KAOWAO NEWS NO. 114

 Newsletter for social justice and freedom in Burma

July 29-August 13, 2006

 Readers’ Front

Dwindling forest spurs land purchases in Three Pagodas Pass

Confiscated smuggled goods worth billions Burmese Kyat

Plight of refugees uncertain as applicants ordered to enter camp

Mon Resistance Day celebrated in Canada

Statement on the 18th anniversary of the General Uprising in Burma

New motor road brings hope and the desperate

Vehicle owners turn to KNU to hide their motorbikes and cars

Canadian Conference on Burma held

Calling for Volunteers Professors and Lecturers (AEIOU)

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 Readers’ front

 Dear readers,

 We invite comments and suggestions on improvements to Kaowao newsletter. With your help, we hope that Kaowao News will continue to grow to serve better the needs of those seeking social justice in Burma. And we hope that it will become an important forum for discussion and debate and help readers to keep abreast of issues and news.  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 News

kaowao@hotmail.com, www.kaowao.org

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Dwindling forest spurs land purchases in Three Pagodas Pass

(Kaowao: August 13, 2006)

Businessmen glittery-eyed over the prospect of setting up rubber plantation projects are pushing up the price of selected farmland in the Three Pagodas Pass area along the Thai-Burma border, according to town residents.

Recently, the forest around this area has been depleted and the furniture industry in this border town is on the verge of collapse because of dwindling supplies of lumber.  Businessman Nai Ba San and others are in the process of buying up land to grow rubber plantation crops since rubber will be more prosperous in the future due to economic development, especially in the automobile industry, in China and the region,” Nai Lwin, a town resident said to Kaowao.

Compared with land in the border area, the latest rubber plantation land value in central Mon State during this month has doubled over the past year. 

A trader from Ye said the other reason for the land purchase is that civilians do not want to keep money due to the deteriorating economy and the lack of trust with the military government.  Nai Klaw, another businessman from Thanbyu Zayat said investing in real estate including rubber plantations is an option to avoid increased inflation.

However, in Bee Ree of eastern Ye, the value of rubber plantations are much lower than other areas due to poor access to plantations which is by 4 wheel drive, the lack of manpower, and enough rice to feed the workforce.  About 5000 rubber plantation plots are being sold for about 20 million kyats, at half the value in central Mon State.

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Confiscated smuggled goods worth billions Burmese Kyat

(Kaowao: August 13, 2006)

Confiscation of goods imported from Thailand by Burmese authorities in July worth over billions of Kyats according to business community in Moulmein.

It is thought that the operation came about after a conflict within the Burma Army and some officers who were arrested for corruption.  The State Peace and Development Council launched an operation to crackdown on illegal vehicles and goods from Thailand were reportedly confiscated in Myawaddi, Moulmein and Pa-An, of Mon and Karen States.

A trader from Karen State reported that about 30 motorcycles owned by a local businessman were seized in Pa-An Town alone and over 300 million Kyats worth of goods in ZayGyo, Moulmein were seized.

About 600 million Kyats of goods in Myawaddy were confiscated by the SPDC authorities.  Many people are not happy about the situation and Myawaddy was like a ghost town after numerous operations took away the residents means of transport,” said a town resident. 

Authorities from the Burma Army arrested traders in July and seized motorcycles and goods imported from Thailand.  However, the operation to crackdown on Thai and other illegal goods that led to prices doubling eased off in August.

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Plight of refugees uncertain as applicants ordered to enter camp

(Kaowao: August 1, 2006)

Sangkhalaburi – Registration for asylum seekers started in Sangkhalaburi last week.  About two hundred Burmese refugee applicants are ordered to enter a refugee camp by mid August to determine their fate.

A source close to the Thai local authorities reported that a Provincial Administration Board meeting, held on July 18, agreed to relocate all asylum seekers into the camp on the Thai-Burma border during August where interviews will be conducted. The screening of applicants is to determine their refugee status with some being deported if their case is rejected.

