released its fact-sheet on the land confiscation of farmers and
landowners in
The SPDC accuses the Mon Forum, Independent Mon News Agency,
and Kao Wao News Group, who have released news via
radio, printed material, as well as E-news after the NMSP shared information
with them. A reporter of the BBC (Burmese Section) from the Thailand
Burma border is also accused as a member of the cease-fire party.
“Don’t spread news to the public and exile groups, talk to
us if you are not satisfied with what happening to your people. If you
have information on land confiscation, just hand it in to us”, said a senior
official of the SPDC to senior members of the NMSP recently.
Local farmers and gardeners have appealed to the NMSP to
request the junta for compensation and land replacement. The NMSP
formally lodged an appeal to the SPDC senior officials, but neither land
replacement nor compensation is granted to local civilians in any form.
The local Burmese Army has confiscated over 5,000 acres of land with rice
fields, rubber plants, lime and lemon trees since 1997, two years after the
ceasefire agreement between the NMSP and SPDC.
Despite the threat of being charged for holding printed
materials without passing the scrutiny board, the Mon language journal and
newspaper, “Our Time” and “Guiding Star” have been very popular in the Mon
community over the past three years. Local Mon media cover news of
imprisoned Mon leaders and other human rights abuses in the territory.
Reporters inside
Senior officials of the SPDC have asked the NMSP members
working for the news services in the Sangkhlaburi
border town to stop reporting, the source from the party said.
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Life in
STUDENTS MADE TO PAY
HIGHER TUITION FEES
(IMNA:
Higher tuition fee is introduced to schools in
On opening day, students with their parents flock to school;
eager to begin classes, but this year they face a higher cost for their
education. Teachers are asking for more money than in previous years.
“Fees for school enrollment, text books and sports are not
so much. It cost over 1,000 Kyat, but fees for school repairs and new school
buildings are too expensive. They ask for 7,000 to 20,000
Kyat. They also increase money for new students,” said parents from
A schoolteacher, speaking under anonymity due to security,
said, “we haven’t received enough of a budget from the
government for school repairs and new buildings. Building materials are
expensive. We (teachers) ask the government for support, but receive too
little, so we have to ask more money from the parents to cover the costs”.
Besides school entrance fees, the parents also have to pay
for computer maintenance at schools in both the urban and rural areas. The
local farmers are also forced to pay for this cost.
Parents, with little money to spare, pay out most of their
money to cover the cost of education for their children, private tuition being
the only way for a student to pass the final exam. A student spends about 100,
000 Kyat for tuition fees for all subjects for the whole year. A special
tuition fee costs about 10,000 Kyat per month for one subject only.
Having exorbitant school fees to pay, families pull their
children out of school at a young age reported a community worker. Later on,
some will either end up as migrant labourers or work at small jobs in their
community to earn extra income, while some will have the opportunity to
transfer to
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Truth revealed by a
truck driver's assistant
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
OF BLACK FRIDAY
(Source NCGUB)
My name is Kyaw Lwin (age
30). I work as a "Spare" (driver's assistant) on the Nissan
truck UD 2 Registration NO: (khakwe/1962).
The driver is Ko Nyo.
The nominal owners of the vehicle are U San Myint and Daw Marlaryi. In fact, it is the property of the Military
Intelligence in Yesagyo. Our normal business is
to transport goods from
We were still in Monywa at the end
of May having just taken goods there.
The North West Army Command based there requisitioned 10
wheeler trucks (including ours) from the 28th May and we had to keep them
parked in their North West Army Command compound at Monywa.
This is what happened on the 30th May.
An army captain (in civvies) climbed up into the front
compartment.
Communication accessories were put on the truck. Then
about 50 persons boarded the back compartment. Some were in monk's robes,
others in civvies. After that the truck was covered with a canvas tarp
and orders were given to drive off.
It was about
The driver, the captain, and I were left in the truck. The
beatings were delivered relentlessly and savagely. It was the most
frightening thing I have ever seen in my whole life. It was a one-sided
attack. There were people running about, shouting, screaming and falling
on the ground with blood all over them. Some fallen bodies were carried
and placed near our truck. I had no idea who they were. They could have
been the people who came with us in our truck.
The captain in the front of our truck spoke on the phone,
saying, "Yes, General, Yes, Yes." He then ordered me to carry
the dead bodies into the truck. At the same time I saw him fire 3 or 4
times from his revolver into the crowd at the front.
I carried 17 bodies into the truck. All were
bloodied. Some could have been lifeless; some could have been still
alive. After that the truck had to be driven back. The people who
were brought there were not brought back on the bus. I do not know what
happened afterwards. I saw the other 10-wheeler trucks at the scene of
crime but cannot say what they had to do.
When we arrived at Ahlone village,
we were ordered to stop and remove the 17 dead bodies on the side of the road
and then drive on to the North West Army Command compound. The captain
gave the orders.
