* To monitor human
rights situations in Mon territory and other areas southern part of Burma
* To protect and promote
internationally recognized human rights in Burma
human rights foundation of monland
Human
Rights Report 10/96 (March, 1997)
Acronyms
NMSP-
New Mon State Party;
SLORC-
State Law and Order Restoration
Council;
MNEC-
Mon National Education
Committee;
MNLA- Mon National Liberation Army;
MPF-
Mon People Front;
BSPP-
Burmese Socialist Programme
Party;
IB-
Infantry Battalion of
SLORC;
LIB-
Light Infantry Battalion of
SLORC:
Education
shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the
strengthening of respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms. It
shall promote
understanding, tolerance and
friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and
shall further the activities
of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
Article 26 (2), Universal Declaration of Human Rights
SLORC's Systematic Suppression
of the Mon Education System
Focus of This Report
This
report focuses on the recent and current situation of education system of Mon
community which is always under the repressive measures of the successive
Rangoon governments. Over twenty years ago, the Mon community have established
and maintain its own education system in its own rural area with aims to
preserve its literature role that was well known in the past world history.
Under
the ethnic assimilation policy of Burman dominated Rangoon governments or
military regime, all ethnic nationalities of Burma have to struggle hardly to
maintain and preserve their national identity. In preserving its literature and
identity, the ethnic nationalities of Burma have tried to create their own education
system. However, the ruthless suppression to education system and its
supporters have been intensified systematically by successive Rangoon
governments.
The
ceasefire between the NMSP and SLORC has no result to improve the Mon education
system and the repression have been more terrible than
before. Here, in this report we mentioned the facts that have been violated by
SLORC authorities to the concerned local teachers and educational supporters.
Regarding to Mon education system, the local ethnic villagers were also
ill-treated by Burmese military.
To
ensure the whole situation that happened to Mon Education System, the HURFOM
human rights workers conducted interviews with concerned persons from NMSP and
Mon National Education Committee (MNEC), local Mon teachers and civilians.
After we gathered information, we made this report that came from their
explanation and also mentioned the recent historical situation that related to
Mon education system. This report will provide an example that how the Rangoon
ruling governments have adopted the assimilation policy over all ethnic
nationalities of Burma and implemented systematically. Actually, this policy
has been remained as a root problem of civil war in Burma, which has been
protracted about five decades.
Background of Mon
Education System
The
Mon literature was established and preserved in Buddhist monasteries since the
ruling era of Mon kings. When the sovereign power and independence of the Mon
was lost after the annexation of the Burmese King U Aung Zeya in 1757, many Mon
scriptures written in the palm leaves were destroyed and about 3, 000 Mon
monks, who mainly preserved and promoted literature, were also killed. He led
in the genocide of the Mon population and as a result several thousand Mons
fled into Thailand and took refuge. Since then, the systematic suppression to
the Mon literature had been protracted. But the Mon has strong desire to
preserve their literature. The Mon monasteries have been served as the only
center keeping the remaining Mon archives and as the only schools teaching the
Mon language and literature.
In
1885, the British imperialist occupied the whole Burma with three serial
Anglo-Burmese wars. In British era, the Mon people attained more chance to
preserve its literature because the British ruled Burma by guaranteeing
fundamental democratic rights. The education system had been transferred from
monasteries to various vernacular schools and the British government officially
recognized the teaching of Mon literature in schools which situated in Mon
area. When the time the most Burmans tried to liberate from the colony of
British, the Mons were creating students' text books and adopted their own
education system and took chance to preserve its literature.
Burma
retained independence from British in 1948. The Mons asked the Burman dominated
Rangoon government to allow for the preservation of Mon language and literature
in both government schools and monasteries. The Mon leaders proposed seven
points to U Nu government concerning literature and political rights, and but
Premier U Nu rejected the proposed political racial rights of the Mon, but
allowed some literature rights. Without political rights or greater autonomy,
when the Mon tried to preserve literature to teach it in government schools,
only some schools allowed for the teaching of Mon language. In 1948, the Mon
took up arm and struggled for equal racial rights along together with Karen in
southern part of Burma. The civil war broke out on the wake of independence.
However,
in the parliamentary ruling era, the Mon community inside continued the
struggle with non-violence means and Mon literature was allowed to teach as a
main subject in government primary schools (up to four grade) of Mon area. The
Mon monks also have to arrange their own Mon teachings of Buddhist scripture
and final examinations in Mon. The preservation of the Mon literature was in
process and the Mon literature committees also printed several Mon text books.
In
1958, the Mon armed struggle organization, Mon People Front (MPF), agreed with
U Nu government to participate in election and demand racial equal rights in
parliamentary democratic system. Then, they abandoned armed struggle. Soon
after surrendering of MPF, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) was formed. At the
beginning of formation of NMSP, it had a little number of force
and did not have much control area. But the number of its members had been
grown gradually with new comers who escaped from the oppression of the military
regime led ,Gen. Ne Win. He seized power in 1962 and
ruled the whole country with single party dictatorship system Even university
students also joined into armed struggle and the civil war inside Burma has
been constantly grown.
