Monland Update (July 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

On July 11, prior to the Burma regime’s National Convention, Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) and other 10 ethnic political parties announced a political demand to SPDC to release Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and to hold ‘tripatite polical dialogue’ among the military regime, democratic force and ethnic nationaltieis.  They stated that only ‘tripatite dialogue’ is the best platform to solve political problems in Burma. (Ref: Ethnic political parties’ Statement on July 11, 2007). 

In Mon State, SPDC authorities has issued ‘identitiy cards’ to the civilains whose ages reached to 12 years old and those who lost ID cards or who have no cards.  Accordingly to the local observers, it is a plan of SPDC authorities are planning for people referendum for their draft Constitution drafted from National Convention.  (Ref: Guiding Star Mon Newspaper, July 2007). 

The New Mon State Party (NMSP) did not give favour in holding ceremony too much on it’s 12nd Annervisary of Ceasefire with the ruling military regime, SPDC.  They just hold a minor ceremony.  It means the relation between the NMSP and SPDC much not good after NMSP decided to withdraw its representatives from NC.   Additionally, NMSP leaders also demanded to SPDC to release their party members, Nai Yekha and Nai Cheam Gakao, who were arrested with an accusation of attempting to kill SPDC leaders.   (Ref: Guiding Star Mon Newspaper, July 2007) 

Economics

The money transfer service from Thailand and Malaysia to Burma especially to Mon State and Karen State has been boom by using via illegal satelite phones from Thailand.  SPDC authorities have blinded eyes on this business by taking bribes from the local service providers, at least 200, 000 Kyat (160 US Dollar) per month.  They have to pay the local authorities and commanders of Burmese Army.  However, in July, the local Burmese military authorities in Karen State arrested 21 wireless Thai telephone owners in Zarthapyin village, Hpa-an Township near Moulmein (Mawlamyine) and cracked this type of business in Karen State.  More than 30 Thai phones were confiscated by the local authorities over the last two months around Mon State , Mudon Township (Ref: Consultation with a Mon businessman and IMNA). 

Since Burma does not have factories producing motorbikes for transportation and traveling, traders imported a lot of motorbikes from Thailand.  There have been flood of imported motorbikes in the border towns, and villages.  In July, the SPDC authorities have forced the local authorities to confiscate all illegal bikes imported from Thailand.  Therefore, in the border town of Three Pagoda Pass, the Township authorities ordered to civilians in cities to offer all illegal bikes to the police station.  But the local civilians in the cities have refused to give their motorbikes to the authorities. They hid their bikes when the authorities came and searched.  But in Mon State, the authorities searched and confiscated some more motorbikes from the local people (Ref: Consultation with a local trade in Three Pagoda Pass and IMNA).

PTT Exploration and Production International Limited (PTTEPI) working with the Burmese Ministry of Energy on a production sharing contract, has found natural gas in M-9 blocks in Gulf of Martaban, western part of Mon State.  PTTEPI discovered gas in Zawtika- 4 and 5 in block M-9. Zawtika-5 will produce 38.36 cubic million feet of natural gas at a depth of 7394 and 7414 feet, and 33 cubic million feet at depths of 5159 to 5199 feet a day, it stated.   The government controlled media said that M-9 has huge reserves of natural gas for international commercial use similar to the Yatana and Yetagun gas project, and the Shwe gas off shore project in Arakan State. (Ref: The New Light of Myanmar)

Education

After the Mon State achieved the highest score of passing Basic High School Education level (or 10th Grade Exam) in the whole Burma, the Mon State SPDC authorities especially South-East Command’s Chief Commander ordered to all teachers in High Schools of Mon State to open their schools 6 days a week and teach the children.  Mon State has a score of 48. 38 percentages of 10th Grade students passed their exams.  But many teachers disappointed for over load works from the South-East Military Command.  The order is directly came from Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win and headmasters/ headmistresses have to organize six days teaching from Monday to Saturday a week to 8th Grade, 9th Grade and 10th Grade students.  (Ref: IMNA)
After Mon national schools opened for over a month in the displaced communities of Thailand-Burma border, many Mon students could not join in schools and the drop-out rates are high.  Many elderly students from 9 to 15 years old cound not join the schols as they have to help their parents because of food security and economic problems in the displaced communities.  Under the NMSP controlled ceasefire area, there are over 40, 000 internal displaced persons including over 10, 000 of returned refugees.  Mon National Education Committee (MNEC) operates Mon national schools and provides education service to children. (Ref: Consultation with an MNEC official and IMNA).

In the aftermath of the clash between students and youth of the town quarter, Moulmein (Mawlamyine) University students in the capital of Mon State have been ordered to keep student identity cards with them all the time. Their movements have also been restricted.   The Moulmein City Peace and Development Council also ordered hostel owners to send them the biography data of students staying in hostels.  The forms provided must have a photograph and a short personal data of the students. If the authorities find outsiders in the hostel during a random inspection, the hostel owner would have to bear the consequences, a source from the hostel said. (Ref: IMNA and Kao Wao News)

Health

In late July, about 1000 birds died in a day following an outbreak of bird flu virus - H5N1 in chicken breeding yards in Thanphyuzayat Township, Mon State.  The virus was detected in breeding yards in Kyone-kadat village, about 180 miles south of Rangoon (Yangon) six days ago.  However, only some people know about it where as others do not have a clue and chicken curry is still available in food shops.   The eye witness mentioned the death count of a single day and the State run newspaper has written that H5N1 has been found in Kyone-kadat and in Thanphyuzayat. However the newspaper said that the authorities had cleared 312 birds with the suspected virus from those two breeding yards.   But many people have a very little about this decease and no report of death came out from hospitals in Mon State.  (Ref: IMNA and a consultation with a health worker)

