HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon
Websites/Multiple Documents
Description:
"The HURFOM was founded by pro-democracy students from the 1988 uprising and more recent activists and Mon community leaders and youths, and it main aim is for the restoration of democracy, human rights and genuine peace in Burma. HURFOM is a non-profit organization and all its members are volunteers who have the same opinion for the same aim. By accepting the main aim, we would like to participate in struggle for the establishment of a democratic Burma doing our part as a local ethnic human rights group, which is monitoring the human rights situation in Mon territory and other areas southern part of Burma. We provide information and reports to all campaign organizations to get helps from the international community for democratic reform in Burma. For this project, HURFOM has produced a monthly human rights report, with the name of ?The Mon Forum” for 9 years."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
Date of entry/update:
2004-03-20
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Mon (cultural, political), News - Burma/Myanmar news sources in English (current sites), HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon
Language:
English, Mon, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
more
Description:
Lots of stuff on the site -- news, statements, research, articles in Mon and English, list of Mon organisations, links, photo gallery, Mon politics, literature and history and lots more.
Source/publisher:
Monland Restoration Council
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Language:
English, Mon
more
Individual Documents
Description:
"HURFOM: Today, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), releases our latest report: “The junta wiped us out again”: Socio-economic impacts post-coup in Southeastern Burma. Our findings confirm that the Burma Army has deliberately derailed prospects for democracy in the country and has embarked on a campaign of targeted and wide-spread abuse in an attempt to terrorize the population into submission. Their volatile and unlawful actions have resulted in widespread displacement resulting in a refugee crisis alongside crippling social and economic impacts on innocent civilians. In areas of Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region, the military junta has continued to act with impunity. HURFOM condemns the ongoing attacks and calls for immediate international intervention.
Since the attempted coup on 1 February 2021, HURFOM has been documenting the human rights violations committed against local people by various battalions of the Burma Army. Through focus groups and interviews conducted by HURFOM for this report, witnesses and victims of various crimes perpetrated by the junta have voiced feelings of insecurity and fears of their future. Economic mismanagement has led to inflation, which has priced basic goods including cooking oil and rice, outside of the financial means of local people. Electricity blackouts are common, leaving many people without power for hours during the day. Compounded with limited work opportunities and ongoing bribery and extortion by the regime, civilians across Southeastern Burma are worried about their futures.
Our findings include evidence of serious disregard for civilian safety and their livelihoods by the military junta. Education has been interrupted, risking a generation of children growing up illiterate and unable to provide for themselves. Young people have been forced to abandon their studies or seek opportunities abroad. As the junta unleashes their campaign of terror, resistance movements are adapting and using various tools and organizing methods to overcome them.
The uptick in violence has also led to protracted displacement. HURFOM observed rising numbers of displacement as the presence of the Burma Army has led to more villagers fleeing to safer areas in search of refuge and protection. Across HURFOM’s documentation, it is evident that the junta is using the same policies of scorched earth, divide and rule as well as the four cuts strategy to deploy their villainous acts.
The international community must be inspired by the will and power of the people and act with integrity and moral conviction on their behalf. There have been multiple calls by civil society organizations who are calling for diplomats and global actors to use their power to protect the lives of those inside Burma. It is imperative that they respond beyond words of condemnation but with actions that will finally make clear to the Burma Army once and for all that they are not above the rule of law and will be punished at the highest international level..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Date of publication:
2022-10-26
Date of entry/update:
2022-10-26
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état, Freedom of Movement, violations of in Burma/Myanmar, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups.
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
4.26 MB (Original version) - 72 pages, 4.61 MB (Original version) - 81 pages
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Sub-title:
Inflation is Contributing to Rising Levels of Poverty in Southeastern Burma as Civilians Struggle to Cope Amid Worsening Uncertainty
Description:
"Throughout the month of September, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) reported on the challenges being faced by civilians in Southeastern Burma. Amid increasing clashes and worsening conflict, the military junta has also weaponized the law to work in their favor. Despite being an international human right, those abducted, detained and charged by the Burma Army are being denied their right to a free and fair trial. The regime continues to deny family members any information about loved ones and has continued to fabricate charges in sham trials.
In addition to the junta making a mockery of the rule of law, they continue to deploy strategies and activities which terrorize local populations. Across HURFOM’s target areas of Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region, people of all ages and backgrounds are being targeted. On 2 September 2022, four young nursing students were arrested, and one of them was sent to a notorious camp known as the “MI detention center.”