In
1970s, the NMSP control area became more larger and
larger. The NMSP officials also encouraged the local Mon villagers and Buddhist
monks to create community based national education system. Under the management
of NMSP Education Department, several Mon national schools were established in
rural area and it protected those schools and teachers. The Mon educated
persons came into librated area and served as teachers in the Mon national
schools. But in Mon State where the government had firm control, the
establishment of Mon national schools was totally prohibited and it was against
the existing law.
At
the same time, the Mon Education System has been come into a certain
extent by rural Mon community and it took more space in Mon areas. At the time while
the Rangoon government could not provide more forces to control the whole rural
area, the NMSP had chance to establish and preserve its education system. The
people also earnestly participate in running villages' schools. Since 1970s,
the numbers of Mon schools were gradually increased in the Mon control area and
the running and maintenance expenses were provided by the villagers. Defined rice was collected from the
farmers every year to run schools and the head of the village and senior monks
have to take responsibility to collect, maintain and manage funds.
About
250 Mon national schools have been run by Mon village community up to present.
The types of Mon national schools are categorised as below:
(1)
Mon vernacular schools
(2)
Joint Mon and Burmese teaching schools
(3)
Mixed schools teaching foreign languages as well as Mon and Burmese
In
Mon vernacular schools, the Education Department of NMSP adopted its curriculum
and text books. The teachers teach students especially with Mon language in all
subject except Burmese. Mon literature is the main
subject of the schools and other subjects such as basic mathematics, geography,
history, science and etc., are taught by Mons. Under the management of NMSP,
the teachers were hired from deeper Mon State and the salary is normally as
same as teachers who work in government schools.
In
the joint Mon and Burmese teaching schools, the students are taught with two
kinds of languages and the schooling times are also divided into two, morning
and afternoon. The most those mixed schools were established by the Mon
community and initially it were run with Mon education system for several
years. Later, the Burmese Army has been getting stronger and has launched
serial offensives to ethnic armed oppositions to control more
larger area and occupy rebel bases. NMSP had to abandon some area and
the schools and its community were forced to teach Burmese and to share
teaching time to government teachers to teach government's curriculum. But the
government authorities or army could not drive out the Mon teachers from the
schools as they worry revenge of Mon troops. Many schools became joint Mon and
Burmese teaching schools.
When
the government authorities tried to adopt government education system, they
have used a very clever way. Townships or State authorities appointed Mon
ethnic educated persons as government servants and sent them to joint Mon and
Burmese teaching schools. By using this way, they sent one or two of their
teachers to teach Burmese as foreign language in Mon vernacular schools while
other subjects are still taught in Mon. Similarly, in some government schools,
the Mon local villagers approached and put their Mon teachers to teach Mon
language as foreign language. Such types of school are defined as mixed schools
teaching foreign language as well as Mon and Burmese.
In
curriculum of subjects, the Mon Education System has different courses
especially history. In government curriculum's history subject, it does not
publicize about the peace and prosperous Mon kingdoms that lasted for several
hundred years. When the Burmese kings defeated Mon kingdoms by forces, it
mentioned likely the kings organized the ethnic nationalities to be united and
created union. The Mon people disagree on it. In Mon history, Burmese kings
annexed the Mon kingdoms and occupied by forces and ruled with Burmanization
policy. The Burmese kings had tried to assimilate all Mons to be Burmese.
To
against that adopted assimilation policy, the Mon community itself encourages
the Mon education system and it has been remained only one choice for the
survival of Mon literature and language. When the time NMSP took more control
in the rural area, the education system has been supported by community with
morally and financially. Then when the Burmese Army created and took more
control to the area while the Mon forces were weak, they have suppressed the
local villagers who support the education system to abolish all processes.
Even
in ceasefire duration, the situation have not changed.
Ceasefire Agreement and
the Existed Problems
In
ceasefire agreement negotiated between NMSP and SLORC, the Mon leaders also
discussed several points regarding to Mon education system. The NMSP proposed
to SLORC about its desire to maintain and preserve its education system and
additionally to allow the teaching of Mon language in the government schools. But after over one and half year period of ceasefire agreement, no
improvement for education system and education workers in Mon area. The
SLORC did not provide any assistance for system and only the suppression has
been instructed by its local authorities.
To
ensure on the situation, we mention all discussion points that came out from
several rounds of NMSP-SLORC meeting. In ceasefire agreement, the both sides
agreed to implement border area development program and concerning this program
the Mon leaders also put many requests to SLORC authorities. The first meeting
was held on same day celebrating NMSP-SLORC ceasefire agreement. The Mon
leaders also briefed the situation of the whole Mon area to SLORC delegation
who came from Rangoon, led by SLORC's Secretary No. 1 Gen. Kyin Nyunt.