In 2004, 274 people in Sangkhalaburi, Karnchanaburi Province of western Thailand, were granted Non-Indochinese or NI refugee registration papers by the Thai government. In April this year, only about 130 Burmese asylum seekers showed up to renew their registration for refugee status at the local office.

Most of the asylum seekers are Mon, Karen, Tavoyan and Burman from rural areas in Burma and have fled from forced voluntary labour from the Burmese government and human rights abuses by the Burmese military over the past two years.

Even though Mon NGO workers in this area are being pressured by the Thai authorities to move these people into the camps for interviews, many don’t want to apply for refugee status.  Their security is uncertain and it is difficult to work.  Life inside the camp is uncomfortable and low standard, but it is our only hope,” said Nai Htow from Pa-an Township who escaped forced labour 5 years ago.  They are expecting to enter the camp and resettle in a third country in the coming months.

Mon NGOs say because the waiting process is too long and often geared toward ‘just relocating people’ within an uncertain environment with no options for survival, which often prompts asylum seekers to move on to Bangkok or other areas of Thailand to find work to support themselves.

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Mon Resistance Day celebrated in Canada

(Kaowao: August 8, 2006)

Mon community in Calgary gathered for 59th Anniversary of Mon Resistance Day that coincidently falls on the same day of the 18th anniversary of Burma’s democracy uprising (8.8.88) and the death of Mon national leader Nai Nonlar.

Organized by the Mon Canadian Society of Alberta, the event was attended by members of Mon community on Sunday, August 6.  Statement and speeches were delivered by community leaders Nai Zehan, Nai Khaing Waeng and Cham Toik followed by discussions on the current situation in Burma and the history of the Mon national liberation movement.

The Mon Resistance Day commemorates the beginning of the armed struggle against the central government in 1948. When the British granted independence to Burma, Mon political leaders planned to negotiate peacefully with the Burman AFPFL leaders for their nationality rights. After their demands were flatly rejected some Mon leaders were assassinated and imprisoned, overnight the Mons transformed from a non-violent movement to an arms struggle. To enforce control over the Mon population, over 100 Mon villages were burnt down during that time. This triggered the resistance movement, when a group of young patriots led by Nai Pan Thar seized arms from the police station at Zar Tha Pyin village near Moulmein.

Back home in Burma, when all activity is restricted by the military regime, the Mon Resistance Day celebrations were held in different locations around the areas of New Mon State Party (NMSP).

A joint statement on the 18th anniversary of (8.8.88) uprising was drafted by the overseas Mon community calling the SPDC regime to immediately stop the practice of ethnic cleansing, and all forms of human rights violations against the Mon and ethnic nationalities.  They also demand to initiate a tripartite dialogue comprised of ethnic nationalities, elected representatives and the military regime.

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Statement on the 18th anniversary of the General Uprising in Burma

(August 8, 2006)

Eighteen years ago today, people from all walks of life took to the streets and demanded civilian rule in Burma.  The general uprising continued on for about a month until the Burmese military put the peaceful demonstrations to a stop by killing thousands of demonstrators including many young students.  Many who participated in the uprising were beaten, arrested, tortured, and raped.  Thousands had to flee to the border with Thailand to escape from the atrocity.  On this 18th anniversary, we pay our tribute to those who lost their lives during the demonstrations and in the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma.  We also pay our sincere respects to courageous individuals who have carried on the struggle under the oppression of the military regime until the present day.  

During the 18 years of military rule, human rights violations have escalated in Burma.  Human rights abuses such as rapes, forces labors, and tortures are widespread especially in ethnic areas.  Due to the military operations against ethnic minorities in Burma, over one million refugees fled to Thailand and other neighboring countries and over a half million were internally displaced.  Moreover, the social and economic situations in Burma have been deteriorated; Drug and human trafficking are widespread and the spread of HIV/AIDS is on the rise. 

