Monland Update (March 2008)
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
Politics/ National Movement:
1st Meeting of Mon Affairs Union (MAU)
In order to continue for political and social movement for the rights to self-determination of Mon people, the Mon representatives from Mon State, in the area of New Mon State Party, from Thailand and oveaeas Mon came together and held 3 days General Meeting of Central Committee of Mon Affairs Union (MAU) which was authorized from 4th Mon National Conference held in NMSP area.
In the meeting, the CC members discussed on the Constitution of MAU, electing of leadership, structuring working group and others. MAU will stand as stretagic planning organization for the political and social movement of Mon people. (Source: MUL Information Sheet)
Mon People’s Response on People Referendum
In the whole March, many Mon migrant workers has returned back to Mon State in Burma for their long holiday and enjoy in Mon traditional new year, Songkaram. But the Mon State PDC authorities think there are more and more people returned from Thailand and it is a good opportunity for the regime to get more votes in May’s Referendum. However, many Mon migrant workers say they will migrate back into Thailand again after Songkaram festival. Many migrant workers will not involve in giving votes in Referendum. (Source: MUL Information Sheet)
In rural areas of Mon villages, many Mon people never knew about the ruling regime SPDC’s 7 points road map and they have noticed that the SPDC has held years long National Convention which they watched in TV. In March, some Township level USDA (Union Solidarity and Development Association) traveled around into Mon villages and organized the Mon villagers to give ‘Yes’ vote in the Referendum. They have said that if the Mon people give ‘Yes’ vote, they may get a good Constitution, which is much different from 1947 and 1974 Constitutions. But they did not really explain how it is good for the people. Most Mon villagers are still confused on the new Constitution and Referendum. But many of them understand that the rule of military government will be prolonged even after the Referendum completed. (Source: MUL Information Sheet)
But at the same time, because of USDA leadership’s instruction to village and village tract level USDA members, the local USDA members in Mon villages has organized the villagers to give ‘yes’ vote in the coming Referendum. However, until the end of March, the ordinary villagers did not know what are the articles in Constitution because the SPDC did not officially issue the draft Constitution. But the political leaders from NMSP and MNDF, and activists have received ‘Guiding Principles adopted by NC to Base in Draft Constitution’ and therefore, they have known that the draft Constitution will give legitimacy role for leaders of Burmese Army to lead central government as President and members of cabinets, to participate in both houses (people representatives and nationalities) with 25% of quota as they did not have to contest in general elections. (Source: MUL Information Sheet)
Oveaeas MNDF Denounces SPDC’s Draft Constitutioin
On March 8, the overeas Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) from Denmark, Malaysia, Japan and MNDF’s 1990 MP, Nai Thaung Shein announced in a Statement that SPDC and their hand-picked delegates are illegal to draw the Constitution and it is the responsibility of elected MPs in 1990. The Statement also pointed out SPDC’s Order 1/90, which clarified that the 1990 is for drawing a new Constitution. However, after National League for Democracy (NLD) won in elections, the miltiary regime at that time, SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) refused to transfer power to draw a draft constitution. The Statement also denounces that the attempts to get people votes in the Referendum is also illegal and ask the Mon people to against the referendum. The Statement also asks for tripatite political dialogue to solve decades long political conflict and build a genuine peace in Burma. (Source: MUL Information Sheet)
Economics
The value of the Thai currency having gone down has affected Burmese currency transfer service and exchangers on the Thai-Burma border in Three Pagoda Pass, said a currency exchanger in Three Pagoda Pass. The fluctuation has been caused by the unstable political situation in Thailand and the new government's link with the former Prime Minister who has come back home. Many Thai businessmen do not want to keep a lot of money in their bank accounts and that is why the Thai currency rate has gone down, said a Thai businessman. This is the first time it has happened since 2007 explained a local currency exchanger in Sangkhlaburi. Normally, the ratio has been one Baht to 36 kyat for a long time, but now it became one Baht to 34.5 Kyat. (Soure: IMNA)
Burmese people are avoiding the country's unreliable banking system, choosing instead to save money by investing in land. Burma's banking system is among the least stable in the world, and its banking system suffered a severe crisis in 2003. Most of the land investments are made into rubber plantations, and the rubber sap has been dubbed "white gold" by the regime. Much of Mon State is covered by rubber plantations, even in the mountains. Land prices have begun to go up, and a good plot of land near a motorway currently sells for 8 million Kyat, up from 2 million Kyat in previous year after banking system crisis. Rising land prices have surpassed the actual value of land, and people are aware that the land will not profit enough to pay back the investment. Even the land-banking strategies to be profitable, there is no guarantee the land will not be seized by the Burmese Army. Rubber plantations are frequently confiscated, looted and even burned by the army in Mon State. (Soure: IMNA)