In
August, the NMSP and SLORC's South East Military Command had another official
meeting to follow up the first meeting to discuss about all detail development
program. The Vice President Nai Htin led NMSP delegation in the meeting. The
NMSP asked permission for the teaching of Mon language in all schools in Mon
area including government schools. The SLORC disagreed and replied that it will
not allow the teaching of Mon language in government schools, but they will be
allowed outside of schooling time. According to existing law, they said that
only the texts and curriculum published by the government must be officially
allowed. The Mon language is not included in government's curriculum and it
would not be allowed.
Even
in the mixed schools, where the Mon language was taught as a foreign language,
the teaching of Mon language was prohibited and the SLORC local authorities also
forced Mon teachers to leave from schools. But in the mixed schools, where the
Burmese language was taught as a foreign language, the NMSP still allows the
teaching of government's text.
Regarding
to the teaching of Buddhist scripture in Mon in several monasteries, it has
been prohibited over 15 years since the BSPP government ruled the country. The
teaching of Buddhist scripture in Mon was allowed in Premier U Nu parliamentary
government era. But in 1980s, Gen. Ne Win led BSPP government did not recognize
it and forced the Mon monks to learn the teaching of Buddhist scripture in
Burmese and enter the government sponsored exams. But the Mon monks, about 90%
of the total from the whole Mon area, have boycotted the teaching of Buddhist
scripture and entrance of final exam in Burmese. At the beginning of boycott,
several Mon monks who led the struggle were arrested and detained. The Mon
monks anyhow have continued their struggle and the teaching of Buddhist
scripture in Mon. Since then, the government religious authorities did not
confer the official degrees, recognition of passing of government sponsored
exams, to Mon monks.
In
the discussion with SLORC, the NMSP leaders also proposed to officially allow
the Mon monks again and learn Buddhist scripture and enter examination in Mon
like Premier U Nu era. But the SLORC officials said they will propose this
request to the Religious Ministry and will respond whether government allow the
teaching of Mon. Up to present time, no official reply was offered by the government
and it remains very calm.
The
NMSP also proposed to build several schools in Mon area to provide education to
children and it is not matter for NMSP whether those schools are taught in
Burmese or Mon. Because of the civil war, all Mon area has been remained as an
underdeveloped condition, lack of assistance from government or NMSP. The Mon
young generation in rural are has grown up in community with lack of education
and most of them became illiterate persons and as a result, they have sought jobs
as hard labourers in Thailand. To prohibit this unwelcome situation in Mon
community, it needs to build more schools and provide more education to the Mon
children. That was why NMSP proposed this request. But the request has been
calm like other proposals since ceasefire and no school building program in Mon
was adopted by government and the border area development program of SLORC is
remained as lip-service.
In
some Mon villages, the regime has ignored to upgrade the level of schools for
several years although the numbers of student over-crowded in the school. Thus,
the NMSP also asked to upgrade the level of school that situated in Mon
villages. Several primary schools (from Kindergarten up to four grade) in Mon villages were remained at the same level
for several years and those were not upgraded to middle level. Similarly,
several middle schools (from five grade up to eight grade) in Mon
villages such as Kalaw Thaw (of Mudon township), Pa Nga, Htinn Yu, Htit
Ka Yin (of Thanbyuzayat township) were remained as the same level for
several years and the government did not provide any promotion of education to
Mon children. That is one kind of a secret prohibition by government officials
halting the Mons not to accept the higher education.
Normally,
when the students passed that level of school, they have to move to another villages to receive higher level education. The
higher level of the schools are normally in towns and
if they would like to join higher level schools they have to attend school from
their villages every day or stay in towns. It has been a hard situation for
rural Mon students to spend more expenses and time. As a result, several Mon
school children have left from schools after they passed villagers' school
level. Even the NMSP asked the above mentioned various numbers of schools to be
upgraded, the regime remains quiet and no improvement was accepted. Since the
careless treatments of the recent government and current military regime, the
numbers of intelligent persons in Mon community became less.
Besides
provision of education to community, according to adopted assimilation policy
of military regime, it also has attempted to destroy the Mon national schools
in the rural area and Mon education system. In some mixed schools, where the
Mon language was taught as a foreign language, the teaching of Mon language was
became unofficial in schooling time and the Mon teachers were also driven out
from the schools. Constantly, the SLORC local authorities also made threats
against the Mon national schools to abolish all of it. As a conclusion, though
the NMSP-SLORC ceasefire agreement has been in order, the regime has no desire
to develop and strengthen the Mon community with education provision and at the
same time, it still implements the assimilation policy upon the Mon people.
Disagreement on ODA
Program
After
military regime released Burma's democratic opposition leader and Nobel Peace
Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in July 1995, the world community warmly welcomed its
attitude and expected on SLORC's future political reform. And some government also provide the helping hands to SLORC with
humanitarian aids.
