KAOWAO
NEWS NO. 93
Newsletter for social justice and freedom in
July 25-
**********************************
NMSP’S LATE PRESIDENT NAI NONLAR REMEMBERED
QUEEN
SHIN SAWBU HONOURED BY MON WOMEN
FOUNDATION STONE LAID
MYPO CALLS FOR DIALOGUE
BE
WARY AND WISE: BY KANBAWZA WIN
HEAVY
RAINS CLOSE SCHOOLS, DISPLACE POOR FARMERS
UNIVERSITY
STUDENTS FACE TOUGH REGULATION
THREE
KNU
BRINGS GOOD GOVERNANCE TO MERGUI-TAVOY DISTRICT
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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
Regards,
Editor
kaowao@hotmail.com, www.kaowao.org
**********************************
NMSP’S LATE PRESIDENT NAI NONLAR
REMEMBERED
(Kaowao:
On
the sixteenth anniversary of the passing of New Mon State Party leader Nai Nonlar, Mon communities held a ceremony in his honour during the annual remembrance of the 8-8-88 uprising.
The
commemoration ceremony was held at Waengka village
along the Thai-Burma border and was organized by family members of the late
president on
In
The
Mon community in
Nai Nonlar (aka)
Nai Seiknoh was a native of Hnee
Padaw village near Thanbyu Zayat and joined the Mon People’s Front at its
founding. He was a member of the Central
Committee of the MPF at the time it surrendered to U Nu’s
parliamentary government in 1958 in exchange for a promise of democratic
reform. When General Ne
Win seized power in 1962, he was imprisoned together with MPF leader Nai Aung Tun. When he was
released in 1974, he rejoined the armed resistance of the Mon people, by then
known as the NMSP.
Nai Nonlar played a major role in
Mon national politics for forty years and was well respected by
******************************************
QUEEN
SHIN SAWBU HONOURED BY MON WOMEN
(Kaowao:
According to MUL leader from
Bangkok, the Mon Women Organization in Mon State promoted a Mon Women's Day by
publishing a portrait of a famous Mon queen, Mi Jaobu
(Shin Sawbu), the posters are now available by
contacting the Mon Unity League in Bangkok.
Beginning May 2005, on the
closing ceremony of Summer Mon Literacy Training Program in
Shin Sawbu
was the only ruling queen in the history of
In the previous two years, Mon Women’s Organization of USA and Mon Women’s
Organization (Canada) celebrated Mon Women’s Day in March (12th day of 12th Mon
lunar calendar) choosing the day to honour the birth date of Mon Queen Shin Sawbu, the only woman to be queen in her own right in the
history of Burma. She ruled Hongsawaddy kingdom in
the 15th century A.D. During her rule, the glory of the Monland was peaceful
and prosperous.
On Mon Women’s Day, exiled Mon
organizations call on the international community to urge the Burmese regime to
cease their military operations in the ethnic regions of the country and all
forms of human rights violations, especially rape which is being used as a
weapon of war against the ethnic nationalities of
To order a portrait of Queen Shin Sawbu, please
contact;
honsawatoi@aol.com (
mon@eumon.org (EU)
channai@hotmail.com (
mul@anet.net.th (
*****************************************************
FOUNDATION STONE LAID
(Mon Unity League:
The ceremony was led by the abbot of Wat
Chana-Songkram, Somded Phra Mahar Thirajarn,
Police General Chidchai Wanasathit,
along with
The foundation stone ceremony was featured during an event to
raise funds for the renovation of Wat Chana-Songkram as well as the building of the new
During the event, volumes of the newly published Mon-Thai
Dictionary were distributed to those who donated money to build the new
centre. The 300-page dictionary was
compiled by Mon and Thai scholars using as a base work previously carried out
by a Thai Mon, Nai Ramarnwong.