HIV positive affected patients have been pleading for free Anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs but all of them are not available to get access to medicines, so some still die unable to buy the drug, said a woman whose husband died of HIV in Mon State.  But many rural people have no awareness on HIV and do not know about ARV very much.  There are 1.3 % of total adults infected by HIV in the country which has a population of about 350,000 people. An estimated 67,000 people are in need of ARV while about 60,000 are receiving the drug, according UNAIDS in Burma.  (Ref: IMNA)

Human Rights

Forced Labour: When the rainy season begins, the local authorities in Mon State started growing (caster oil) physic nut plants for the SPDC long-term plan to produce ‘bio-diesel’ to save energy in Burma.  The authorities have forced not only the local villagers but also the university students from Moulmein University to grow these plants.  The villagers have to buy physic seedlings and grow near their house yards, but the plants are belonged to State.  (Ref: IMNA)

Mistreatment: A hired porter belonging to Three Pagoda Pass on the Thai-Burma border was severely beaten by a Burmese Army officer while carrying supplies for Infantry Battalion No.18.  Ko San Win (37) was beaten up at night by a sergeant because he was finding it difficult to carry the load due to exhaustion.   The porter said he was beaten on the head, face and body with the butt of a gun. He suffered extensive bruises and cuts on his leg and body.     Ko San Win said the army did not give him enough food and water over six days when he carrying heavy supplies.    The troops left him in a hut in Mae-sali village after the beating. Before the assault he had crossed 14 mountains with the battalion.  (Ref: IMNA)

Forced Relocation: Over 300 villagers were forced by Burma Army’s Battalion No. 583 on July 2, in order to cut off all villagers’ supports to a Monf splinter group, which has launched military activities in the area.   A Mon village, Ba-round, was suspected by the Burmese Army as a shelter for the Mon rebel and so that they have forced the villagers to leave from villages.   About 60 villagers were rounded up and severely tortured by soldiers during their interrogation.  (Ref: Human Rights Foundation of Monland – HURFOM)

Movement restriction: After a military clash between the Burmese Army troops and a Mon splinter group, on June 26, the local troops of Burmese Army from LIB No, 583 and IB No. 31 imposed movement restriction to the local villagers, who have to work outside of their villages.  All farmers who want to work outside of villages in their farms or orchard plantations or rubber plantation have to report to military commanders.  They are not allowed for some weeks.  Later the commanders allowed them to work in their farms or plantations but all of them need to leave only in the morning and return in the evening time.  Villagers who have farms or plantations far from the villagers could not travel back and forth and could not manage to work. (Ref: HURFOM)

Killing: Relating to security in southern part of Ye Township, the SPDC troops from LIB No. 583 arrested a man, Nai Mae (about 40 years old), who was suspected selling foods to the rebel soldiers.  He was severely tortured during interrogated and was killed on the 3rd of July in the area.  (Ref: HURFOM)

Literature & Culture

Grouping of Mon Dance Performers: Mon traditional dance performers held a meeting to pay respect to elderly performers in early of this month and they also formed a ‘working group’ for networking and upgrading ‘performance’ among the Mon performers’ groups in Mon State.  Members in the working groups are elected in secret vote and they also agreed to have more performance on Mon traditional dancing, improve their qualitification and capacities.   About 10 Mon performers’ groups attended the meeting. (Ref: Guidng Star Newspaper July 2007)

Famous Mon Warrior Statue Destroyed: A statue of the famous Mon warrior, Banyae Thae Raem (Tha Main Barum in Burmese) on the ancient wall of Wagaru in Thanpyuzayat Township, Mon State, local authorities have not initiated any action in the matter. Although the villagers were informing the name of the culprits, they were roaming around openly.   The statue of the warrior astride a horse was installed in the ancient Wagaru village. The statue was sculpted 30 years ago by Bo Shwe Thoat of the Mon People's Front, a Mon political organization at that time. It was destroyed by three men residing in the ancient village on June 8.  Accordingly to the villagers, the Thanbyuzayat Township authorities have no willingness to take action against culprits and the villagers believed that the authorities have known about this. (Ref: IMNA)

Environment

Dam flooding: The Winphanon dam project in Mudon Township of Mon State is causing floods in the water distribution area, local people claimed.     The water distribution dam is barring water current from the south to lower reaches of the north, locals said.  Local villagers said when the rains did not stop for two days, the area would be severely inundated because the dam had been constructed from east to west and creating a barrier for the water stream.   Six villages in the area, Set-thawe, Doe -mar, Htone-mun, Kwan-ka-bue, Taungpa, and Kalort-tort village have been affected by the floods. (Ref: IMNA)

Immigration

About 10 Mon migrant workers were washed away and presumed to be dead when a small boat ferrying 23 people from Burma to Thailand overturned in the night of July 31, after being swamped by big waves.   The boat left Kaw-thaung for Ranong, but its engine stalled in the middle of the sea. It turned turtle when big waves lashed it. The boat trip from Kaw-thaung the Burma border town to Ranong on the Thai border town takes over an hour. (Ref: IMNA)