A witness described that these four young men were beaten and arrested by junta soldiers while the troops raided the hostels: “They came with no arrest warrants but complete lists of who they wanted and arrested four of these students.” They are still under investigation, according to friends and families. Another local civilian from Painnae Taw confirmed that in the last two days, junta forces have been checking the families’ registration lists and guest checks in some wards in Dawei downtown.
Students, including young children, also continue to have education prospects threatened and undermined by the military’s presence in Burma. Parents are extremely worried about the uncertainties their children face at school given the heightened presence of the military junta. As a result, some University students in Mon State who have already passed their matriculation exam have chosen to put their studies on hold due to unsettled political agreements and security concerns.
Top universities including the University of Medicine, Economics, Computer Studies and the Education Degree College institute are located in Yangon, Mandalay and Magway. As these institutions are located in cities that are very far from Mon State, parents worry: “Our child has a high enough score to join the University of Economics. However, it is scary to go to Yangon because it’s not peaceful there. I dare not send my child there. The current situation creates too much fear for me to send my child away,” said one parent from Mudon Township. A lack of alternatives means these students often attend local universities such as the one in Mawlamyine.
Despite this uncertainty, the junta is putting pressure on schools to open despite security concerns. Approximately ten government schools in Kyaing Seiki Township, Karen State were forced to reopen despite security concerns. Due to the armed conflicts in the villages, most villagers have closed the schools since June 2022: “Even though armed clashes are ongoing, the junta council is pressuring our village head and school officials to open government schools in Nan Tie Tun, Pha Yar Ngar Zu and Daung De village of Kha Lae – Da Gon Dai area.”
The junta issued the order to open schools, but the teachers, the parents, and the village administrators held a discussion. The security situation here remains unstable, so most teachers are afraid of teaching. “No one can guarantee the safety of students,” said a villager.
Parents told HURFOM that they could not send their children to area schools due to the instability and fighting in the area with armed forces: “If we send our children to school, we have to worry about them for the whole day. We don’t even dare go to work for our own livelihoods. If something happens, we would have to rush to school to pick up our children. Can the military guarantee the security of the children? If not, we will never send our children to school,” said a woman from Daung De village.
The junta forces have established bases at the Da Gon Dai Police Station and at nearby schools. A local news source also reported the Junta army placed active landmines on the school premises and put a ground-based artillery weapon in front of the school.
The insecurity across Burma is widespread. It extends to all social and economic sectors which the military has completely obliterated. In all of these circumstances, it is the people who continue to suffer the most. Those who have fled Burma for their safety, including human rights defenders, are still facing challenges in neighboring countries. HURFOM Program Director, Nai Aue Mon, spoke to Southeast Asia Globe on the security risks faced by activists who are living in exile stating: “The situation on the ground is still horrible, everyday people are living in unstable circumstances.”
Forced recruitment has also become a concerning issue across the region. More than sixty villagers were forced to flee their villages in Yebyu, Dawei fearing they would be abducted and forced to fight. Now, they are unable to return as the junta’s naval command seeks to expand their forces through advertising false promises of high pay and security. The military battalion conducting the forced recruitment is known as ‘Maw-Ra-Waddy-Naval Command,’ and operates under the management of Coastal Regiment Command in Ohn-Pin-Kwin, Yebyu, Dawei.
Further, as another month passes, it is also a reminder of the inaction of the international community. Rather than take steps to hold the Myanmar military accountable, numerous United Nations bodies have instead signed multiple Memorandum of understanding with the regime. It is disappointing to see such a contradictory approach to human rights from bodies who have set international standards that they are failing to oblige by. HURFOM reiterates the calls of our networks and members in condemning the atrocities taking place and calling for urgent action.
Situation Overview in Target Areas
Karen State
Locals in Karen State have reported worsening offensives between the military junta and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). Troops from the Light Infantry Battalion No. 545, led by Captain Soe Min Thu and the Police Officer, Tun Thin Oo, have committed human rights violations against civilians: “Since mid-September, we have been facing lots of movement restrictions which directly impact us. We have no chance of working outside the village. There is extortion and sexual harassment against young women in the village,” a villager from Taung-Kyarinn village, Kawkareik said. “It appears like the junta is generating money under the name of security,” he added. They have extorted many young villagers. In some cases, the villagers’ motorcycles have been confiscated and forced to pay 200,000 MMK to be returned.
