KAO WAO NEWS No. 63
An electronic newsletter for social justice and freedom in
February 26 –
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READER’S FRONT
LANDMINE USE BY BOTH PARTIES
FIGHTING BETWEEN DKBA AND KNU
HUMAN TRAFICKKING THE ONLY BUSINESS IN TOWN
BUDDHISM EXAM IN THE CAPITAL
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR REVERED MONK
MON NATIONAL DAY IN
SCHOLAR: IDP NOT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM OVER LATEST UN BROKERING
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READERS' FRONT
Dear Readers,
We invite comments and
suggestions on improvements to Kao-Wao newsletter. With your help, we hope that
Kao-Wao News will continue to grow to serve better the needs of those seeking
social justice in
Regards,
Editor
kaowao@hotmail.com,
kaowao@shaw.ca
____________________________________________
Correction
Please read; “The Mon leader
is survived by his three children Nai Mon Htow, Nai Yi Mon and Mi San San Yin”
instead of “two children” in the article “Mon Leader Nai Dhamma Nay Passed
Away” (Kao Wao 62).
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LANDMINE USE BY BOTH PARTIES
(Kao Wao:
Three porters and two soldiers from Burma Army were wounded after
stepping on landmines, said a victim Nai Hlear who fled to Thai Burma border.
The two injured soldiers were sent to the military hospital at
Southeast Command in
The men were grabbed by the Burma Army and forced to march ahead of the
patrolling troops. Nai Bee (age 33) was the first to step on the landmine and
lost his leg, the incident occurred around his own village, Krein Kanyar in
southern Ye.
"I was wounded in my chest and my younger brother Nai Bee lost one
leg,'' said a landmine victim Nai Taw Mon.
Asked why he decided to work in
While at the Halockhanee Mon Refugee Camp, Nai Hlear showed his chest
wound to the camp leader Nai Kao Chan who interviewed him about the incident.
During the operation, a Buddhist novice was wounded after stepping on a
landmine when trying to avoid the SPDC soldiers patrolling around the
monastery, said a woman from Krein Kanya village.
A medic from Yang Rae said, “Most of the (landmine) victims are
innocent villagers and not the soldiers”.
In July 2003, Light Infantry
Battalion No. 273 took villagers in the southern part of Ye Township to carry
ammunition during their offensives against Mon guerrillas led by Nai Hloin and
Nai Bin. A young girl Mi Aye Thar
stepped on a land mine and died instantly in mid July 2003. Three days later, 3 porters stepped on land
mines, Nai Hein, a 38-year-old man died, while the other two men were
physically maimed for life after serious injuries from the explosion.
According to local source, both the Burma Army and the Mon armed group
use landmines.
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Life in
(By Taramon / Sangkhlaburi:
The biggest village in northern Ye,
Mi Sein from Lamine village said, “Houses were relocated to make room
for the expansion of roads, the SPDC authorities planned to confiscate more
land but the Buddhist monks in the village requested that half only be taken”.
“The SPDC will build the main offices such as Immigration Department on
the confiscated land,” said Zarni a businessman from Lamine. “Those who have houses near by the main road
worry that their houses will be uprooted for this promotion”, he added.
Local source reported the central plaza in the village, which is better
constructed than any other town’s plaza, has been moved.
The SPDC does not pay any compensation to owners of houses which are
relocated for the expansion.
Located on the
Ham Gam, the biggest village in southern Ye,
has also been expanded into towns according to the source from the SPDC
authority. The SPDC had implemented a
plan to expand about ten villages in
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(By Taramon, Kao Wao:
Criminal suspects were released after paying a bribe of 5,000 Kyats to
the chief of police at
University students dating in the dark, merrymakers, drug addicts and
bar workers were arrested according to the Crime Preventive Act 47 by the
police raid in the capital city of
“They were made to pay 5,000 Kyats for their release after being
detained for a week," Nai Saik Layah said. "There is no trial, just
show them the money."
Some women were nabbed walking home from their restaurants or bars
after finishing their work, said the source.
"Two women from Nadi Hlaing Restaurant were locked up at Myo-Ma
detention center," he added.
According to a detainee, about one hundred people were rounded up for
the slightest misdemeanor in the
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FIGHTING BETWEEN DKBA AND KNU
(By Taramon / Sangkhlaburi)
According to a source close to the DKBA, they were traveling around by
truck carelessly in an area controlled by the KNU and were attacked in eastern
Ye Township, Mon State about 20 kilometer from Ye city.
“Three soldiers were killed, one wounded, and the car was completely
destroyed,” Nai Dong Taw, a Mon guerrilla with close ties to the DKBA said.
The pro-Rangoon troops, he said, travel carelessly because they have
poor military training and joined the forces only for economic reasons.
Last February 14, one DKBA soldier was killed and two were wounded
after ambushed by the KNU troop.