There was food and liquor prepared for us when we got back
to the compound. We ate. Then we were given 30000 kyats each. The
truck was driven away by another person. We were told that it would not
be for long. But, it was returned the next day (31st May) in the evening.
We washed the car on the 1st of June and scrubbed out the
blood stains. We offered "soon" (food) to the monks. I
don't know what happened to the bodies we left by the side of the road at Ahlon.
We heard that the bodies were burnt. Now we are operating
from the gate as before.
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Literature and
culture
ENDANGERED HERITAGE
GROWS ON THAI SOIL
(Based on IMNA and Kao-Wao:
New school policy developments in
According to General Secretary of Mon Unity League (MUL), Nai Sunthorn, the teaching of Mon
language will be allowed in the Thai school curriculums where a large majority
of Mon people live. Mon language textbooks will be provided from Grade 1 to
Grade 12 in schools that provides basic education to the children in
“It’s very impressive, the Mon deserves their cultural
rights but it’s only a beginning and we need more action and assistance from
both the Thai Mon community and the government,” said the International
Representative of the MUL, an umbrella organization of the Mon people.
Academics and some Thai-Mon leaders developed the textbooks
derived from old and culturally rich Mon storybooks and hundreds of palm-leave
scriptures. They will apply the draft textbooks to the Ministry of Education,
Royal Thai Government, to obtain permission for teaching in Thai schools.
The Mon language experts who work at the Thai Ministry of
Education are Mon language researchers and intellectuals who achieved their
Degree studying the Mon language as their thesis, they have worked extensively
in researching the historical development of Mon with the help of MUL.
The research group translated some old priceless Mon
scriptures into the Thai language. The authorities from the MOE and
Nai Sunthorn
and Zahan Mon from the MUL volunteered as part of the
Research Group who contributed their efforts in bringing to light the issue of
the endangerment of ethnic language in
Many thousands of Mon migrated to
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International
awareness campaign
(Kao-Wao:
"Prisoners In Their Own Country: Burma Today" was
the main theme for building awareness on
The Medical Mercy of
Over a hundred supporters joined in the gathering to observe
stunning documentary videos from Thailand-Burma border, a photography exhibit,
and Mon cultural dances. Testimonial of personal accounts and solidarity
messages were delivered regarding the present crisis.
After vivid and touching testimonials were given from former
student leader Cham Toik
and Chairperson of Mon Women Organization (Canada), Ms. Ong
Mon Chan, a medical doctor who migrated from Indonesia said, “the speech that
voices the suffering of the oppressed people in Burma refreshed my memory as a
young doctor in Indonesia, when I risked my life to help my people who suffered
under the brutal regime of Suharto. … my thoughts and heart will be always with you. Your efforts
and perseverance will make a better future for the oppressed people in
The Calgary Burma Round Table is a new action group founded
to increase awareness and the group joined with the Medical Mercy
Around
AP news from
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(Kao-Wao:
Representatives of the Mon, Karen and Burmese communities in
According to the source from OMANZ (Oversea Mon Association
of New Zealand), the team met with Mr. Phil Goff, Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Trade, at his
The source reported, the Foreign
Minister was preparing to leave to attend a meeting of the
The representatives of exile group also asked
During the meeting Nai Hong Lavi, the representative of OMANZ described the ongoing
human rights violations taking place in Mon state such as forced labor, forced
portering and land confiscation. The overseas Mon patriots urged the
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International
activists stage demonstration in front of Chinese Consulate
(Network Media Group:
Nearly forty international human rights activists staged a
demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai to urge
Friends of the Burma Coalition-Thai-Burma border recently
began targeting the two superpower neighbors of
In their appeal letters, the campaigners urged China and
India to direct their attention and put pressure on the Burmese generals,
"to call for the immediate, unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, NLD
leaders and all other political prisoners; to cease providing the regime with
arms and military equipment; to engage the regime in pro-active efforts to
dialogue with the pro-democracy movement and ethnic nationality groups; to
actively support the UN efforts and other key stakeholders to achieve peace,
human rights and democracy in Burma; and to put Burma and the current political
crisis on a top priority agenda in the upcoming Asean
Region Forum (ARF) meeting."
The annual meeting of Asean
Regional Forum (ARF) was held during the past week in
Asking why the campaigners targeted the Chinese consulate,
Bee, one of the Thai citizens who submitted the memorandum said, “In giving the
petition we attempted to make a strong statement about Chinese relations, the
same aim with the Indian Consulate, both are currently allied with the SPDC.
The support of the Chinese to (SPDC) is tight. We urged
A three-member delegate of campaigners met a deputy officer
on the behalf of consular to summit the petition.