Wat Chana-Songkram
was one of the most important monasteries in the early Ratanakosin
(
During the 1780s, Crown Prince Mahasurasinhanat,
the younger brother of King Rama the First, mobilized
the Mon people throughout
The Mon civilization flourished before the period of Dwarawaddy. The
*********************************************
MYPO CALLS FOR DIALOGUE
(Kaowao:
Sangkhalaburi -- On the 17th anniversary of the
The MYPO was the only Mon group to sign a statement in honor
of the nation-wide uprising of
In August of 1988, the 8-8-88 uprising broke out in Burma
sparking a nation-wide general strike that was joined by people from all walks
of life. The present military regime, however, seized state power in September
of that year, killing many unarmed protesters including Buddhist monks and
students.
The MYPO was formed at a gathering of Mon youth and students
in
********************************************************************
(AFP:
In
the most significant shift, Lieutenant General Ye Myint,
one of four special operations commanders and a member of the ruling State Peace
and Development Council, moved back to active military service, the source told
AFP.
Ye
Myint traded posts with Lieutenant General Kyaw Win,
chief of armed forces training. Analysts said this was the first time an
official had left the SPDC to return to the military mainstream.
One
analyst described the swap as a "strange and quite unprecedented"
reshuffle that could affect future important military appointments.
Generals
usually receive the title of special operations commander when they are headed
for retirement, analysts said.
Major
General Maung Maung Swe, head of the northern
military command in Myitkyina in Kachin state, and
Major General Ohn Myint of
the Coastal Command have also swapped posts, the source said.
The
reshuffle came less than three months after a May 29 shake-up, as the military
continues to reorganize and promote its staunchest loyalists after Prime
Minister Khin Nyunt was ousted last October in a sweeping purge.
Khin
Nyunt received a 44-year suspended sentence last month after being convicted on
eight charges including bribery and corruption.
State
media Thursday also reported four other changes in government.
Education
minister Than Aung was sacked and replaced by Chan Nyein
who was previously deputy minister at the ministry of science and technology,
official media said.
Than
Aung had been considered close to Senior General Than
Shwe, the country's supreme leader.
Two
people attached to the prime minister's office -- minister without portfolio
Brigadier General Pyi Sone
and Than Shwe, who has the same name as the senior general -- were also
"permitted to retire," state media reported. No replacements were
announced.
Colonel
Thurein Zaw, a new appointee tapped from the
military, was named deputy minister at the ministry of national planning and
economic development.
The
four orders were signed by the SPDC's first secretary, Lieutenant General Thein Sein, effective August 10.
They were published in the state press Thursday.
No
reasons were given for the changes. Analysts said the cabinet changes were not
as significant as the military reshuffle but they expected more to follow.
*********************************
Commentary: Advisory piece
BE
WARY AND WISE
(By Kanbawza
Win)
It would be a fool if one
remains jubilant at the Junta's giving up its chairmanship and witnessing the
uncomfortable Li Zhaoxing,
Stocks have to be taken and
the Burmese opposition in Diaspora should meticulously plan out what the next
objective should be in their endeavour to their cherished goal. Now that
several battles such as the ASEAN chairmanship, President Bush signing the law
and very lately the WFP James Morris report that genuinely reflect the real
situation of the country to the international community has been won, we should
prepare for the coup de grace. But still our war of
liberations face many hazards and is still far from over and we have to
work more relentlessly.
Since the fateful announcement
of relinquishing the post of a chairman,
The second one is a
conglomerate of our family members better known as ASEAN, who altogether
vividly sees the writings on the wall of the Pauk Paw's influence over
Soon more dignities from
ASEAN,
The third person is of course
the smelly, greasy Ka lar who came in from back
door of the kitchen to make his presence felt to the Burmese lassie with
infrastructure, economic incentives such as the gas pipe line and suppressing
the Burmese ethnic and democratic forces and so on. Shaking his head he seems
to say, "Thum Ko
Hum Pyar Hae"
Obviously the Junta will play off one with another as long as that suitor can
guarantee the Junta in power. How do we react to this and follow up our goals
is food for thought? The Junta has many choices and will carefully choose the
one that will guarantee the best. What card do we play is to be carefully
considered.
