Monland Update (December 2007)

Monland Update is a monthly publication of Mon Unity League (MUL) for a historical records of Monland and the activities of MUL in Thailand and Thai-Burma border for the rights of self-determination to Mon people

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Politics:

Conference on Mon National Affairs Held

About 65 representatives from Mon areas, Thailland-Burma border, Thailand and overseas met for 3 days Mon National Conference in a literated areas of New Mon State Party.   The representatives discussed thoroughly on the following topics.

The Conference held for 3 days from December 27 to 29 and most prominent Mon leaders including Nai Htaw Mon, President of New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Nai Sunthorn Siripanngern, the President of Mon Unity League based in Thailand, joined in the Conference.  Among overseas Mon, only United State based Mon organization – Monland Restoration Council (MRC) and Australia based - Australian Mon Association (AMA) representatives attended the Conference.   At the end of Conference, the organizing committee also released a Statement based on the discussion of the Conference and the new Mon united front, Mon Affairs Union (MAU) was formed.  (Source: MUL Information Sheet)

On November 30, 2007, Mon youths from Rangoon and other areas of Monland gave respect to prominent Mon leader, Nai Tun Thein, on his 90th birthday ceremony.  A few hundreds of Mon people attended his birthday party in Rangoon, former capital of Burma.  He is now 90 years old and has led the Mon political party – Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) since 1988.  He participated in 1990 general elections and was elected a representative from Thanbyuzayat Constituency in Mon State.  MNDF won 5 seats in 1990 general elections.  But in 1992, the ruling military regime, State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) banned the MNDF and imprisoned him.  In 1995, after NMSP ceasefire, he was released.  

He is a well known prominent leader and as historian.   He wrote some books on Mon history and a well respected leader by other ethnic minorities in Burma.  Currently he is also a key leader in United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) – an ethnic umbrella political forum which has demanded the ruling regime and international community to arrange tripartite dialogue for the political settlement in the country.   (Source: IMNA and MUL Information Sheet)

Economics

SPDC authorities in Three Pagoda Pass border area have made more restriction against movement of civilians after more troops deployed in the border following a plan offensive against the Karen rebel, Karen National Union (KNU) and its armed faction – Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).  Although KNU allowed re-opening trade route from Three Pagoda Pass to Thanbyuzayat (in Mon State), the Burmese Army still blocked some parts of motor road especially from Three Pagoda Pass to Kyun-kyaung (Krong-htaw in Mon) village.  In the last week of December 2007, the local traders and villagers said that the Burmese Army deployed more troops on the road and they did not allow anyone to use trucks (between Three Pagoda Pass and Kyun-kyaung, and so that they said it is totally affecting the trading.  (Source: MUL Information Sheet)

Mon State PDC authorities have set up a limited mobile phone sale to authorities and officers under their administrative body.   According to a school head administrator in Mon State, he said the authorities are selling it directly to authorities only.    He said one mobile (GSM system) phone will cost about 1.7 million Kyat (US$ 1330), but they will sell in discount of 1.5 million Kyat (US$ 1174) to their authorities.    Most high school headmasters and headmistresses filled up the form to buy the phones because the current market price for a mobile phone is over 2 million Kyat (US $ 1500).  Many of them plan to sell back to the market by taking some profit.   (Soure: IMNA)

Natural gas production in the Yadana offshore field will be suspended from December 28 2007 and will continue till January 7, 2008, according to The New Light of Myanmar – State controlled newspaper.   During repairs in the Yadana gas field, gas power plants and factories decrease gas production. But it will not affect the supply of electricity to Rangoon (Yangon) because the authorities have already taken necessary amount of gas for the suspension of production in the field during the period, the Burmese regime controlled media said.   (Soure: IMNA)

Security

The SPDC authorities have issued orders to monk leaders not to accept more then 350 monks per university in two universities in Rangoon and Mandalay.   Before there were about 450 monks living in these two universities. The authorities said it has the right to investigate monks staying in the universities.   "If they see some papers concerning politics like a speech of political leaders such as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and others they will arrest them" said a university monk in Rangoon.   The monks also said this order is meant to threaten monks who are interested in politics and intimidate them so that they dare not protest again. The junta had been arresting monks involved in the September uprising at night.   "We are unsafe in our country. We have no rights and laws in our country. If we want to express an opinion, the authorities will crack down on us violently," said U Kawwida a leader of protesting monks in the September uprising.    Many monks said the protests have not ended yet, they are still continuing the boycott somehow. At the moment many monks are boycotting junta held examinations.   "The military regime is tackling the monk' boycott of examinations by saying that they will pass all the monks who sit for the exams," said Rangoon monk.  (Soure: IMNA)

The troops of Burmese Army based in various parts of Three Pagoda Pass – Thanbyuzayzat motor road threatened the security of local passengers and traders those use the road.  Accordingly to a trader, they are not safe to use the motor road because the troops of Burmese Army are in hidden locations and they can shoot any trucks.  On the other hand, there are various armed groups take bases along motor road and the fighting can break any time.  But he said that they have no choice except to use this motor road for their survival and generating daily income.    (Soure: MUL Information Sheet.)