Recently, the campaigners under an initiative of Friends of
Burma Coalition (FOB) also staged a demonstration submitting a similar appeal
to
Human right advocates and activists from the Asia Pacific
region along with dedicated individuals signed the petition presented to
The demonstration started at
While the international community made up of US, UK, France,
Thailand and along with several other countries showed their deep concern on
the recent May 30th ambush by government-affiliated thugs on the opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy, China and India virtually kept silent.
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Federal and State
Constitution in progress
CHIN MEETING PROMOTES
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
(Chinland Guardian News:
Indiana Police, USA- Chinland
Constitution Consultative Meeting was held in Indiana University School of Law
-
The leading participants in the consultative meeting were Pu Lian Uk
(MP), a current Convener of Working Group (I) of the Chin Forum, Dr. Zahleithang (MP) and Convener of Working Group (V) of the
Chin Forum, Dr. Vumson Suantak
(Co-convener) of Working Group (I) of the Chin Forum, Salai
Victor Biak Lian (Secretary
of Chin Forum Management Board), Salai Ni Lian (Joint Secretary of Chin Forum Management Board), Salai Hre Mang
(Co-convener) of Working Group (IV) of the Chin Forum, and Salai
Ngun Cung Lian (Co-convener) of the Working Group (I) of the Chin
Forum.
Besides the native Chin leaders, a noted constitutional law
scholar, Professor David C. William of John S. Hastings Professor of Law, acted
as a consultant, and a Mr. Mukhid, a young legal
scholar from
Furthermore, the participants, during the short span of
their meeting, made a close analysis on the initial draft of Constitution of Chinland and how the draft Constitution of Chinland stands as a corner stone for the creation of
future Federal Union of the Multi-ethnic Nations based on a genuine federalism
in the present Union of Burma. Based on subsequent suggestions at a recent
meeting, and from feedback and advice contributed by concerned Chin and
non-Chin leaders regarding the Constitution around the world, Consultant,
Professor David C. Williams, Mr. Mukhid, and Salai Ngun Cung
Lian will be continuously working together to edit
the initial draft accordingly.
It is hoped that the editing will be totally completed
before the end of July this year then published and distributed as widely as
possible to the Chin people around the world before the end of August 2003.
Following the inner meeting within the Chin Forum, the
Indiana Chin Community hosted a public discussion on the Constitution of
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Feature Article
SOCIAL WELL BEING OF
WOMEN UNDER THREAT
(Bop Htaw in
Women in
The SPDC established the Women Affairs Committee on
According to a committee media release last year, the
government implemented the Beijing Declaration, it has
accepted the resolutions of the Beijing Platform for Action in line with its
political, economic, and social environment.
Despite the WAC commitment to tackle to the plight of women,
the current events demonstrate another State sponsored organization, Union
Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) which acts as a political tool of
the ruling junta to hammer the democratic force led by Daw Suu Kyi, a Noble
Prize Winner into servitude. The WAC has done nothing to address this
contradiction to eradicate violence against women.
The WAC drew up a policy paper then distributed it to local
communities around the country; its aim is to enhance education and health,
tackle discrimination and problems of the environment and mass media. While it
is a women’s organization, some claim that the Office of Strategies Studies
(OSS) led by Lt Gen Khin Nyunt in
Currently, women writers, journalists, students and nuns are
jailed for expressing their criticism and views of government activities. Even
pregnant women are locked up, although some have returned home from jail with
their children, a local
Burmese government soldiers, militiamen and high-ranking
army officials routinely target the most vulnerable, young women, especially
non-Burman women in rural areas and conflict zones. Human Rights Foundation of Monland based at the Thai-Burma border have documented
numerous cases in its monthly human rights report, stating that local women are
traumatized by these horrific incidents and live in constant fear of being
raped, killed, violently degraded, or abused while their partners are away from
home or the village.
Local women are forced into becoming members of the WAC in
local towns or villages. They are offered employment as public servants if they
become full members of the committee, a local Mon woman said. The committee
also approaches educated women in the community for participation in community
works.
The WAC failed not only to protect the rights of women in
politics but also in social and economic affairs as well. Despite advocating
local young women not to leave to
Women have a strong role to play in promoting freedom and a
well-balanced, stable political environment in
Currently the Burmese ruling junta only appoints women in
the public service at a lower post. Women are assigned as staff in departments
and hold no power of their own over the decision-making process. The SPDC’s ministry team excluded ministerial posts for women
while officially declaring that both man and woman have equal status in the
country. The Women Affairs Committee is a nothing but a political dupe for the
ruling junta, like its twin the USDA.
***************************************************
Analysis
MON CEASE-FIRE: A NO WIN SITUATION
(By Banya Hongsar,
June, 2003 / Monland)
A controversial cease-fire agreement of the Mon political
party and its armed forces has been an eight year fiasco, very little in the
way of a constructive political settlement has materialized.