International
Front
To understand some of the
nature of what is going in around us and beyond, we must understand the nature
of the hegemony game in the world. We should remember that Burma is such a
small country, is merely a pawn in the game of international political chess,
which can be sacrificed easily to achieve a greater goal by one of the two
components particularly the dragon and the flying eagle. Obviously, the flying
eagle's nourishing meal is a snake, as according to the Burmese myth, a Galon bird likes the taste of the dragon flesh, which
indicates that finally the eagle will prevail.
The Sino American relations
became very crucial for ASEAN's survival and longevity and
Another meeting between US and
China being a dictatorial
communist regime is not shy in encouraging the dictators of the world, whether
they are communist or otherwise and this was demonstrated when the Chinese
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing was chastising Than Shwe for its diplomatic set back,
in not taking Burma's rightful chair, Beijing is laying out the red carpet
welcome to Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, another equally
pugnacious dictator of Africa. So in this impending new
We should note that the
resolution of the chairmanship problem, have unwittingly remove a campaigning
target from Burma's more vociferous critics and we in Diaspora are now back to
square one. Hence the unwritten contest of "statesmanship" is between the Junta and the Diaspora with the
backing of the NLD. The Junta's decision reveals a very shrewd awareness of
where their real interests lie and when, as a regime which is almost totally
impervious to external pressures, can give away gracefully when the benefits of
so doing far outweigh the disadvantages. Are we prepared for that kind of
compromise taking into consideration the internal and international affairs?
Careful strategies have to be laid out.
Neighbouring Front
The
If
Whether
Home Front
The Junta have no intentions of
handing over power or preparing the way for a civilian government, Burma’s
military rulers are digging in and doggedly eliminating all potential
opposition, including within the army as the fate of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt
particularize. It has not only centralized its power among the top hand picked
Generals but also moving the capital to Pyinmana
demonstrates that they are prepared for the worst. However the most disturbing
aspect is the vitriolic attacks on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, when government-sponsored
women’s groups demanded that she be expelled from the country in what is
clearly a concerted and coordinated campaign that clearly specifies a hardening
of policy. It also clearly demonstrates that all political parties except those
sponsored by the Burmese army will have no future, to play after the new
constitution, which is worst than the 1977 Burmese Socialist Constitution. But
the unmistakable message is that the regime will not negotiate with the ethnic
groups and the word Federalism is as anathema as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is. If
possible would like to exterminate all the un Burmanized
ethnic groups in their quest to have one nation (Burma), one language (Bama) and one religion Buddhist better known as 3 Bs.
Releasing of the few hundred political prisoners it has endeavor
to repair its image an also by the sham trial of Khin Nyunt, the Junta wants to
manifest to the international community that it is moving to national
reconciliation in lieu with the National Convention. So from these events it is
predictable that the National Convention in November year will be just a brief
short sessions and discussion will not be allowed and every body must be a
chameleon nodding their heads, if they did not want their heads to be chopped
off.
Diaspora
Front
Anybody desirous to make a
move both in the national and international front needs to have the people's
mandate. Countless articles have been written that the NLD, which have the
people's mandate could not move a bit as not only its
head Daw Suu is under lock and key but also its body, the NLD central committee
was scrutinized every move. Hence the historical duty fell on the shoulder of
the Burmese Diaspora. But the Burmese Diaspora was not homogeneous lot there
are the ethnic group under the umbrella of EN and the Burman group under the
umbrella of the UB and LA groups. No doubt Burmese dissidents in exile together
with their supporters around the world have transformed what had been an
obscure democratic struggle in
Conceivable Solution
After one and half decades of
struggle, whether one likes it or not the mantle has fallen on the EN group to
make a move and approach the various Burman groups to form a central authority.
If not, we will be in the doldrums for another half a century and the various
groups and strata will also be surviving on the dole out of the NGOs. Even
though the EN has clearly realize that they are unable to face the Junta
without the support of the Burman group, yet we have not notice any move in
that directions. They are now in the position to visualize that if they don't
unite the country and people will continue to suffer as according to the
Burmese rhyme Sit Bo, Taik Hsauk, SitTthar,
Gyaing Htauk and Pyi Thu, Baik Hmauk
literally interpreted means the generals will continue to prosper constructing
new houses, while a private soldier will be on the crutches having fought so
many battles and the people have nothing to eat will have to sleep on their
stomach to ease the pain of hunger. It is high time that the EN should prove to
the Burman that they are not racist but one of them and at the same time take
the initiative and educate their brethren especially the Wa and the Kachin and
entirely stop letting the Junta to swindling the ethnic nationalities.