Security
The Burmese military junta has tightened security along the highway from the Mon State, capital of Moulmein to Ye Township, in an attempt to stop the distribution of pamphlets opposing the referendum, said locals. About four to 10 soldiers are patrolling the main road and are passing through each village along the highway said residents. It has started this week, said a dissident. The local people said that the authorities have sent more and more intelligent officers into villages in order to watch the authorities of the villagers and activists in the village. Recently, Mon university students, youth and monks distributed pamphlets in Moulmein opposing the military junta's referendum. "The military regime is too nervous. They are afraid there will be wide distribution of pamphlets and people will oppose the referendum," said the dissident. He said the dissidents are not blinded any more. They know what the government is planning to do for the ensuing referendum and election. They will not support the government, he said. (Soure: IMNA)
Human Rights
Forced Displacement: Widespread human rights violations, namely arbitrary arrests, torture and forced labour of adults and minors, are forcing Mon villagers to flee to more secure areas. About 15 households in Toe Thet Ywar Thit Village of Kaw-Zar Sub Township have shifted to Hangan village in Ye Township, said sources in Toe Thet Ywar Thit. The villagers were beaten and tortured almost every day by soldiers of the Burmese Army's Infantry Battalion No. 31, said a villager. Unable to live with the abuses, they moved to Hangan village and other places where they believe they will be more secure, added the villager. The villagers do not have time to run their business ventures as they are forced to work in the military camp. They are made to collect timber and work in construction sites. Many more people want to relocate, believing that bigger villages will offer better security and less abuse. Uncertainties about their survival in a new village prevent low income households from moving. The vast majority of villagers depend on their plantations and farms in Kaw-Zar sub township. (Source: IMNA & HURFOM)
Arbitrary Killing: At about 5: 00 a.m. on March 3, troops of the Burmese Army's Infantry Battalion No. 31 on patrol suddenly shot at a couple who were tapping rubber sap. A 30-year old woman Ms. Mi Nge died on the spot. The incident occurred outside Yin-ye village in southern part of Ye Township. Troops led by Captain Min Ko Htwe and his soldiers from IB No. 31 met the couple early in the morning in a rubber plantation and they fired a shell from a M-79 mortar and shot from a rifle, said a rubber plantation owner from Yin-ye village on condition of anonymity.
The husband of Ms. Mi Nge, Nai Myaing (32) also received serious injuries in his left leg and was sent to Ye hospital for treatment. They were day-labourers who tapped rubber sap at a local plantation. They belonged to Ba-lu Island or Chaung-zon Township in mid Mon State. The next day on March 4, IB No. 31 the troops called a meeting of all villagers from Yin-ye and forced them to collect 80,000 Kyat to provide the cost of treatment of the injured man. A source from the Mon ceasefire group New Mon State Party said, the IB No. 31 probably suspected the villagers were rebels from the Monland Restoration Party and shot at them. Mon rebels led by Nai Chan Done are active in the area and Burmese Army has alerted their men to be careful. (Source: IMNA & HURFOM)
Migrant Workers
Thousands of Mon migrant workers from southern part of Thailand returned back to Mon areas in southern part of Burma after long on hold of collecting rubber saps in southern part of Thailand. Accordingly to a Mon migrant worker from Hat Yai District in southern Thailand, he said their rubber plantation owners stopped for collecting rubber sap as the leaves of all rubber trees dropped down. In the early of dry season, the rubber plantations normally stopped taking rubber saps as the rubber trees dropped old leaves and new leaves are produced.
A Mon rubber plantation workers said that “we may have about two months time for holiday. Therefore, I decided to return to my homes in Chaung-zone Township (in Mon State)”. If compared with many other ethnic groups, the Mon people had much experience in collecting rubber sap, because the Mon State is the main rubber growing area. Therefore, many Mon migrant workers from Mon areas went down to southern part of Thailand to collect rubber sap. Accordingly to many migrant workers, it is a good income for them because they can get income from this work from 6000 Kyat to 8000 Kyat per month for a person. Some families, both husbands and wives involved in collecting rubber saps and they can have a lot of income. (Source: MUL Information Sheet)
The migrant workers those who are registered in Thailand officially reported to the immigration authorities if they planned to return homes to Burma. The immigration officers, police officers arranged transporting the migrant workers group by group from southern Thailand to Three Pagoda Pass border point with Burma. But the Thai Army in the border thoroughly checked the goods and materials from migrant workers, if they found some materials that need to pay tax to Thai custom offices, they may confiscate these goods and materials.
Accordingly to Mon migrant workers, Thai army and authorities normally confiscated the parts of motor bikes and some machines, because these goods are not allowed to export into Burma. Migrant workers who collected some monies always bought something from Thailand and brought back to their homes. However, Thai authorities and army do not allow them to buy motor bikes and machines to bring back to their home because they are non-exports. (Source: MUL Information Sheet)