In
the second round discussion regarding to border area development program in
August 1995, the NMSP also proposed to SLORC for an establishment of Mon
national high school in its control territory. Before the meeting was taken
place in Moulmein, the Japanese government already announced to resume ODA
(Overseas Development Assistance) program to SLORC mainly assistance to
education sector. According to NMSP source, SLORC received about 1 billion
Japanese Yen in August as a new resumed ODA development fund. In the FEC (foreign
exchange: currency) rate of SLORC, one Yen is equal to one Kyat of Burmese
currency.
According
to plan of NMSP, it would like to build a high school in a small village that
was under control of its army and create as a Mon national high school. In
August meeting, the NMSP also proposed that after the school was built it would
like to recognize it as Mon national school and all subjects must be taught in
Mon. The NMSP Education Department will take responsibility to run the school.
In discussion with SLORC officials, SLORC did not mention their opinion to
recognize that school as a Mon national school or government school. But Lt.
Col Han Tint, Strategic officer of the South East Command said, "it
doesn't matter to recognize it as a Mon national school, but you have to
complete building it first", to the NMSP leaders.
If
the high school was recognized as a Mon national school, the NMSP Education
Department will assist in running schools such as to provide teachers, teaching
technique, equipment, stationary, curriculum and text books and etc. As SLORC's
initial plan, they would like to complete the high school with the help of
NMSP. Because they would like to show the Japanese government that they were
implementing the border area development program with ODA fund.
To
facilitate building of high school, the SLORC agreed to provide 10 million Kyat
and this amount is equal to 10 million Japanese Yen. But the education
officials of the NMSP will cooperate with other technical experts and engineer
team whom provided by SLORC. In October, NMSP, SLORC officials and the engineer
team made a land survey in Ah Gani village where was agreed to build
school. About 100 acres of wild forest land that situated beside the Ye river
was (see map) was taken by NMSP and it was ready to build in the coming
dry season December 1995.
In
October, the NMSP had a Central Committee meeting and discussed on the
situation of building of high school. In the meeting, the CC members also asked
for assurance of that high school, to recognize it as a Mon National High
School or not. The CC members also asked SLORC this question through the NMSP
liaison office based in Moulmein to reply official recognition from the
Education Ministry of Rangoon. The official response from the SLORC Education
Ministry made the NMSP leaders to be confused. In the August meeting although
they agreed to be as Mon National High School, but when the ministry replied
that the high school must be recognized as a school under the program of border
area development and it must be run by the Border Area Development Ministry.
Recently,
the SLORC had ever implemented such kind of program in Wa
area, after it reached ceasefire with United Wa State Party (UWSP) in 1990. The
officials from Border Area Development Ministry went into Wa
area and built schools and hospitals. The Wa had lack
of education workers in their own area and has were asked help from SLORC. The
SLORC provided teachers to their area and schools under the arrangement of that
ministry. But the situation in Wa and Mon areas was
different. The Mon community has ability to create their own education system
and assist enough teachers to run all its schools.
Since
the SLORC and NMSP had different idea, the NMSP CC members disagreed on plan of
building of that high school under the name of border area development program
in its own permanent control area and strongly opposed it. At the beginning of
1996, the NMSP officially made a reply to SLORC that it will not give
permission to build that school, if the SLORC disagree to recognize it as a Mon
national high school. The plan of building school was come to a standstill
after the NMSP official response.
Later,
the SLORC tried to continue building school again and ignored the official
reply of NMSP. In February 1996, the SLORC ordered to its local engineer and
worker team to build the road that proceed to school building site. Before the
school was built, a road that proceed to school
building site must be built before hand to easily carry materials and
facilities into area. While the engineers and workers were constructing the
road, the NMSP also protest not to continue building that road.
Why
did SLORC try to ignore the protest of NMSP? Because of the then instruction of
SLORC, the NMSP realised the role of SLORC concerning to border area
development program. It just has tried to get a road that reach close to NMSP
bases and it was a main aim of SLORC in building this road as a priority but
not actually to develop the border area. By mentioning for a project of school
building, it tried to control the area even deeper inside NMSP control area. If
the school was built under the name of border area development program, the
SLORC officials could have more chance to get into NMSP area. If the situation
of ceasefire is became tension, they could easily send more military forces
close to NMSP bases.
At
the end, concerning the building of high school, the information of NMSP-SLORC
argument was also spread out. According to the source of NMSP officials, as a
result, the ODA fund for that high school was also withdrawn by the Japanese
government. Even the NMSP protested to stop building, SLORC instructed to its
engineer team to continue building road and school with fund 5 million Kyat
without outside help. Because of the protest of the NMSP, SLORC stopped this
project.
Suppression and Abuses
Related to Mon Education System
After
the ceasefire, some of the Mon troops from some area had withdrawn back to the
permanent troop location zones according to agreement. Without protection of
Mon troops, the Mon community in rural areas became weak. At the same time,
large number of SLORC troops came into area and have launched new military
deployment. The more SLORC troops in rural the more pressure have been given to
the Mon Education System.
