[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
SITUATION INSIDE BURMA
ABSDF
ALL BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT
_______________________________
_______________________________
*************
PRESS RELEASE
*************
SITUATION INSIDE BURMA
_________________________
Forced labour in Irrawaddy Division for
----------------------------------------
construction of Naval Base
--------------------------
Since the end of 1992, Slorc officials have been forcibly
recruiting people from about 50 nearby villages for the
construction of a Naval Base at the Island of Hai Gyi. The Slorc
officials demand one family member from each family to work at
the construction site every week. They dig bunkers, trenches, and
make fences and construct roads at the base. The villagers have
no facilities for shelter, food and medical care. If the family
faisl to send the required labour, they must pay 400 Kyats (about
$50 in official exchange rate) every week.
And then the families from the 50 villages around the naval
base must send 5 Vass( about 8 kilos) of dry fishes, or dry
prawns or fish paste for the rations for the Navy every month.
Most of the villagers earn their living from fishing, but some
families who do not, must buy them from the market and send them
to the Navy. The Navy purchases all of the products of fisheries
at 30% less than the market price and sells to other individuals.
If some merchants buy from the villagers directly, the products
are regarded as illegal.
The Navy officials also detained nearly 300 expert
carpenters on the island without consent by taking their Identity
Cards. Originally, they were recruited from the Rangoon area
since March 18, 1995, with the offer of incentives of 20% more
wages than in Rangoon. Actually, on the island the wages changed
to 65% less than normal wages plus a small amount of rice. Two
persons(Let us held the names for their personal security)
escaped from the remote island and passed the information on to
ABSDF.
This Naval base is reported to be one where a Chinese Radar
station is being built.
**************************************************************
Farmers arrested
------------------
In the villages of Kyaik Latt Township of Irrawaddy
Division, the local Slorc officials ordered the people to sell
rice products to the government. 150 farmers were arrested for
failing to sell their quota in June 1995. The farmers don't want
to sell the rice to the government because of the low prices the
government pays compared with market prices. The detention room
was filled with the farmers and some were kept at in garages and
offices. They were not fed and the family members had to send
food. Some fled from arrest and hid in the nearby forest.
***************************************************************
Epidemic Bacterial disease spread threaten
------------------------------------------
Visit Myanmar Year 1996
-----------------------
For unknown reasons, the bacterial encephalitis has spreaded
in Min Bu, Sa Ku Township in the Magwe Division, Myin Gyan
district, some townships, rural areas in Pagan, the Nyaung U
Township (a tourist attraction area), and Bu Thee taung , Maung
Daw township in the Arakan state. The disease spreads mostly in
dry areas of Burma.
The medical authorities haven't indicated the causes but have
warned the local Red Cross, the fire service and Slorc's USDA
members to keep close watch of the situation.
The spread of respiratory tract infections is also very
common. The Government medical research office warned
surveillance of returnees of the Macca Pilgrimage.
The 1995 government budget allocation for health affairs was
about 50 millions kyats( i.e. 1.25 Kyats for each person per
year) leading a terrible shortage of funds for disease prevention
and primary health care system.
At 20.5.95, After the broadcasting 20:00 hr news from Radio
Myanmar, Dr. Mya Than Nwe, from the medical research department,
Epidemic section, discussed health education. The Slorc is
worried about the effect of this news on the 1996 Visit Myanmar
Year.
***************************************************************
Boycott the Ethnic Human Zoo
----------------------------
At 22.5.95, Maj-Gen Maung Thint, the minister of ethnic
affairs and border area developement program, proposed at one of
the Slorc's meetings to construct ethnic races villages near
Syriam bridge (Than Hlyin) as the tourist attractions for Visit
Myanmar Year 1996.
He said the villages will be decorated according to the
habitat and culture of the ethnic races and some ethnic people
would be forced to live in this compound like in a Human Zoo.
**************************************************************
Insecure Rangoon
----------------
A curfew from 22:00 to 5:00 has been imposed in North
Okkalapa area of Rangoon since 17.6.95. The limited are of curfew
was the Quarters of North Okalapa (From Tatalay Junction to Mae
La Mu Pagoda). The order included limiting gatherings of over 5
people.
The curfew was imposed because of two strange crimes.
(1) A robbery occurred at the house of a police official of
Shwe Pauk Kan Police Station and the police official was stabbed.
2 criminals fled and hid at the house of a Sergeant of the fire
service. The Army arrived in this area and surrounded the house
and one criminal was wounded and arrested and the other escaped.
(2) Soon after, a police officer of North Okkalapa saw a
theft case while patrolling and arrested the thief at the market
of Quarter 2. The thief stabbed the policeman and then stabbed
himself commiting suicide.
After these incidents, the Slorc ordered a curfew for that
area. In another case, a robbery case occurred near Hle Dan
Junction, near Rangoon University campus this month. These
incidents show that people are unable to bear the strain of
economic hardship and restrictive measures.
VOICE OF THE PEACOCK
INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
ALL BURMA STUDENT'S DEMOCRATIC FRONT(CHAIRMAN-MOE THEE ZUN)
HEADQUARTERS
8888 CAMP, SOUTHERN COMMAND
For more information please contact Zaw Min, Joint Secretary of
Foreign Affairs of ABSDF(email-Lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)