On September 13, troops indiscriminately fired artillery shells at the village. At least 14 houses were damaged, including a Buddhist monastery. Four villagers were injured. Among them, one Buddhist Monk was included: One of the village committee members said that: “Meanwhile, the Junta Army (LIB No. 545, 546, 310 and IB 22) deployed more troops to southern Kawkareik Township to conduct offensive against the KNLA B.6 and People Defense Forces. These militarization acts negatively affect the local inhabitants, including forced village sentry duties, unpaid labor, commandeering vehicles for their transportation, and porter services, looting,” a 25-year-old villager from Taung-Kyar-Inn, Kawkareik Township, told the reporters
In addition, concerns over landmines planted in civilian areas pose serious threats to local livelihoods. At the moment, no one dares to go and work in their own village. Residents said a drone flew over a military base in Hpa-An, Karen State, and then the junta opened fire and abducted at least two innocent civilians nearby, according to eyewitnesses on September 16th.
It was 8:00 PM and a drone flew over the LIB No. Armor Repair Unit. (151), which operated under the Military Council Division No. (22) in Hpa-an city Karen. Several indiscriminate gunshots were fired as the junta attempted to shoot down the drones. A source near the shooting described the arbitrary arrests: “An estimated 20 troops with guns pointed at the residents and grabbed two young men by accusing them of using drones and attempted to attack them. These young locals were ordinary civilians, and they were innocent.”
Mon State
Civilians in Mon State continue to live with the uncertainty surrounding the military’s midnight checks and raids. A group of approximately 30 members of the junta and militia groups, including members of the junta-backed village administration, have been conducting midnight searches in Ka Mar Mole village, in the Chaung Zone Township, Mon State. Villagers said they are worried about their safety.
“We don’t know when they will come to search our houses. They’ve said they’ll search for drugs, but we’re afraid that they will give us an irrational reason to arrest us,” said one villager. The military has presented unsubstantiated claims to justify the night searches. The junta forces are alleging that members of the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) are hiding in Ka Mar Mole village. They also claim that a Ka Mar Mole resident who is the biggest drug dealer in the village is supporting them. The military junta has also established many checkpoints where passengers traveling by car or motorbike are stopped and subjected to rigorous security checks.
The hardships in Burma are even taking a toll on the soldiers of the military who are serving on the front lines, and are being exploited by upper military officials. The primary way this takes place is through loans attached with high interest rates, according to one source. Family members of the junta soldiers are dependent on the military salaries, which are not sufficient to cover the rising costs of basic commodities. Family members then have to borrow money from senior military officials who are charging high interest rates: “My husband is on the front lines and my family lives in the battalion. His salary isn’t enough for us, so we have to borrow money from captains. Then we are in debt. It keeps going round in circles,” said the wife of a private soldier.
Meanwhile, the junta continues to abuse their power by extorting civilians for their money, property and possessions and even their time. Locals reported that in some villages in Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State, the junta is forcing them to serve as sentries to protect their Administration Offices, schools and other community perimeters from attack. Although village security falls under the junta troops’ authority, the area’s ongoing conflicts have resulted in the soldiers forcing the local civilians to guard the villages and the junta-related departments and buildings: “They have been forcing us to take sentry duties for almost a year and a half. They ordered us to work for free. This is a form of forced labor.” said a civilian, age 45 who wished to remain anonymous.
Inflation has made every day decisions impossible as villagers must consider whether or not they will risk their lives to leave their homes and try to generate an income amid the fighting and possibility of being arrested and detained: “We are scared of being stuck between the two sides who are fighting. During this time, I cannot find enough income to support my family,” said a local resident. Villagers living in not only part of the eastern Kyaikmayaw Township, but also in some villages located along the side of Attaran River have been forced to guard their towns for the junta.
Indiscriminate firing and attacks are also threatening civilian security. On September 23 2022, at 2:00 in the morning, a young man from Kaloh village was shot and killed by the junta security troops in the village, Ye Township. Residents who witnessed the incident reported that the shooting happened during the curfew decree, which has increased fears. The deceased is 35-year-old U Naing Oo, a resident of Kaloh Village, who was shot while leaving his home: “When he was walking and crossing that road, he was shot dead by the deployed army” said another witness. He died on the spot due to the shooting. Naing Oo’s body was brought in a car and left at the village entrance. “Another case of losing a villager that will end like this without getting any justice.” a young villager expressed.
These attacks are mounting and further indicators of the miscarriages of justice that are ongoing in Mon State. Victims are entitled to reparations and accountability.