In
some villages, only Mon national schools were initially established and no
government school was run for several years and only Mon education system has
been in process for several years. First of all, as soon as the Burmese Army
reached to area the soldiers always forced village headmen to build schools for
teaching of Burmese language and government education system. But the
government schools must be built with the villagers' own expenses. Sometime,
they also promised to village headmen that they will provide some donation and
but after school was built, no any donation from those military personnels was
provided. And they also forced the village headmen to build schools as quickly
as possible.
In
ceasefire agreement, the SLORC will not allow the teaching of Mon language in
its government schools and allowed the NMSP or local villagers to establish
their own separate school to teach Mon language and run Mon education system.
Regarding to this point, the local military commanders also realized that they
also have opportunity similarly to the Mon community to build separate
government schools in villages where only Mon national schools were existed.
For
example, in April of 1996, Maj. Maung Toe of LIB No. 343, based in Ye, called a
meeting with village headmen from several villages of Ye township's northern
part area, in which no government school was established. In the meeting he
forced the village headmen to build the schools as soon as possible. As the Mon
education system was in process for many years, all village headmen in the area
would not like to build separate government schools. If they agreed to build
the school, they will have to collect cash from own villagers and they have to
complete schools within two months during summer holidays. Even a small
village, the villages had to build a school with at least 100, 000 Kyat worth.
Because
of the pressure from Burmese local officials, the Mon village community
dissatisfied on case to build the new school for government and always informed
the nearest NMSP officials. Sometimes, the NMSP officials also protested the
village community by informing the concerning SLORC commanders that those
villages already had Mon national schools and they may have difficulty to build
another new school and attempted to halt pressure of local officials.
Similarly, the Burmese Army also gave pressure to villagers of the area from Ye
southern part.
As
an example for Ye southern part township, in Khaw Zar village, Mon school was
recently established and Mon education system has been in process for several
years. In 1993, the SLORC took more control in the village and they forced the
village headmen to allow teaching of Burmese language for half day. Since then,
the school was remained as mixed school and the government education system was
put by force by the Burmese Army. At the same time, the Burmese troops also
tried to push the Mon teachers out of school. But the Mon troops were based
close to village and they were not dare to do so. At
that time, a column of LIB No. 343 was also based in Khaw Zar village and
forced the village headmen to build a new school. The villagers did not build
school for teaching of Burmese language and but repaired the old school, and
the Burmese language was also taught in that school.
After
the ceasefire, those troops also tried to push out all Mon teachers from that
school again but the NMSP protest their attempt. Firstly in June 1996, the
Burmese troops tried to take out the Mon flag from the pole and replaced with
their flag. The Mon local officials completely protest it and disagree on the
manner of SLORC local troops.
When
the Burmese Army took more base after 1990 through
present, and it agreed for ceasefire, its local troops have changed many Mon
national schools into government schools. They confiscated school buildings and
all materials in the stores and then sent their own teachers. The school system
was automatically changed. After the ceasefire, the NMSP officials complained
to the situation happened in recent time and to re-allow the teaching of Mon
language in those confiscated schools but the SLORC has constantly refused.
Related to Mon education system, the SLORC local officials
also made disturbance to Mon teachers, NMSP officials and its supporters. In August 1996, the SLORC
LIB No. 343's Maj. Maung Toe came to Aru Taung village and made disturbance to
Mon teachers. When he arrived to school, he told to all teachers that the
teaching of Mon language was illegal and he will not allow. If the Mon teachers
continued teaching Mon language, he will take action. Taking action was meant
arrests and it was a warning for Mon teachers to leave the school. After his
return, the Mon teachers also asked the NMSP officials, whether they shall
continue or stop. According to Mon officials, the school was recently
established as Mon national school and later the Burmese troops forced the
village community to be a mixed school. When the school was Mon national
school, recently the Mon teachers had more chance than government teachers to run
the school. Later, the military forced the village community to allow morning
time for the teaching of Burmese language. Even the warning by military in
August, the Mon teachers continued their teaching. Then, the government
teachers informed about that to Maj. Maung Toe.
Step
by step, the commander instructed a new type of disturbance to Mon teachers in
October. In school, the government teachers accepted teaching time in the
morning and Mon teachers have chance to teach in the evening. On October 5,
after the teaching of Burmese language when the Mon teachers started teaching,
all school materials such as blackboards, desks, tables and others were kept in
store by government teachers. On October 6, there were strong arguments
occurred between the Mon and government teachers. The government teachers
returned back to Ye and informed about problem to Maj. Maung Toe.
As
a result, on October 7 in the morning Maj. Maung Toe led 200 Burmese troops
came into village and tried to arrest the Mon teachers. Soon after they reached
close to village, they surrounded outside and entered into village. At that
time the NMSP local officials were also in village and informed the Burmese
troops that if they would like to solve the problem they could meet each other.
