KAO WAO NEWS No. 64

An electronic newsletter for social justice and freedom in Burma

March 7- 22, 2004

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READER’S FRONT

MON PREPARE FOR National Convention

THUNDER VICTORY OPERATION NO. 3: KILLING CONTINUES

TRAPPED LIKE MICE: REVENGE POLITICS

MON YOUTH SELECTED FOR YOUTH PARLIAMENT

ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COUNCIL: STRUGGLE AGAINST DENIAL

HUMAN RIGHT’S DAY COMMEMORATED INSIDE BURMA

MP FROM DEPAYIN MASSACRE TO VISIT CANADA

BUSH CAMPAIGN SELLS JACKET FROM PUNISHED MYANMAR

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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 Burma. And we hope that it will become an important forum for discussion and debate and help readers to keep abreast of issues and news. Above all, we hope the newsletter will be used as a vehicle for those who want to share their views and experiences.  We reserve the right to edit and reject articles without prior notification. You can use a pseudonym but we encourage you to include your full name and address.

Regards,

Editor

kaowao@hotmail.com, kaowao@shaw.ca

www.kaowao.org

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On Violence Mounts Against Mon Women in Rural Areas: By Taramon and Cham Toik

Dear Kao Wao,

I sadly observed that there was no response to your SEARING news report on Violence against Mon Women and I hasten to make amends. It is a very shocking report and we must address the issue. I must say that the Burmese military officers who forced the poor defenseless women to bend to their cruel demands are guilty of the worst offences possible within the Burmese system of civility.

What can we do, faced against such unspeakable horrors?

1. What you said in your news report is true.

2. The military regime, no doubt, asserts that you are lying.

3. Let me present a Chinese saying: a lie repeated a thousand times will become the truth.
4. You are already saying the truth.

Let us strive to fight for justice.  For every person who has suffered in Burma under the brutal hands of SPDC, let us not have them suffer for nothing. They suffered a lot of pain and anguish. Their sacrifice should not be in vain.

Pe Aung (David)

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It is shocking. The rape of Mon women made me feel very painful and sad.

Best wishes,

Yusuf

Sharjah
U.A.E.

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Dear Kao-Wao editor,

I learn a lot by reading your articles and they are really informative. I appreciate on your hard work. I am writing to express my sincere one error that I found from the article Sanctions and Actions by Kanbawza Win. In the 6^th paragraph I think you want to say during the 1988 uprising instead during the 1998 uprising. This kind of error would not be a problem for people from Burma like us but other people, especially, international community who are interested at Burma’s issues could be misinformed.

Hto Lwee

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Politics

MON PREPARE FOR National Convention

(Kao Wao: March 19, 2004)

Delegates gathered in a strong hold area of southern Burma to discuss the future of Mon national affairs.

According to the source from the New Mon State Party, the Party sponsored a national affairs seminar at Wae Zin, in eastern Ye and over 100 participants from grass root organizations inside Mon State gathered for five days from March 14 to 18.

The Mon activists and community leaders traveled from various areas in Mon state, Karen state, Tenasserim Division and overseas and met with NMSP leaders to debate on current issues regarding how the Mon are to prepare for the junta’s National Convention and Road Map, reported a delegate.

The President of NMSP Nai Htin said, “Unity is top priority at the moment”. Even though the resolution of the meeting is not publicized, the participants had agreed on the need to maintain solidarity between the Mons and to solve political crisis in Burma, said Nai Zehan from Canada who joined the gathering.

The NMSP’s liaison office at the Thai-Burma reported that the seminar’s objective was to amend Mon State Constitution, which was drafted by leaders of NMSP, Mon Unity League (MUL) and Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) last year.

Recently, senior leaders of NMSP met with leaders of MNDF, MUL and other ethnic political parties to decide on how the party should proceed at the National Convention sponsored by the ruling military junta.

The Mon Unity League has advised the New Mon State Party not to be led astray regarding the high profile National Convention in Rangoon, the important thing however is that the Mon voice be heard strongly, that the Mon are for democracy and for self determination and do not seek confrontation with the junta.

“The NMSP's leadership is more flexible now and we hope it will not go it alone to join the junta’s Convention. The party should closely engage and cooperate with the democratic alliance and other ethnic parties,” says General Secretary of MUL Sunthorn Sripanngern.