Credit should be given to
where credit is due, the FTUB should be given the credit because it has
thoroughly done its homework and the Junta is now thinking of withdrawing from
the ILO, but if the FTUB is of any relation with the NCUB they should advice
them to stop quarrelling with the NCGUB and come up as a united UB front in
approaching the EN group. On the other hand is the historical task for the EN
to play the role of the peacemaker, if they want to be the children of God.
The ethnic minorities who make
up more than half of Burma's population that dominate the country's peripheral
regions, have fought against the central government on and off since
independence but the Junta has slyly managed to arrange uneasy ceasefires with
17 of them. Now, the Junta is forcing the ceasefire groups be disarm, and
pursue their goals through the political process outlined in the road map. The
architect of the truces, Khin Nyunt, was long gone and even though
representatives of the ethnic militias are still participating in the National
Convention, the Junta has completely ignored most of their suggestions. Indeed,
the Junta had recently signal its intransigence by arresting the leader of one
ceasefire group the (SSNA), along with various other politicians from Burma's
biggest ethnic minority, the Shan drawing the conclusion that most of the
ceasefire will not dare to go back to war.
Most of these cease- fire groups knew this as a trap and so far only one
small group has surrendered its weapons. Others, especially the United Wa State Army and the Kachin are still well armed. The SSNA
has shows its example by merging with another fighting Shan group and continue
to resist. In face of such a scenario it is up to the dexterity of the EN
groups to organize the formidable Wa and the Kachin, to drive home the point
that their tribes would soon be extinct in the near future if they go along
with the Junta and would soon be in the annals book of history books because
the top brass is determined to press on with its plans, even in the face of
fierce resistance.
It would be not much of a
problem for the EN to organize these two groups as after the National Convention,
they have realize the true intention of the Burmese brass. Besides, the younger
generation of these two groups who are going to be potential leaders are more
educated then their ageing leaders. The triumph card is held by EN, if they can
weed out the pro Burman leaders in time. But the EN groups should also realize
that they must think in terms of the whole country, if they want to have the
support of the entire people of
We should note that the Diaspora works
from the outside, and is not afraid to confront issues, he is extremely
familiar with western ways therefore makes him a valuable commodity. He acts
out his ideas to test probabilities and moves accordingly. The other person is an ethnic nationality and
although working to a similar pattern, works from the inside, and on the
battlefield, therefore holds first hand knowledge of the situation on the
ground. What we now need is the nexus of these two. We must understand that
both work for the same goal even though they work independently of each other
but, inadvertently perhaps, are building the same wall, they simply started at
opposite ends? (Please read UK.org. Collective comment of the 15th
July issue) Of course there will be some differences in the combination of
bricks and perhaps the type of brick used, but in essence, the individual
skills held by each party is the key to a door which for too long, has kept
Burma imprisoned? The job requires two
determined minds of different categories, which can battle out solutions
without holding back through fear or criticism, even if at times, they lose
their footing and are forced to back peddle for a while. These two groups are
most prominent figures to emerge from what was decades of stagnation. For many
years the same old voices and loyalties to tradition, and the inaptness of
those who have dictated progress, or the lack of it, now finally it is time to
meet. Both have displayed their courage in different ways, but both have moved
the goal posts of
Once this central authority is
formed then the Burmese intelligentsia including our foreign advisors and
donors will flock to give advice and help to this authority of how to steer our
noble cause. Because of their critical
reasoning skills, intellectuals are obligated to raise questions of social and
political importance. Because the domain of the critical intellectual is to
write and speak within the public sphere, denouncing oppression and fighting
for justice, human rights, and other values so dear to our heart. Given the
cruelly repressive nature of the regime, the Burmese intellectuals inside the
country is finding extremely difficult to fulfill the
role of the critical thinking. But this critical thinking both inside and
outside Burma, is crucial to finding a solution of our country's troubles and
would be very happy to corporate with this central authority going all the way
step by step. The nixies of the domestic policy (Diaspora policy or rather the
Home policy) with the foreign policy are very crucial, if not, the key to the
success of our cherished goal.