At first, it was hoped that the Mon would gain some rights
in Monland. New Mon State Party and its armed wing,
Mon National Liberation Army have fought against the
For better or for worse, the Mon nationalist political party
agreed to talk with
“The
Recently General Secretary of the party, Nai
Hongsa said “the cease-fire talk is a new tactic of
weakening our force while some members have changed their mind to do more
business than politics”. He is not satisfied with the process,
it takes so much times while no genuine political settlement has been made in
the country.
The Mon nationalist party has faced two major splits
threatening the stability of the party over the past eight years. Mergui Mon Army split in 1996 and Hongsawatoi
Restoration Party in 2001. Mon National Council in exile publicly criticized
the weakness of the NMSP’s leadership over the eight
years. In February 1996, the Council issued an analysis paper titled: “An
Analysis of the Ceasefire between the New Mon State Party and SLORC” written in
Burmese. It said, “the ceasefire is perceived as it
is, a peace process gone wrong. It appears to be an official surrender to the
(enemy). It’s a concession to the dictators for committing further abuse on our
civilians and it is assumed that (this process) is kowtowing to the dictator. A
few members of the council are former NMSP’s Central
Committee members who played a vital role in its policy implementation.
The nationalist armed force, Mon National Liberation Army
continues to conduct regular military training at its headquarters in Monland. According to the party’s newsletter, “The
Light of Flying Sheldrake” in March 2002, the MNLA completed 8th session of
Training for Regiment Battalion. Despite this, many observers have accused the
MNLA of lacking the capacity to maintain its military operation during the
‘peace period’, the force still exercises its right to develop its military
capacity.
“To serve the Mon people” for a half century, the party
hasn’t stopped running the show after the cease-fire talks. The party completed
its 23rd session of Basic Political Course in January 2002 for its members and
the Department of Health also finished its 24th Session on Medical Course
offered to local Mon youth.
However, the Burmese Army for their part have confiscated
more than 5,000 acres of land in Ye, Than Phyu Zayat, Mudon townships, to
enlarge their regiments, infantry battalions and army camps in Mon State. Local
farmers, land owners and properties owners have made formal appeals to seniors
of New Mon State Party, but no help, or compensation
is forthcoming from the junta. NMSP formally lodged a letter to SPDC in
2001 but received nothing but silence and complacency.
The organization regularly holds special events such as Mon
Revolutionary Day, Mon National Day and Public Seminars for an acknowledgement
of national struggle for freedom and independence.
After 1995 cease-fire talk process, the Mon communities both
home and abroad have gathered every year in Thai-Burma border for national
conference. Mon National views were exchanged at Seminars held in each year
with a sponsorship from NMSP. The seminar is the first gathering ever to be
held between NMSP and non-NMSP organizations including local representatives
from
The ruling military government uses a divide and rule tactic
that oppresses ordinary local Mon people when it cannot control activities of
Mon nationalist movement in liberated areas. Consequently, urban-based Mon
language teaching classes and other local business of the Mon community are
banned. The urban-based official Mon political party, Mon National Democratic
Front was abolished and its prominent leaders and supporters were hauled off to
jail. Divided camps between NMSP and MNDF have split off in the community to
master political activities. However, the Mon leaders from both sides have kept
in confidence for an ultimate goal to establish a
The Mon Buddhist monk community has also played a vital role
during the cease-fire period in the national movement. The Monk community is
concerned over the split of the party (“break away” in the party circle). On
Almost all villages in
Htaw Mon, the General of the Mon
National Liberation Army said at a Mon seminar, “We will not surrender”. Adding
that, “in modern civilization, people should not regard each other as a
permanent enemy.” He asserted that cease-fire process is still in the
developing stage for both sides. The General now holds the second post of the
New Mon State Party as Vice-President No (1) while Former General Secretary Nai Rotsa holds Vice-president No
(2).
The only winners of the cease-fire process are local and
regional businessmen and companies who have access inside
The controversial ceasefire process of the Mon has indeed
damaged Mon unity. However, men and women from within the Mon community took
the risk and formed the Mon Unity League in 1995 soon after the party reached
the ceasefire process in
As present, the political environment of the party has
developed inside Mon territory; a few urban-based Mon communities have praised
the role of the party after the ceasefire process. Some local Mon businessmen
have boosted their businesses with Asian countries. However, the ruling Junta
has banned further contracts in which they assume that the party gains greater
support from urban based Mon business class community.
Senior members of the party have reinvented their image in
the community in recent years. General Htaw Mon
himself has visited his native village in Mudon Twonship for a public gathering. “Although the party
has never controlled more than a fraction of the Mon people’s ancestral lands,
before 1995 it did represent an alternative centre of power to
The views expressed here are solely the opinion of the
author. (Kao-Wao Editor)
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KAO WAO NEWS GROUP
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