The NMSP’s emergency meeting in December 2003 named a delegation comprised of Nai Chan Toi, General Aung Nai, Colonel Lawee Ong, Nai Tala Nyeh and Nai Tin Hla to join the state sponsored convention.

Last month, NMSP’s Vice President General Htow Mon and Nai Rotsa met with the SPDC’s Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt in Rangoon where the SPDC’s media reported that the Party endorsed the junta’s Road Map and National Convention. Following this news, its supporters and alliance criticized the Party for supporting the National Convention.

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Mon State at war

THUNDER VICTORY OPERATION NO. 3: THE KILLING CONTINUES

(Kao Wao: March 11, 2004)

Beginning in mid-December of 2003, the State Peace and Development Council military regime launched an offensive code-named “Thunder Victory Operation No. 3” (Aung Moe Gyoe Sitsin Yay No. 3) in southern Mon State, Burma, to wipe out an armed opposition group which carries out operations there.

The brutal operation, led by Colonel Myo Win under the direct command of the Moulmein based Southeast Command, is targeting Mon guerrillas led by two brothers Nai Hloin, Nai Bin and members of Hongsawatoi Restoration Party (HRP) who split from the New Mon State Party after the party reached a cease-fire agreement with the military regime in 1995.

On January 19, 2004, Major Nyi Nyi Swe from the battalion No 31 publicly declared that rebel sympathizers would be severely punished and killed. “All of you face brutality if you love your nationality and support the rebels,” said Nyi Nyi Swe in front of the gathering.

Due to severe suppression, Krein Ka-Nyar Mon village has no village headmen (local administration) after Nai Cuu, along with two other leaders fled to the border. Accused as supporting rebel supporters, the BA brutally tortured the local villagers. Nai Cuu and his secretary Nai Gong Sakar who fled to Thai Burma border said they were tortured in every way possible.

During the interview with Kao Wao, they bared their wounds and scars testifying to the BA’s wrath against innocent villagers who allegedly support rebels. The tortured men say the SPDC had forced them to work in the headmen position even though they wanted to resign.

A commander named Captain Lin Oo who speaks the Mon language is one of the worst human rights violators during the brutal military operations in the area, complained a villager who recently came to the border. He has a Mon name, Nai Chan Mon, but in reality he is a Mon killer, said the villager.

Thousands of local people from about 15 villages fled the offensive area to neighboring Thailand and to the refugee camps. Last February, about 50 people from Krein Ka Nyar village fled to the border area where human traffickers lie waiting for them like so many ducks in a row.

According to testimonies, they have no choice but to flee because of continual military operations in their living area. Some of the most vulnerable, older people and children, are left alone in the village, and others who flee, most of whom including women and younger people are waiting to cross over to the border, said a Mon refugee camp leader Nai Kao Chan.

According to a senior reporter from the Thai Burma border, while the Burmese Junta is talking (business) cease-fire with the ethnic nationalities groups such as KNU (Karen National Union) and KNPP (Karenni National Progressive Party) it has secretly ordered its frontline soldiers to kill ethnic villagers over the age of 18 years. The order was issued by the BA headquarters in Rangoon on 30^th January 2004 to Khin Maung Latt the commander of Eastern Command (based in Taunggyi) to implement the killing without drawing any attention or making any noise. The senior reporter said this ethnic cleansing scheme is already being carried out in the Irrawaddy division especially in Kyon Pyaw Township where scores of Karen youths were murdered at the order of Colonel Myint Aung.

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HUNTED LIKE MICE: REVENGE POLITICS

(By Taramon/ Sangkhlaburi: March 10, 2004)

The military junta, resorting to its old habit of doing justice, forced Mon activists to testify that they plotted a state assassination attempt. Their confessions were extracted during a brutal interrogation after being caught in Rangoon.

According to the source from Rangoon, the SPDC forced Mon activists Nai Yekkha and Nai Chem Gae-Kao to testify that they are terrorists and not members of a cease-fire group shortly after being arrested.

“They are tortured into saying they are not members of the NMSP, but are against the cease-fire party, thus being labeled terrorists”, said a leader of the NMSP who spoke under condition of anonymity.

Someone had fingered the whereabouts of the activists to the SPDC cops. The NMSP leader said the two were trapped like cornered mice when the SPDC set up a trap of explosive materials to frame the men when they dropped by to visit the residence of an NLD member in Rangoon. The explosive material was already in the house before they arrived and doesn’t belong to the NMSP, said the NMSP officer.

