[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

CHR/BURMA: NGO STATEMENT (Item 15) (r)



April 19, 1999
55th session of the UNHRC
Geneva, Switzerland
WORLDVIEW INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
Oral Intervention on Item 15
Delivered by Mr. Soe Aung

Madame Chairperson

Many indigenous groups who wish to preserve their cultural identity, economic
autonomy and rights to their traditional lands, the word ?development? arouses
very mixed reactions. [There continue to be many destructive so-called
development projects which are a threat to local communities and the
environment. These type of projects which are motivated by greed and ego of
the
government or business usually cause long-term problems to the rest o the
country.]

In the case of my country, Burma, [the military regime has drawn up cease-fire
agreements with several indigenous groups after several decades of civil war,
yet] the people react with fear at the word ?development? because the
development projects of the regime cause more hardship as these projects are
implemented through use of forced labour, extortion and displacement.

I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the situation
of indigenous people in southern Myanmar.

The New Mon State Party reached a cease fire agreement with the military in
1995, but this only allowed the military to increase their presence and to
violate the rights of the people.  Forced labor has increased, schools closed
down, livelihoods reduced and lands confiscated. Some so-called development
programs were implemented during the 5 years of cease-fire, but they only
caused severe hardship to the people.  The people were forced to work without
safety or pay to build up infrastructure for the use of military operations.

More than 35,000 local indigenous peoples [Mon, Karen and Tavoyan] were
conscripted to work on the Ye-Tavoy railway construction project without
payment. Some walked for 5 days from their home to the site, brought their own
food, medicines and tools. Children [as young as 12], elderly people [as
old as
70 years] and some pregnant women were forced labour on this project. Each
household was forced to work for at least 15 days. Over 200 people died
because
of sickness or landslides during the 5 years of slave labor on this railway.

This railway was finally finished and officially inaugurated by the Burmese
military leaders on March 26, 1998, the eve of their Armed Forces Day. Tens of
thousands of local people were forced to attend the opening ceremony and
listen
to a long speech given by Gen. Tin Oo in which he praised his soldiers for
helping in the development projects and protecting the country from
destructive
elements.

After two months, this railway was destroyed by a flood in June 1998. Four
thousand people were used as forced labour to repair the railway.

This is just one example of the numerous so-called development projects
inflicted on the indigenous peoples of my country. In Mon State, an estimated
100,000 people have fled and another 300,000 were internally displaced during
the ceasefire. This remains true for other indigenous groups, regardless of
whether they have cease-fires or not.

Concerning economic, social and cultural rights. Sixteen Mon Primary
Schools in
Kokreik Township were ordered to close recently. Thousands of acres of Mon
land
were confiscated and used for military bases and development projects without
compensation or alternative sources of livelihood.

Madam Chair,

It is clear from these few examples that indigenous peoples need a stronger
voice and stronger advocates. For this reason, we support Ms Tauli-Corpuz?s
call for greater resources and recognition of the Indigenous Peoples? Working
Group, so that indigenous groups bearing the brunt of military aggression can
be represented meaningfully.

Thank you.

Internet ProLink PC User

--=====================_43080180==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"

<html>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times">April 19, 1999<br>
55th session of the UNHRC<br>
Geneva, Switzerland<br>
WORLDVIEW INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION<br>
Oral Intervention on Item 15<br>
Delivered by Mr. Soe Aung<br>
<br>
</font>Madame Chairperson<br>
<br>
Many indigenous groups who wish to preserve their cultural identity,
economic autonomy and rights to their traditional lands, the word
?development? arouses very mixed reactions. [There continue to be many
destructive so-called development projects which are a threat to local
communities and the environment. These type of projects which are
motivated by greed and ego of the government or business usually cause
long-term problems to the rest o the country.]<br>
<br>
In the case of my country, Burma, [the military regime has drawn up
cease-fire agreements with several indigenous groups after several
decades of civil war, yet] the people react with fear at the word
?development? because the development projects of the regime cause more
hardship as these projects are implemented through use of forced labour,
extortion and displacement.<br>
<br>
I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the
situation of indigenous people in southern Myanmar.<br>
<br>
The New Mon State Party reached a cease fire agreement with the military
in 1995, but this only allowed the military to increase their presence
and to violate the rights of the people.&nbsp; Forced labor has
increased, schools closed down, livelihoods reduced and lands
confiscated. Some so-called development programs were implemented during
the 5 years of cease-fire, but they only caused severe hardship to the
people.&nbsp; The people were forced to work without safety or pay to
build up infrastructure for the use of military operations.<br>
<br>
More than 35,000 local indigenous peoples [Mon, Karen and Tavoyan] were
conscripted to work on the Ye-Tavoy railway construction project without
payment. Some walked for 5 days from their home to the site, brought
their own food, medicines and tools. Children [as young as 12], elderly
people [as old as 70 years] and some pregnant women were forced labour on
this project. Each household was forced to work for at least 15 days.
Over 200 people died because of sickness or landslides during the 5 years
of slave labor on this railway.<br>
<br>
This railway was finally finished and officially inaugurated by the
Burmese military leaders on March 26, 1998, the eve of their Armed Forces
Day. Tens of thousands of local people were forced to attend the opening
ceremony and listen to a long speech given by Gen. Tin Oo in which he
praised his soldiers for helping in the development projects and
protecting the country from destructive elements.<br>
<br>
After two months, this railway was destroyed by a flood in June 1998.
Four thousand people were used as forced labour to repair the
railway.<br>
<br>
This is just one example of the numerous so-called development projects
inflicted on the indigenous peoples of my country. In Mon State, an
estimated 100,000 people have fled and another 300,000 were internally
displaced during the ceasefire. This remains true for other indigenous
groups, regardless of whether they have cease-fires or not.<br>
<br>
Concerning economic, social and cultural rights. Sixteen Mon Primary
Schools in Kokreik Township were ordered to close recently. Thousands of
acres of Mon land were confiscated and used for military bases and
development projects without compensation or alternative sources of
livelihood.<br>
<br>
Madam Chair,<br>
<br>
It is clear from these few examples that indigenous peoples need a
stronger voice and stronger advocates. For this reason, we support Ms
Tauli-Corpuz?s call for greater resources and recognition of the
Indigenous Peoples? Working Group, so that indigenous groups bearing the
brunt of military aggression can be represented meaningfully.<br>
<br>
Thank you.<br>
<br>
<div>Internet ProLink PC User</div>
</html>

--=====================_43080180==_.ALT--