We should bear in mind that the NLD is willing
to be flexible if the generals would only agree to negotiate and there is talk
of ending the party's support for international sanctions and calling for more
foreign investment and tourism, including a prominent role for the army in
politics. This proposal if carried out, will surely sideline the ethnic group
as in the days of U Nu and so the EN must not missed
this golden opportunity to transform itself as a serious working group capable
of representing the whole country and people and a viable alternative other
than the Junta. This seems to be the only solution for the moment.
It seem ridiculous to write
confidential policy papers in the Internet where access is public and should
presented restrictedly only to the central authority. But in the absence of the
latter there seems to have little choice. The top secret has become bottom open
for there is no platform to write such policy paper save through the Internet.
We hope and pray that the leaders of the Diaspora to be Wary and Wise, and will not shrink their duty to take the
initiative.
The
views express here are solely the opinion of the author. (Kaowao's
Editor)
********************************************************
HEAVY RAINS CLOSE SCHOOLS
(Kaowao,
Heavy rains and flooding have
closed down the primary schools along the
'The young students cannot
wade through the water to get to the school which is located just outside of
the village,' he said. 'The middle schools (junior high school) are open
because the older children can walk through the flooding water which remains at
knee level during the heavy downpours.'
Yesterday, heavy rains fell
throughout the whole day leading to the school closure. Local teachers do not
expect to open the school until the rains have let up.
'The motor road between Mon
and
The primary and middle schools
in this low area usually close during the raining season in July and August,
local people say.
The parents are
concerned for their children who are vulnerable during the flooding
season, says a Mon villager from the southern Pha Ann
'The children usually get
sick, some get malaria and the flu,' the woman said.
'The mountain water flows
heavily and the river water rises at this time, which leads to flooding,'
says a senior Mon community leader from the area speaking from
experience.
There are over 30 villages;
many are Mon, situated along the river banks of the
'The flooding may wipe
out newly planted paddy fields if it continues to rain like this,' he
added.
The Mon farmers in the area
take advantage by fishing during the raining season. They travel by small boat to
catch fish. Some fish by sitting on the roofs of their houses. The low and
medium tall built houses in the area sink in the water when there is heavy
raining and flooding during this time.
The water level does not
decrease for one month and poor families have to relocate
to higher ground. Their houses get damaged because they
remain under water for a long time.
Animals, such as cows and
buffalos, die and get sick for lack of grass to eat. 'The primary schools
close during this time, and it is up to the weather to when the
schools reopen,' the school teacher said.
****************************************************
UNIVERSITY
STUDENTS FACE TOUGH REGULATION
(Independent Mon News Agency:
The Town Peace and Development
Council (TPDC) distributed the new rules for students and hostel owners last
month. Each hostel has to pay 800 Kyat per copy.
Every student had to fill out
the “Personal Form” and pay 200 Kyat. They were ordered to send copies of the
form to the police, the TPDC office, the TPDC chairman, the municipal office
and the hostel owner, according to students.
The new rules have 15 points
including: (1) Students must not be involved in any political party, and can
not read, save or possess publication or material against the state rule of
law; (2) Female students cannot go out after 8 p.m. and male students cannot go
out after 10 p.m.; (3) Students have to sign out if they go out during
weekends. If the student does not follow the rules or acts against the rules he
or she will be expelled from the hostel.
For hostel owners, authorities
set up 16 rules. If the owner does not follow the rules or acts against them,
he or she must stop running the hostel and face the law. Hostel owners must
take responsibility for the rules and sign them.