“Nai Chem Ga-Kao had checked the residence as soon as they arrived, but the soldiers like sneaky cats, sprung out from their hidden positions and arrested them immediately,” he added.

Two NMSP and three MNDF members were among the twelve people caught last July and who have been accused as traitors and given life sentences.

The SPDC has not identified Nai Yekkha and Nai Chem-Gae-Kao as Mon and named Nai Yekkha as Ne Win and Chem-Gae-Kao as Myo Thwe. As is customary, they have not been given a fair trail.

According to a confidential source, another activist Than Tun was freed after the jury was unable to find any evidence connecting him to the incident after a hearing in Insein prison, in the capital of Rangoon.

The SPDC has organized an aggressive campaign to crack down on Mon political parties and activists; the military government is using any excuse such as the international anti-terror campaign to crush peaceful pro-democracy movements inside Burma, claiming that these people are terrorists.

Nai Yekkha is an outstanding leader for the Party’s networking in urban areas and Nai Chem-Gae-Kao is head of the Mine Department. Like all pro-democracy activists in Burma, Nai Yekkha has always sought dialogue with the military government, but instead, activists are targeted for arrest, execution, brutal torture, and are prey for secret police tactics. Nai Yekkha (Ne Win) has taken ill since his imprisonment and now suffers from internal injuries to his abdomen inflicted by torture by the SPDC cops in prison, says his family.

The NMSP appealed to the SPDC for the release of their members but their case was ignored. Some NMSP activists based in various towns were threatened with arrest many times after this major crack down. Nai Yekkha’s files in his house, in the capital of Mon State Moulmein, were seized before the SPDC military intelligence searched for other activists.

Nai Chan Hongsar (Shwe Marn) and Nai Min Kyi, leaders of MNDF in Pago division were later arrested.

The MNDF has not responded yet to the arrest of its members. Three senior leaders Nai Ngwe Thein, Dr. Min Kyi Win and Dr. Min Soe Linn were arrested in 1998 for their political commitment and have been imprisoned since in the Moulmein prison.

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MON YOUTH SELECTED FOR YOUTH PARLIAMENT

(Kao Wao: March 16, 2004)

A 20-year-old Mon youth, Wunna Ong from Calgary, Canada, has been chosen from among 2000 applicants from 163 countries to participate in the second Oxfam International Youth Parliament (IYP2004), to be held in Sydney Australia, in July 2004.

Hosted by Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, IYP2004 will bring together 250 young leaders from around the world to develop dynamic solutions to key local, national, and global issues.

Wunna currently works with the Thailand based Mon Youth Liberty Organization (MYLO) and is committed to promoting the culture and literature of the Mon people. “I am very excited about being selected to participate, I see the Conference as a way to share my ideas with others who are also working on developing their leadership skills in their community and who are looking for solutions to many problems”, said the nice-looking youth.

The emphasis of the Oxfam International Youth Parliament is on supporting delegates to take action in their communities. Over the 8-day program, delegates will develop their skills; build their networking capabilities and form projects for bringing about positive and sustainable change.

Involvement will be the experience of a lifetime for the delegates attending, said Coordinator Nicole Breeze from Australia. The young leaders who take part are motivated and optimistic and are determined to turn their ideas into positive action.

The 250 delegates come from diverse backgrounds, but all share a common desire to work together to bring about real change in the most vulnerable regions of the world. Its success was seen in the inaugural parliament, which took place in 2000 when young leaders aged 15-28 years came together to discuss global concerns and develop tangible solutions.

The work they are doing through IYP shows how the objectives promoted by the United Nations can be translated into reality to improve the lives of young women and men and their communities, said Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN.

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ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COUNCIL: STRUGGLE AGAINST DENIAL

(Kao Wao: March 16, 2004)

The Ethnic Nationalities Council was established on March 12, 2004 following the 3rd Ethnic Nationalities Seminar which was held from January 28 to February 2, 2004.

The new Ethnic Nationalities Council was formed with three representatives from the National Democratic Front (NDF), two from the United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD-LA), one from the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), one from the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA), one from the Shan Democratic Union (SDU) and one from the Kachin National Organization (KNO), in total nine members.

According to its opening statement issued from the Thai Burma border, the Council met from 12 to 14 March 2004 and set political objectives to end the military dictatorship; to set up a national consciousness of self-determination and ethnic equality, which will lead toward establishing a genuine federal union in Burma and self-government led by the people. Its strategy is to solve the Burma crisis through a tripartite dialogue and to find political solutions to political problems.