Human Rights

Forced Labour: The SPDC’s Burmese Army battalions in northern part of Ye Township, LIB No. 587 have used the local villagers in northern part of Ye Township as forced labourers in their military barracks and in their confiscated lands.  Since 2000-2002, Burmese Army battalion under Miltary Operation Command (MOC) No. 19 confiscated thousands of land belonged to Mon farmers and used them as their properties. Later in every year, the local military battalions including LIB No. 583 have forced the local villagers to work in these lands  such as cleaning grasses, digging cannels and harvesting.  Most of confiscated lands are grown with rubber trees and other orchards like lime, betel-nut, durian and other fruits. (Source: Human Rights Foundation of Monland - HURFOM)

Women suffer in forced labour: During LIB No. 587 forced the local villagers in northern part of Ye Township, to work in their confiscated rubber and orchard plantations, many women from village communities are also forced to work.  When the men could not performance for the use of forced labour, women have to go and work instead of their husbands and sons.   The women from age range of 18 to 60 years old especially from Kun-duu village were forced to work in forced labour.   (Source: HURFOM)

Taxation: Villagers have been forced by the authorities to pay about 400 million Kyat for rebuilding a bridge in Karoat-pi village Thanpyuzayat Township.    Depending on the economic condition of a household they were forced 0.1 to 0.5 million Kyat per family in the village.  Karoat-pi village has 1500 households and Nai Cartoon, the head of Karoat-pi village collected the money from each house.     The villager said that the local authorities will be collecting the fund from Karoat-pi villagers till the bridge is finished.    Nai Cartoon also tried to collect from other villages along the railway track, but monk from Ah-khae village opposed his plan. Due to the opposition from other villages, Karoat-pi villagers had to pay 0.1 to 0.5 million Kyat per household from his pocket.  (Source: IMNA)

Migrant Workers

Only a handful of migrant students are able to attend their classes due to the Thai authorities’ crack down on migrant workers, according to local sources in Maharchai, near Bangkok.    Mon teacher Nai Tun Wei in Maharchai, said, “Classes had been scheduled for every day with great success, students were happy to get some education, but the crack down has forced the students out of the classroom fearing imminent arrest by Thai security. We have only one class during the week now.”  The arrest on migrant workers with or without proper documentation continues with many youths fearful of being arbitrarily picked up by the Thai security. Often many times, Thai security resorts to illegal acts and forces bribes on migrants by taking their cards from them. This type of behavior is typical of Thai police who work in migrant areas. “It is very difficult for Burmese migrant workers to live under constant threat by Thai security, it forces people into unsafe conditions,” says a Mon social worker. (Source: Kao Wao News)

Seven refugees were arrested on Christmas Day, December 25th by the Malaysian police while out visiting friends, according to a source from Mon Refugee Organization.   The police picked up the friends, Nai Shwe Kyar and Nai Khemar who hail from Durae of Ye Township and five other refugees from Mon State and have not been heard from since, say worried friends.   A Mon social worker of the MRO reported some refugees have been detained in the camp for over two years.  Mon refugees Nai Banyar 35, Nai Aawo 18, and Nai Aung Kyaw were taken to Semenyin Detention Camp near the Thai-Malaysia border.  Nai Aung Kyaw was arrested on December 28, 2005 while holding a solo protest in front of the Burmese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Aawo was arrested in August, 2006 in Sungai Long after playing a soccer game with his friends.  The three men are legally registered with the UNHCR office as refugees.  (Source: Kao Wao News)

Mon Youth Community (Thai Mon) and Thai-Mon academics are campaigning against the Deputy Prime Minister and Governor of Samut Prakan Province’s discriminated opinions on migrant workers.  The Thai authorities have accused the migrant workers have created a lot of problem to the local people and concerned on new born children by migrant workers.  Thai Mon academics have pointed out to respect the rights of migrant workers and consider they are promoting Thai economy.   Thai-Mon young journalists and academics have written a lot of news and articles for the basic human rights of migrant workers.   (Soure: MUL Information Sheet.)