One captain of Burmese troops informed four NMSP officials and told them to
meet his commander and to discuss the problems that happened in school
yesterday. He also suggested the NMSP officials that if they had small guns, to
bring it along with them. The NMSP officials agreed and brought their guns
along with them and met with commander Maj. Maung Toe
in school.
When
they reached to school, Maj. Maung Toe asked why they brought their guns and
said there was no dangerous situation to bring arms along with them. Suddenly,
he ordered his men to confiscate guns and accused against NMSP officials that
they were holding illegal arms. They also complained that the captain told them
to bring their guns. And the commander accused them that they forced government
teachers with those guns and they must have to confiscate and proposed the
problem to higher authorities. The NMSP officials refused the accusation and
said they never made any threat to any government teacher. But the commander
said anyhow, those NMSP officials have to solve that problem and explained to
higher authorities in Ye. The NMSP officials also said they will ask the NMSP
liaison office of Ye, to permit travelling allowance to Ye. But the commander
said he will take responsibility for traveling and they were brought along with
troops to Ye.
When
the troops reached Ye, they sent those four NMSP
officials to Township Police Station. And the commander told to police chief
that he arrested four suspects with arms and asked him to detain them, and then
all troops returned back to their battalion headquarters. The NMSP officials
complained to police chief that they were not suspects for any crime and, as the polices knew they were NMSP officials and did not detain
them. They had to sleep at the police station for one night and on the next
day, the NMSP liaison officers came and picked them.
On
the same day, some SLORC troops also remained in Aru Taung village, and called
all village headmen and asked them why they allowed the teaching of Mon
language in school. They also asked where the Mon troops hid their arms to make
disturbance to government teachers. The most village headmen complained that
they never forced any government teacher to move out from school and there was
no arm in the village and complained that the NMSP officials always took their
small arms along with them. But they did not trust them and punished some
community leaders. A leader of Youth Organization of the village was severely
beaten by them. He was the one who helped the Mon teachers and encouraged the
Mon education system and acted as a supporter. The troops tied him in school
and accused him that he brought Mon troops to drive out government teachers.
At
the end of October, Maj. Maung Toe called a meeting with government teachers of
the whole Ye Township at Ye No. 2 primary school and warned to stop the
teaching of Mon language again. In the meeting, he gave a speech and announced
to halt the Mon teaching in all schools of the whole township. But he did not
mention how many schools were established by government. He mentioned all
schools in the township were likely government schools,
there was no chance for NMSP or Mon teachers to run those schools. He also
officially warned that "If I met someone teaching Mon language in any
school, I will kill with my hand at the place I met", and instructed
all government teachers to inform the names of the Mon teachers and their
native homes.
According
to the source from government officials in Ye, the military has instructed to
halt the teaching of the Mon language since the ceasefire was agreed. The
military has called several rounds of meeting with township LORC officials and
government servants and instructed them to implement that job. Because of the
most township officials and government education servants are Mons, they have
been reluctant to halt the teaching Mon language in Mon national schools and
prohibit the Mon education system. The military, especially LIB No. 343's Maj.
Maung Toe, has angered to those township officials and he himself interfered
and abused to halt the Mon Education System. This is an example of Ye township,
and similarly, the other townships' Mon education system has been also halted
by SLORC.
The
overall situations highlighted here have been happened since the NMSP reached for
a ceasefire agreement with SLORC and no improvement in Mon education system and
it has been systematically prohibited by SLORC local military officials. The
local military commanders are pretending and acting like Secretary No. 1 of
SLORC Gen. Khin Nyunt, get involved in education sector and have used their
absolute power in implementing assimilation policy.
Interviews
Interview #1
HURFOM human rights
worker conducted interview with a village headman of..............Village, Ye
Township's northern part area, to realize the situation how the local military
commanders forcing the villagers to halt the Mon education system and establish
government schools in the village. We changed the name of interviewee and here
his name is Nai Aung Baw, 38 years old and his occupation is farmer.
When did the Burmese
Army send a letter to your village committee and what discussions you have with
Burmese commanders in the meeting? If something related to Mon national school
in your village, please tell us?
Every
month they sent letter to us but mostly did not relate to Mon school in our
village. In April, they sent a letter that was come from LIB No. 343 and asked
the village committee to meet the commander in their headquarters in Ye
immediately. According to the letter, it mentioned they would like to discuss
about village school. I and Nai Shein went to Ye because of that letter.
Pressure
of local SLORC authorities to Mon community to build government schools
When did the Burmese
commander discuss to you regarding to school?
We
reached to Ye about
He
gave us chairs in his room and firstly he asked us about the school in our
village. We told him we have a primary school in village and continuously asked
that school was Mon school or Burmese school. We told them true that school was
Mon school.
Then
he explained us that after the NMSP-SLORC ceasefire, the government (or
military) has responsibility to implement border area
development program and they have plan to build school and hospital in every
village of the
No
recognition to Mon national school in rural villages
Then
he ordered us to build a primary school with 100,000 Kyat worth. I was amazing
and disappointed. Nai Shein asked him that shall the government provide some
donation to build school although we were hopeless. He replied that firstly we
have to build it by collecting cash from the villagers and the government will
provide later. After we complete building the school, he said, we must send the
financial statement to him that how much we have spent. He will propose for
donation to township education department.