The local sources said about ten houses of Mayan Chaung have moved to
another place for security reasons after the attack. The village is located near the DKBA
base. Two columns under the DKBA
Battalion No.907 patrol the area.
The pro-Rangoon DKBA has been
actively involved in the drug trade and illegal vehicle business along the
border, reported a business community from the Thai-Burma border.
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Migrant Watch
HUMAN TRAFICKKING THE ONLY BUSINESS IN TOWN
(By Taramon / Sangkhlaburi)
The SPDC’s personnel from the immigration department, military
intelligence, and some cease-fire groups allow migrant workers to cross into
Risking their lives and paying exorbitant fees, “They have to pay two
hundred each to the multi-checkpoints in the town. The migrants have to pay five hundred Baht so
the immigration office can blind fold them before crossing into the town to
reach Thai soil,” said an anonymous resident.
Before arriving to the
After arriving in
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Culture and religion
BUDDHISM EXAM IN THE CAPITAL
(Kao Wao:
Mon monk community took Buddhism exam held in the capital of
Ramanya Nikarya, the biggest Mon Buddhist monk community, sponsored its
annual examination at different levels and 262 monks have passed the
examination according to Rev. Banya TalaNai.
912 monks took the exam at the Mid Buddha Sasana Temple
(Kyaik-LaDorw-Sasana) which started on February 19 and lasted for four days.
The former BSPP government banned
the Pha-Tha.Ma.Pyan (Buddhism Studies) State Examination in Mon language in the
1980s and replaced it with the Burmese language. After the cease-fire in 1995, the New Mon
State Party leader Nai Shwe Kyin requested the military junta for the admission
of Mon monks to sit in the Pha-Tha-Ma-Pyan exam in Mon language and it was
allowed.
However, the Government’s Supreme
Buddhist Monk Association issued an order to Mon Buddhist monks in 2002
allowing the examination only to be taken inside
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BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR REVERED MONK
(By Taramon / Sangkhlaburi)
The birthday celebration starts from February 25 to 29, Sunday (the day
he was born) at Wat Wangka monastery of Mon village, which the senior monk
founded about 20 years ago.
Before the birthday, the Abbot celebrated nine days of Paritta citing
at the monastery compound which is believed to protect evil that harm all
beings. Hundreds of Buddhist monks from
The celebration is one of the most popular fairs at the Thai Burma
border town; several visitors, including Thai authorities and leaders of the
New Mon State Party, from Kanchanaburi province and other places have come to
join in the festivities.
The Abbot Reverence Uttama, Ms Sai said, prohibits alcohol and drug use
at the village, which is built in his monastery religious area. But the monk is disappointed when he learned
that many villagers did not obey his teaching even though they respect him very
much. The villagers are free from
government taxes since it is in a religious compound protected by him.
“The people live in this village, which is like a sanctuary. The Abbot himself, who has lived in
According to local villagers, the revered monk is not only known for
his work on Buddhism but many people visit him for their self protection and
promotion which supports his standing in the community.
Mon and Burmese traditional Pwes are a very popular social
activity. Many souvenir shops,
traditional boxing and Pwes were organized for the party. The village administrators take responsible
for all the fairs.
The Abbot who was born at Maw-Ka-Nin, Ye, fled from the civil war in
In the past, Mon guerrillas stayed in the area using the monastery
compound as a camp. Several Mon leaders
including the late President of New Mon State Party lived in the camp beside
the monastery.
The Abbot built many religious buildings in
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Overseas Mon community
MON NATIONAL DAY IN
(By Kun Yekha)
The
For the Mon community here, the event is most exciting; with a united
will to show their national pride. They
seemed eager and active for the participation to preserve their identity as a
nation with a rich culture that once established kingdom and sovereignty.
The well-organized celebration attracted diverse nationalities of
Laotian, Siri Lankan, Vietnamese, Burmese, Karen, Shan and many Americans. There was a high sense of energy and passion;
the ceremony was quite lively with merrymaking; featuring portraits and
cooperation. Ushers were busy with
guiding the guests to the seats and people were graciously served.
At the entrance of Sunset Hall, the people were signing up at the
reception desk, viewing photos of Monland Restoration Council, buying Mon CDs
and shirts that featured the national symbol, and picking up information
papers.
On the right side to the entrance, a portrait of Mon Phoe Cho, a
founder of Mon national movement and lecturer at Rangoon University who taught
Burma’s independence leader General Aung San,
was displayed on the wall. An
artist Nai Aung Sein offered this portrait for this event painted by him.
The stage was colorfully lit; set in the background on the back wall
was the large banner that read “The 57th Anniversary Mon National Day”. 2 MCs Nai Janu Mitta and Mi Sike Pakkao
announced the agendas both in English and Mon to the audience. A group led by Nai Taing Waeng marched to the
front of the stage, proudly holding up the national flag which commenced the
celebration. All people stood up to salute the flag and, sang the Mon and
American National Anthems. The chorus of “Reh Ni Gom” National Anthem filled up
the hall when they hoisted up the Mon flag gradually.