The international community has repeatedly called on the regime for national reconciliation and restoration of democracy in Burma.  However, the regime has chosen to ignore any calls for a democratic change in the country. Instead, the regime has been expanding militarization in Mon State as well as other ethnic regions in order continue pursuing its ethnic cleansing policy and has made every attempt to abolish the democratic forces.

On this historic occasion, we strongly urge the international community to support the efforts to bring the Burma’s case to the United Nation Security Council. 

We also call for the military regime to

(1)  immediately stop the practice of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and all forms of human rights violations against the Mon and all other ethnic nationalities,

(2) immediately withdraw its military forces from the homeland of the Mon and other ethnic nationalities,

(3) immediately initiate a genuine tripartite dialogue comprised of leaders of ethnic nationalities, elected representatives, and military regime as recommended by the United Nations,

(4) immediately release all political prisoners including Nai Yekha and Nai Cheem Gakao.

This statement is jointly issued by:          

1. The Australia Mon Association (AMA)

2. Euro-Mon Community

3. Mon Canadian Society of Alberta

4. Monland Restoration Council (USA)

5. Mon National League for Consolidating and Aiding (Mae Sot, Thailand)

6. Mon Women's Association of America

7. Mon Unity League (Thailand)

8. Overseas Mon National Students’ Organization

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New motor road brings hope and the desperate

(Taing Taw, Kaowao: July 30, 2006)

A new motor road constructed by the SPDC’s rural development program brings not only hope but the desperate, according to local villagers.

 “I am happy to have this new motor road crossing through my village so we can get to other towns.  The motor road helps us to transport sick people to the towns or cities nearby to receive medical care.  However, we are not happy with strangers who are constantly asking us for money now,” said a young Mon woman from southern Karen State.

Many strangers come here asking for money or forcing us to buy something, these groups are backed by the Township authority. They say they are from the Disabled Burmese Association, Child Orphan Group, Burmese Army Veteran Organization and Religious groups, etc,” said Miss Mi Jatanarmon, from the Mon village in Karen State.

The new motor road was constructed by the SPDC rural development program through extortion, forced labour and is built on confiscated land.

The new motor road is traveled by small scale businesspeople.  Many groups come in and stay temporarily at my temple and then beg for money from us,” said an abbot from the central Mon State.  “Some of them said they are from the disabled veteran group and that they have permission from a high ranking administrator to go round begging for money.”

The monk added, “many are SPDC groups seeking out the village administration’s help to extort money from people forcefully in the same way the local troops do.”

Mi Guchai, another woman from Kawkareik Township in Karen State said that they speak Burmese and pretend to be from a religious group selling religious books to the villagers at a high price with the help of the village authority.  “We must buy the books or pay money to them so that the Pa-An Township authority will leave us alone. It is difficult for us as we are also facing difficult times,” she explained.

The Burmese speaking strangers choose these villages because it is easily accessible for them to do so, as compared to other places which are difficult to access,” she added.

As the country gets poorer and poorer, the poor people from central Burma try to find ways to survive by any means available. During their trip to rural areas in southern Burma, they first stay in the temple and rely on the goodwill of the people who provide them with housing and food.

There is a steady stream of people coming here now, they cannot afford to buy food, so we need to provide them with food and other things during their stay in the monastery,” the monk from Thanbyu Zayat said.

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Vehicle owners turn to KNU to hide their motorbikes and cars

(Kaowao: July 29, 2006)

Sangkhalaburi -- Vehicle owners in Three Pagodas Pass area are seeking the help of the Karen National Union to hide their vehicles after hearing that illegal vehicles will be confiscated if spotted by Burmese Army, residents said.

In previous years, vehicle owners sought the help of the KNU to hide their vehicles in their area by paying about 6,000 Baht,” said a resident who requested not to be named.

Most unlicensed vehicles were put in areas of KNU territory after the owners heard about the confiscation orders from Nepyidaw (new capital) three days ago that local police would take unlicensed vehicles. The local Burmese Army, LIB No.63 led by Lt Colonel Aye Kyaw is heading the operation.

Sources from Mon State claim that people fear traveling by motorbike because their motorbikes are smuggled in from neighboring Thailand and unlicensed.