“It is very strict,” a second
year university student said. Students were also banned from entering the
school after
“It is very strict if compared
to our times," said a graduate who faced countrywide student
demonstrations in 1996. "Authorities should not set up the rule because
students are staying in the private hostels. They are not staying at the
university hostel.
Each student has to fill out
the form for four months at a time. The TPDC chairman from the Myaing-thar-yar township quarter signs the new rules.
More than 100,000 students
attend
***********************************************************
THREE
(Kaowao:
The State Peace and Development
Council reopened the
“The border will open
permanently from today,” said a Mon businessman from Three Pagodas Pass.
“Gasoline trucks started to move across to the Burmese side,” reported a Thai
citizen who lives on the Thai side. “Motorcycles are now crossing,” he added.
However, TPP residents said
that the local SPDC commander requested to the Thai local authorities to allow
the transporting of gasoline to the Burmese side for one day, where the price
of fuel is over three Baht per litre higher than it is on the Thai side.
“Lieutenant Colonel Soe Htet, the commander of Light Infantry Battalion No, 38,
plans to sell the transported fuel from the Thai side to Burmese side before he
switches to another Battalion No 51,” a Mon businessman said.
He wasn’t lucky enough for
doing personal interest compared to previous commanders because his term was
during the border closure, the man said.
Some Mon and Burmese
businessmen and women gave him some presents or gifts yesterday in his farewell
ceremony.
‘He got at least about fifty
thousand Baht during his farewell ceremony,’ the businessman said.
A Thai citizen said that the
border most likely would open and proceed under normal conditions.
Yesterday, Thai authorities
met in Kanchanaburi to discuss on reopening the
border.
‘Only the (Thai) forest
department did not agree to reopen the border, which leads to transporting timber
from
The prices of goods, most from
“The price of goods in Mon
state is getting higher than the normal price,” a local Mon businesswoman said.
*************************************************
KNU
BRINGS GOOD GOVERNANCE TO MERGUI-TAVOY DISTRICT
(By Maxmilian
Wechsler, Czech Press)
In stark contrast to Burma's
leading exiles who often fly from one country to another, making speeches or
migrating to the west, the leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU) Mergui-Tavoy District instead look after their people
inside Burma, something rarely publicized and little known to the outside
world.
Saw Thaw Thi
was appointed as the District Secretary by the KNU's 13th Congress held last
January. As the second-in-charge of the district, he supervises around 130 KNU
personnel and oversees civilian affairs and functions such as education,
culture, finance and organization departments, food supplies and other matters.
"It is a big task which
requires me travel a lot, mainly in mountainous areas. I don't go around by car
or motorcycle, but only on foot, and I have to walk three to six days to and
meet with our front-line staff," Saw Thaw Thi
said. He gave some details about the district, which is located in what the
ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) calls Tenasserim Division,
where over 1 million Burman, Karen, Merguian, Mon,
Salon (sea gipsy) and Tavoyan people live.
"The people in our
district are animists, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims who live together in
harmony. Most of the population survives on fishing, agriculture and mining -
mainly tin. Of course," Saw Thaw Thi continued,
"we can't control the whole District but only areas where the SPDC is not
present, and this represents about 10 percent of the land with the population
of around 80,000."
To a question on how the KNU
finances its operations, he answered: "We receive some supports from
Burmese and Karen businessmen who live in
Saw Thaw Thi
said that the pro-government Democratic Karen Buddhist Army or DKBA troops were
not operating in that area. "And there is no contact at this moment with two
anti-Rangoon armed groups based there - the Mon-led Hongsawatoi
Restoration Party and the ex-communist Mergui-Davoy
United Front."
"Drugs are not a problem
in our areas because our people and soldiers don't consume or deal with it. We
have very strict laws against it. Anyone involved will be severely
punished," the Secretary declared.
Saw Thaw Thi
also pointed that the violations of human rights against his people by the SPDC
had continued unabated and at the same rate as before. "They burned down
many villages, destroyed plantations and caused problems to our people in re-location
sites. There are, in fact, very few villages actually left in our areas, as
almost 300 were destroyed.
"We don't have any
contact with the SPDC as it is the responsibility of the KNU's
headquarters," the Secretary stated.