Nai Sike, the President of convening committee, explained the aim of
MND followed by Nai Htira Rama’s welcoming message. A statement was read by Mi Aye Mon in the Mon
language. The information committee was
busy with cameras and computers while Mon community leader Nai Banyadean talked
to the local media about the event.
“We have prepared for four
months for this occasion” said Nai Mon Chai while serving food to the
guests. The audiences were silent when
Mi Non Htaw performed solo dance (Tarlayine Moa), the popular “candle dance”
(Leeh-kwai Pamoot-panaing) and “Pagan Period dance” (Leeh Khit Bakarm).
The beautiful dancers performed gracefully in unison and were
gratefully applauded several times. Mon
traditional foods were served in twenty-minute intervals. “I like the food even though it’s a bit
spicy”, said an American guest.
Kenneth A. Rogers, Associate Dean and Director of
International Service of Bloomington University, delivered a keynote speech. He lived in
Tommy Shoupe, a representative of Congressman Mark Souder, and Mr.
Federick C. Gilbert, a social worker, who help refugees from
While Modern Mon Music (M3) led by Nai Ku Marn and Nai Kao Chan later
entertained the guests with Mon modern songs, children, men and women came to
the front and danced together.
The
In
The long and exciting program started from
As they do every year, Mon from
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SCHOLAR: IDP NOT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
(S.H.A.N:
Commenting on the ongoing problem
of people being displaced in
"(It is) a deliberate war
waged against the people by a brutal and desperate regime," declared the
65-year old advisor to the Ethnic Nationalities Council, formed last month, by
non-Burman dissidents. "It is a danger to its people, an anti-humanitarian,
barbaric regime. It is more than atrocities, more than counter-insurgency
operations -- the notorious Four-cuts (cutting food, funds, intelligence and
recruits to the resistance armies)."
According to Thai-based Burma
Border Consortium, established in 1984 to provide basic food and relief
supplies to refugees from
Others question whether
Nai Kasauh of Mon Relief and
Development Committee, in a recent meeting with S.H.A.N., named confiscation of
cultivated lands, development projects, forced labor, exorbitant taxes, forced
military trainings and the gas line project as among the main causes for
displacement. "As a result of these excesses, Mon fighters who chose to
retire after the ceasefire pact was concluded in 1994 between Rangoon and the
New Mon State Party, rose up to take up arms again against the Burma
Army," he said.
"No state is allowed to wage
wholesale war against its citizens," said Chao Tzang. "The IDP
(Internally Displaced Persons) problem, the dispossession and killing of
thousands of helpless farmers, formerly productive and peaceful cultivators,
must be taken out from the humanitarian crisis category, which it certainly is
not, and call a spade a spade: a war waged against the people".
He however did not spell out how
the problem should be re-focused. Dictator Watch, on the other hand, is more
specific. "At least peace-keepers have been sent to the conflict in the
Chao Tzang Yawnghwe is a son of
the late Sao Shwe Thaike, Prince of Yawnghwe and the first president of
independent
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CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM OVER LATEST UN BROKERING
(AFP:
YANGON, - UN envoy Razali Ismail's disclosure that Aung San
Suu Kyi was willing to work with Myanmar's prime minister was greeted Friday
with cautious optimism as diplomats and experts said release of the democracy
icon must come first.
After shuttling between talks with Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt, the
opposition leader, and other senior officials on his twelfth mission to the
military-run state, Razali revealed that Khin Nyunt also "wants to go
ahead" with a working relationship with the political opposition.
The veteran Malaysian diplomat said Aung San Suu Kyi told him she wants to
"turn the page" and begin a dialogue with the junta including Khin
Nyunt, who announced a democracy "roadmap" for
"Aung San Suu Kyi is in a very good state of mind, very positive, and she
believes she can work with the prime minister," Razali told AFP upon
returning to
Diplomats in
"It will be a new step forward when they actually do step forward and meet
with her," a Western diplomat in
"She should be released as soon as possible," another Western
diplomat said.
"For a long time she has said that she has been ready to dialogue with the
prime minister. It's good that she's restating this now, but the important
thing is for a dialogue to actually start," he added.
But it was imperative that the three other main NLD leaders -- party chairman
Aung Shwe, vice chairman Tin Oo and secretary U Lwin -- be freed so they and
Suu Kyi may consult on a way forward.
"At some point it will be necessary that those four be allowed to speak
together as they make decisions collectively," the diplomat said.
"I don't see how they could achieve negotiations (with the junta) without
being freed."
One senior ethnic political leader said it was difficult to interpret Razali's
words about Khin Nyunt and they should be treated carefully.
"If the news is true, it would be cautious optimism," said Khun Tun
Oo, of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy.
Genuine political progress, while apparently supported by Khin Nyunt, would
still require a green light from the top military ruler, Senior General Than Shwe, diplomats have said.
The road map announced by
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