Then, how did you
arrange to build the school?
After
we returned back to village, we were very complicated on that matter and didn't
know how to arrange. And we approached to abbot and told him about the
instruction of Burmese commander and he advised to call a meeting with all
villagers. Then we had a meeting with the whole villagers and explained them
about the order to build the school. No villager agreed to build the school as
they already have Mon school and teachers. We knew our villagers well that they
are very poor and they have no cash to provide in building another new school.
Some suggested us to meet the NMSP township officials to ask for their advice.
We met with chairman of Ye northern township and asked him whether we should
build the school or not. He said he will inform about it to the liaison office
and protest not to build.
Forced
the villagers to build the school with their own expenses
After that, because of
refusal, what problem occurred?
After
one month, the commander sent us a letter again and made assure that we already
built the school or not. At that time, we didn't go to meet him. If we went, he
will beat us for sure because of the protest of NMSP officials. In September,
the same commander sent a letter and asked to meet him in Ye. If we refused
again, we will be punished and but we decided to meet him anyhow. When we met
him, he didn't make any trouble but asked us many questions related to the
building of school. But he didn't mention about the protest of the NMSP
officials. He asked did we already build the school and we told him we have
much difficulty to collect cash. He agreed and he said anyhow we have to build
the school. At the end, we must complete the school before June 1997 before the
school started. Now, we have no choice, if we refused
to build the Burmese Army will punish us. At the moment, we still build a rough
school with bamboo and thatch.
Interview #2
To ensure the points
that the NMSP had discussed with SLORC regarding to Mon Education System and
the responses, and the then situation development, the HURFOM human rights
worker also conducted interview with one NMSP official. He was an officials from Education Department and here is his
explanation.
NMSP-SLORC
ceasefire agreement and NMSP's requests to maintain Mon literature
When did you have
meetings with SLORC regarding to Mon national schools and Mon national
education system?
Soon
after the ceasefire celebration on
In
the meeting, we had discussed a lot regarding to border area development
projects such as to build roads, schools, hospitals and others that may benefit
directly to local population in Mon area. Regarding to education, we also
proposed several points that we have our own education system and would like to
maintain it. Otherwise, we also proposed to build more school in rural areas
and to provide education to illiterate children.
We
also pointed out them that recently in the universities,
the officials allowed the Mon old scripture department for the teaching of Mon
language and studied the literary history of
We
also asked them to officially recognize for the teaching of Mon Buddhist
Scripture in Mon monasteries which the BSPP government announced it as an
unofficial teaching. They forced the Mon monks to enter government sponsored
examinations to receive degrees from the Religious Ministry. This is one method
that the BSPP government tried to destroy Mon literature and assimilate it into
Burmese. But about 90% of Mon monks have boycotted and continued the teaching
of Mon Buddhist Scripture and did not enter the government examination. We also
pointed out about that and asked them to officially recognize the teaching of
Mon Buddhist Scripture and their examination again. They just said they will
propose about that to Religious Ministry and up to now, no official reply came
out.
According
to my experience, because of government policy, the Education Ministry would
not like to upgrade the level of schools which are situated in Mon villages.
Many middle schools in the Mon villages were never upgraded to be high schools
and some remained as the same level for over 15 years. The primary schools are
also similarly. We also put the names of many village schools and asked to
upgrade the level.
Japanese
Government's ODA program in Mon area
Concerning to ODA
program, what did you discuss with SLORC officials? And how did you benefit
from that program?
We
didn't accept any benefit from the Japanese government's ODA program. But we
ever discussed with SLORC officials about it in August meeting. The plan was to
build a Mon national high school with high quality. We proposed them to help us
in building that school and they agreed to assist it with ODA program. We
really need such a high quality school for Mon students who passed from the
middle level schools of the rural area, to continue their education.
According
to discussion, the both sides agreed to build the school with 10 million Kyat
worth and we also discussed when and where it will be built. The both sides
agreed to build in Ah Gani village (see map), and soon after the grant fund was
provided the road that proceed to the school must be built first. In the school
building process, the SLORC will provide with technical persons and the NMSP
must take responsibility for all arrangements.
The
program was fail after the then confused argument between the NMSP and SLORC.
When we were discussing for the official recognition of the school, we already
pushed them to be assure that this school must be Mon national high school and
it will be run by the NMSP. They agreed. Lt. Col. Han Tint said, "it doesn't matter to recognize it as a Mon national school,
but you have to complete building it first", That was why the NMSP
agreed to cooperate with SLORC to build the school in its control area.