The former Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and Cooperation Committee (ENSCC) was reformed as the working committee of Ethnic Nationalities Council.

The ENC will work not only in coordinating policies to promote solidarity among the ethnic nationalities but also will work with the democratic forces to build alliance in order to create a peaceful country where the ethnic nationalities can enjoy their full rights of political equality and self-determination, said the Secretary of ENC Dr. Lian Sakhong.

The council is formed to express the rights of the ethnic nationalities of Burma who have been struggling against the denial of their rights and humanity. The ethnic nationalities have experienced racial humiliation, economic exploitation, political oppression, and cultural domination by the central government for the past 5 decades.

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HUMAN RIGHT’S DAY COMMEMORATED INSIDE BURMA

(DVB: March 13, 2004)

Burmese political activists inside Burma on 13 March secretly commemorated Human Right’s Day and the 16th anniversary of the death of student leader Ko Phone Maw who died while under custody of the security police in 1988.

Around 30 Burmese students including representatives from universities and high schools in Rangoon held a secret gathering at an undisclosed location in Dagon, Rangoon to commemorate the event by offering prayer for those who were killed in the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma and discussed the current political situation in Burma.

Similarly, pro-democracy activists, students and alumni from other universities throughout Burma also secretly commemorated the event at several places.

The activists are unable to commemorate the event openly because top leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) are being detained and the military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has closed down the NLD offices to keep things quiet and under control.

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MP FROM DEPAYIN MASSACRE TO VISIT CANADA

(ICHRDD News Release)

MONTREAL - March 12, 2004 - At an age when most North Americans are enjoying the easy-going of their golden years, Daw San San, a member of Burma's government-in-exile, is now on the run, wanted by the ruling military regime for openly condemning its renewed assault on supporters of the country's democratic movement.

Daw San San, 73, will be in Canada next week to provide her first-hand account of the recent crackdown by Burma's military on its main political opponents, the long-suffering National League for Democracy led by Nobel Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Daw San San is the current General-Secretary of the National League for Democracy's Liberated Area at the Thailand-Burma border, where she fled last summer after surviving the May 30th massacre at Depayin that left an undetermined number of NLD supporters dead and injured and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under military arrest.

Since her election in 1990 in the NLD's landslide victory over Burma's military junta, Daw San San has spent much of the last decade either in prison or under the threat of arrest for her peaceful yet determined protests against the military's refusal to acknowledge the election result.

Daw San San was first sentenced to 25-years in prison in April, 1991, for her alleged participation in talks to form a parallel government to counter the military regime. She was released the following year under a decree providing for the release of political prisoners not deemed a threat to "national security."

In April, 1998, the military regime announced it was renewing Daw San San's prior 25-year sentence after she allegedly criticized the junta in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation. Daw San San spent more than three years in prison and was released once again under a general amnesty in August, 2001.

While in Canada, Daw San San will be accompanied by Khin Omar, the Women's Affairs Coordinator of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). A student activist prior to the military coup, Khin Omar fled Burma and began extensive travels around North America in an effort to raise the profile of Burma's democratic struggle. One product of her efforts is the grassroots Free Burma Coalition, which she helped found.

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BUSH CAMPAIGN SELLS JACKET FROM PUNISHED MYANMAR

(AFP: Mar 20, 2004)

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush punished Myanmar's military rulers last year by banning imports from the country, but that has not stopped his reelection campaign from selling a jacket made in the Southeast Asian nation, it was reported.

Newsday, a Long Island, New York, daily tabloid bought from Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney's campaign a 49.95-dollar fleece jacket embroidered with the Bush-Cheney '04 logo. The election is set for November 2.

A label on the jacket says it was made in Burma (Myanmar).

Bush signed the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 last July to punish the military government and support the country's democratic movement.

The fleece jackets were imported by Trading and Clothing of Denver, Colorado, but company President Jeff Schmitt told Newsday the jackets were part of one of the last shipments from Myanmar that arrived before September 1.

The sanctions took effect August 28.

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ABOUT US

Kao-Woo Newsgroup is committed to social justice, peace, and democracy in Burma. We hope to be able to provide more of an in-depth analysis that will help to promote lasting peace and change within Burma. Editors, reporters, writers, and overseas volunteers are dedicated members of the Mon activist community based in Thailand. Our motto is working together for lasting peace and change.