The local authorities started to confiscate vehicles three days ago, but they are not totally enforcing the crackdown after receiving the orders,” a young community worker from Mon State said by telephone.

The local police and authorities are able to survive financially by extorting money from people with unlicensed vehicles; if they confiscate all unlicensed vehicles they won’t be able to survive,” said another local source.

However, the State Peace and Development Council have not only started to crackdown on illegal vehicles, but also on other illegal businesses, including money exchange outfits and gold shops in Myawaddy on the border town opposite of Mae Sot of Thailand, a source from a Mon NGO worker said in Mae Sot.

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Canadian Conference on Burma held

(Kaowao: August 4, 2006)

A Canadian Burma Conference organized by the Canadian Government and NGOs was held on July 15-16, in Toronto, Canada.

According to Mahn Kyaw Shwe, an organizer of the Canadian Conference on Burma, the participants welcomed the Canadian government sponsorship for refugees on the Thai-Burma border and encouraged the government to accept more Burmese refugees in the future.

The participants also welcomed Canadian NGOs working in the border area who help refugees and internally displaced people in the areas controlled by the SPDC Burmese army, other issues regarding women and children were also discussed.

A paper on the changing role of the UN special envoy on Burma discussed the changing attitude towards democratization in China and Russia.  Other subjects involved the impact of regional development projects on the dam initiative and the gas pipeline in the Karen and Arakan states.   

The participants also addressed essential goals of restoring human rights and freedoms, an accountable justice system and other institutions stressing the participation of all Burmese citizens in relation to all forms of violation and abuses that have become common practice on the part of the SPDC army and local authorities.  They agreed to take further action within the Canadian Campaign for Burma against the gas pipeline and dam construction and its negative consequences. Forced labour is taken up by the ILO and supporting lobbying of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The Conference claimed that companies like the Sino-Hydro Group or the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in Karen State and other companies involved in Arakan State cannot credibly guarantee stopping human right abuses while profits are used to finance the SPDC regime.

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Calling for Volunteers Professors and Lecturers

Chiang Mai University AEIOU Programme is calling for volunteers Professors and Lecturers for the 2007 Cold Season Semester (Jan to May 2007) in the following Disciplines:

Social Sciences:

Peace Studies

Women Studies

Political Science

International Relations

Democracy and Human Rights

Sustainable Development

Human Geography

Peripheral and Utopian Burma


Humanities:

French,

German,

Ethnic languages of

Shan,

Sagaw Karen,

Kachin,

Kayah,

Mon

Information Technology:

Junior level

Intermediate level

Higher level

Pedagogy Subjects (junior level):

Educational Philosophy,

Theory and Practice,

Psychology,

Guidance,

School management

School Administration and Supervision,

Methodology

Integrated Languages Skill

Still and Performing Arts,

Home Economic and Health Care

Physical Education

Human Relationship


*Pure Sciences:

  Physics,

  Chemistry,

  Mathematics

  Botany,

  Zoology

The disciplines in Pure Sciences will be opened only if we have enough material and human resources.

Like any other University of International Standard, Professors are expected to have their Doctorial Degree and lecturers must have a Master's Degree. Graduate and Diploma holders can be for the IT and Pedagogy and ethnic languages in Humanities. Experience and skilful teachers will be appreciated and one must be efficient in particular chosen subject and understand the need of the student and their behaviour. CV with the works of books and research papers will have to be presented.

Any qualified person who is interested in teaching to the marginalized youths of Burma, please contact Prof. Win + 1 604 288 0828 or send in their resume to profwin@gmail.com   not later than 1st Dec. 2006

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KAOWAO NEWS GROUP

Email: kaowao@hotmail.com, kaowao_news@yahoo.ca

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Kao Wao News archive: http://www.burmalibrary.org/show.php?cat=1215&lo=d&sl=0

Online Burma Library:  http://www.burmalibrary.org

 

 

ABOUT US

Kaowao 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 lasting peace and change.