The
arguments on recognition of Mon national high school or government school
In
October 1995, the NMSP's central committee members had a meeting in their
headquarters and they made assure again whether school will be recognized as Mon
national school or not. The CC members checked about it through Moulmein
liaison office to Education Ministry. The ministry replied that the school must
be recognized as a border area development school, and it meant the school must
be run by SLORC and no official recognition as Mon national school. As soon as
the CC members heard this response they decided to withdraw NMSP cooperation to
build this school and rejected building in their control area.
Because
of the NMSP protest, the building of the school came into a standstill. But the
SLORC continued building road to get access into NMSP control area. The NMSP
strongly opposed it. According to source from SLORC, the OD A program for the
Mon was also withdrawn by Japanese government because of NMSP-SLORC arguments.
After you didn't receive
assistance from SLORC to build the high school, what is you next arrangement?
Now,
we already built our high school in a Mon displaced person camp with woods and
thatches that get from the jungle. We are teaching our own education system
there.
Interview #3
In destroying Mon
Education System, the SLORC also made troubles to local Mon community and
furthermore to the NMSP local officials. To ensure a torturing of Aru Taung
villagers, we also conducted with a village committee who was witness of the
incident. His name is Nai....................(54 years
old) and his permanent occupation is farmer.
The
past suppression and restriction on Mon education system
Can you explain me in
detail what happened to your village school in August and October of 1996?
Please tell me its background also?
Our
village school is Mon national school that was run by our villagers and the
concerned local NMSP officials for several years. Up to 1990, the situation of
the school was stable and beyond that period, the NMSP troops have loose
control in the whole area and the Burmese troops could come into village very
often. Since then they tried to drive out Mon teachers in several schools and
put the government teachers. They called several rounds of meeting with us and
told to allow the teaching of Burmese language in village school and we always
insisted that the school was run by NMSP and we could not decide by ourselves.
But later they forced us that if we refused to allow the teaching of Burmese
language, they will burn down the school and as we were afraid we had to allow
them teaching of Burmese language in the evening time. Next year, they forced
us again that their government teachers would like to teach in morning time. If
we refused we will be punished and after they got the morning time, the school
was automatically became as government school. On the next step, they tried to
arrest and drive out Mon teachers, but we protested it and insisted that if
they arrested Mon teachers, the Mon troops will arrest their teachers again.
May be the both teachings will be halted. They agreed and the Mon education
system has been remained in our village school.
After
ceasefire, the situation became wrong. We thought we have more rights to run the
Mon education system. We don't know for sure, what are discussions between NMSP
and Burmese leaders. In August 1996, one column of Burmese troops from LIB No.
343 based in Ye, came into village and called a meeting mainly with their
teachers but including some of village committee members.
In
the meeting the commander (Maj. Maung Toe) said he will not allow any Mon
teaching in government school (of our village) according to the existed law. He
also threatened that if the teaching of Mon language was continuous the army
will take action to Mon teachers. But the Mon teachers were continuous their
teaching and the local NMSP officials strongly insisted about that warning
through their Ye liaison office.
Threats
to Mon teachers and community in attempts to abolish Mon national school
After that
what happened to the Mon teachers and the school?
As
we knew, the Burmese commander in Ye dissatisfied on the NMSP protest and the
teachers who refused his order. Then he instructed to government teachers to
make disturbance to Mon teachers in term of driving them out. He instructed
those government teachers when they went to Ye to earn salaries at the end of
September. After those teachers returned back to village school, the problem
was occurred. On October 5, after the teaching of Burmese language in the
morning time, the Burmese teachers kept all school materials and teaching
support facilities in store and locked it. The Mon teachers could not teach in
the evening and angered to Burmese teachers. On the next day of October 6, the
Burmese teachers did the same manner and the Mon teachers put strong argument
to them. After the argument, the Burmese teachers returned back to Ye and told
the Maj. Maung Toe that the Mon troops drive them out of school by showing
arms.
On
the next day, about 200 Burmese troops from LIB No. 343 led by Maj. Maung Toe
came into village again and tried to arrest Mon teachers. At that time, the
township NMSP officials led by Nai Htaw Ring were also there and informed the
Burmese troops to officially talk with them. And they had a meeting in school
and I don't know what they were talking about and at the end the Burmese troops
brought those NMSP officials to Ye. According to one officials
among them said the Burmese troops tried to detain them in Ye police station
with accusation showing arms to their Burmese teachers.
Accompanied
human, rights abuses to local community that supported the Mon national school
After
one group of Burmese troops left from the village, the
another group also arrested village's youth leader Nai Sa Gung Mon (22
years old) and beat him terribly. They also beat and shout the village headmen.
He was a supporter of teaching of Mon language and provided several arrangement to Mon teachers. The troops accused him he was a
Mon soldier and brought the NMSP officials into village to drive out their
teachers. They beat him with gun butts and jungle boots. They also asked him to
show them arms that he hid. The more he refused, the more he was mistreated.
His whole back was pained with injuries and his legs were nearly broken.
Then, what
happened to your village school?
At
the end, all Mon teachers had to leave and Mon teaching in school was not
remained.