Security Alert

 

MON YOUTH OFFICE RAIDED BY THAI AUTHORITIES

(Kao-Wao, December 21, 2002)

 

The Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO) office at Sangkhalaburi, Karnchanaburi Province of western Thailand was raided by Thai army on December 19, 2002.

 

According to a local source, about twenty Thai Army Regiment No. 9 and officers raided the MYPO office in the morning and all Mon youths were deported to Plaing Japan of Three Pagodas Pass border town inside Burma after questioning.

 

Nai Ong, a Mon youth leader reported, “most of Burmese democratic offices and MYPO office was forced by the Thai military to move out from the Thai soil. Now all members of MYPO are in the Japanese Well (Plaing Japan) village and we are concerned of their fate as the village is inside Burmese territory and the Burmese army can charge them for their political activities.”

 

The Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO) was formed after a gathering of Mon youth and student at Sangkhalaburi border town last year.  The MYPO is working at forging solidarity among Mon youths and reaching out network with other ethnic youths, democratic forces and the international community.

 

In August, the Burmese opposition offices Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), National League for Democracy - Liberated Area (NLD-LA), Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS) and a Christian church were raided by the local Thai authorities.  Many ethnic and democratic offices working at Sanghalaburi, the Thai-Burma border town have closed in fear of the Thai government's alleged decision to crack down on the activities of their organizations.

 

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KAO WAO NEWS GROUP

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