All military affairs in the
District are under command of Brigadier-General Dah Gyaw, who also was appointed the 13th Congress. "We
provide security for our people, helping them with various development projects
and also provide a safe environment for Internally Displaced People (IDP) who
lives in the District," said the General.
He admits that after the 1997
offensive by the Burmese troops, the strength of the 4th brigade has been
decreasing, as it is difficult to find new recruits. "The discipline and
trainings of our troops are still good, but I am not happy with the fact that
since 1997 we have lost a lot of territory and soldiers. We are now in the most
difficult period ever. Our soldiers face many obstacles, and it is a big
obligation for our commanders and for myself personally
to keep the morale of our soldiers high. This is also one of our main
objectives, equally with their capabilities, but I can say truly that at this
moment both are extremely good. We can't obtain all necessities for the troops
as well as weapons and ammunition, but as a fighting organization we have to
maintain our combat preparedness."
"Our rule of engagement
is not to attack the SPDC first, but if they approach our territories for no
reason and with arms, we will face them and respond with arms as well. We have
to protect ourselves when attacked. Some clashes usually occur when the SPDC
troops attempt to enter areas where the IDP stay. We
usually know about their plans in advance and will try to warn them, and in
some cases to move the people to other locations," Dah
Gyaw explained.
"The number of clashes
with the SPDC troops decreased dramatically after the cease-fire negotiations
resumed in 2004, and both sides made a verbal gentleman's agreement as a
result. The scale of hostilities is nothing
like in 2003. This is the good news for us and for our people but we (the KNU)
don't want only a cease-fire but a genuine lasting peace for the country,"
the commander declared.
"Our relations with the
Thai army across the border are good and whenever some difficulty arises, we
will try to talk to them," Dah Gyaw added.
Concerning the issue of land
mines, the commander said: "We will use this type of weapon only for our defense and in limited numbers. This has been strictly
enforced after the last round of cease-fire talks."
"The God's Army is
finished - some of their soldiers have joined with the 4th brigade. Now they
behave themselves except still smoke too many cigarettes. So do our soldiers.
But these cigarettes, that they make themselves, are also a repellent against
blood-sucking insects which are plentiful in the jungle," Dah Gyaw said.
Padu Thu Ye, who has
been Chairman of the Southern Committee for the IDP for five years, is in
charge of looking after their welfare.
"My duty is to protect
them from 'search and destroy' attacks by the SPDC troops, to minimize their
sufferings and to give them all necessities such as food, clothes, shelter and
medicine. But it is impossible – because of geographical and other unfavorable conditions - to provide them with education and
other services. We do not indoctrinate or lecture the IDP about democracy and
resistance, nor force them to join with the KNU or with the KNLA. We educate
them to work along with our personnel to protect their sites. All 7,000 IDP -
this figure fluctuates upon the activity of the SPDC troops against them -
don't want to stay at re- location sites set up by the government, and at the
same time they don't want to cross the border to
His team consists of 10 people
who work jointly with about 30 personnel of the KNU's health department.
The biggest problem of the IDP
is diseases, especially malaria, respiratory problems, intestine disease which
cause stomach ache. Most of them drink water from streams and rivers, which
cause disease, but where conditions permit they will boil it. Malnutrition is
also a big problem, suffered mainly by children.
To look after the IDP requires
a lot for money, Padu Thu Ye disclosed. His budget
comes directly from the KNU headquarters, which receives funds or supplies from
international organizations, foreign NGOs, churches and private citizens who
care about the IDP. He does not communicate with the donors directly.
Saw Kwe
Htoo Win, Chairman of the of Mergui-Tavoy District
since 1991, said that the district is under control of the KNU's Central
Committee, and the 4th brigade of the KNLA is under command of its
headquarters.
"The main political
objective of the KNU is to have self-determination, equality for the Karen
people. And to achieve this we need to have a democratic federal union,"
he said.
"We will uphold the
gentleman's agreement, but if the SPDC attack us then we have to defend
ourselves," Kwe Htoo briefly concluded.
The New Era Journal -
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