Tanintharyi Region
The situation in the Tanintharyi region is continuing to deteriorate. In the last six months alone, the junta-backed courts have imposed orders on approximately 42 political prisoners in Dawei Prison, according to the sources from Dawei Political Prisoners Network. At least 30 are still facing sham, closed-door trials. Most of those imprisoned in Dawei have been unlawfully charged under sections 505 A and B of Penal Code
Junta forces have been relentlessly arbitrarily arresting people. On 4 September 2022, three young people were driving a car in Nyang Yangtaung Ward, Dawei. According to the local witnesses, a group of police forces and soldiers were conducting a security check on a car and three people were arrested. The second source also confirmed that the junta checked and arrested the Honda Fit car driver and pointed the guns at the three men, forced them to kneel on the street and started beating them: “They were likely included in the list of arrest warrants, and that was why the three young men were taken. Their names and addresses are still being investigated,” a 50 year old man who talked to the reporters said. According to the HURFOM field research, there were about (19) civilians arrested in Dawei within a week, and only about (11) people were released by paying ransoms.
The junta forces have also carried out their campaign of deliberately destroying civilian properties. In Kyun-Su Town, Myeik District, troops destroyed 14 houses and seized land plots: “They destroyed and took the land with no compensation. They justified it by saying that it was for building the electricity department compound and office.” The director of the General Administration Department and the person in charge of the electricity department were the ones who gave the orders for confiscating the land and removing the houses. The dates this occurred was between September 3 and 6 at Ward no.3, Kyun-Su Town.
Reporters tried to contact one of the landowners, and she said most of the male heads of households living in these homes are currently working in the fishing boats. Some of them lived as day laborers in the plantation and orchards, and the rest of the family members found it difficult to move during the rainy season. The incidents happened while their husbands were away. A member of the destroyed family confided that there was no life security, no food, and now there was no place to live.
The growing military presence has made villagers fearful to leave their homes. The junta forces have been patrolling around the villages with approximately 200 soldiers in the Kanbauk village, Ka Laing Aung township, Dawei. Villagers dare not travel or go to the plantations. At least five villages have been under the control of the junta. More than 200 soldiers are based there. Locals are worried.
On September 9 at 9:30 PM, the joint forces of pro-junta militias and military forces (approximately 40 troops ) entered the Nyaung Zin village, Thayetchaung Township, Dawei, and fired discriminately at the civilians’ houses and harmed at least three women villagers. Three of them were shot in the shoulder and arm.
Ma Thin Myint, Daw Moe, and Daw Aye Shin were wounded by the indiscriminate gunfire. The junta and militias illegally burglarized villagers’ locked homes by kicking them in. They kicked the door and forced it open. Homeowners were taken out at gunpoint. Nyaung Zin villagers have kept organizing silent strikes and threatened not to go on any more strikes, and if they went out again, they threatened to burn down the whole village. In the case of terrorist attacks and lootings, the militias and soldiers mainly enter houses with shops and take valuable things such as phones and gold items by force.
Later that night at 3:30 a.m., a junta military council of Light Infantry Battalion #406, a convoy with 17 military trucks, entered Wa-kone village in Dawei Township by indiscriminately firing heavy weapons. Seven homes were destroyed. Villagers had to flee because of the attacks. The junta spent a night in the villages, destroyed things and stole the villagers’ belongings, including the motorbikes and valuable items.
Released political prisoners are also being targeted. A previously detained activist in Dawei Prison was re-arrested at around 2:30PM on 12 September 2022, according to his colleagues close to him. Ko Myo Minn Oo, age 22 a student at Dawei University of Technology, was arrested when he came to his work in Khon-Win-Dyt Ward, Dawei. This is the second time he was arrested: “the first time was in May last year,” his neighbor said. “He spent about 6 months in prison in October 2021, but then he was freed and released.” On September 11, one of his colleagues, Ko Aung Wayan Tun, a student at Dawei University of Technology, was also abducted by junta security forces during a midnight raid in Dawei downtown. It is not yet known why they were arrested.
The junta continues to violently abuse, beat, arbitrarily arrest, and destroy properties, and confiscate goods in Bawapin village, according to the villagers who are fleeing parts of Tanintharyi region regularly. A 50-year-old female villager, who fled with three children, said junta soldiers and their allied militias continue to commit illegal confiscation and destruction of villagers’ property. “Approximately 70 soldiers with full-armed forces and the local militias raided the village. After that, they arrested seven men and beat them. The villagers who escaped could not take anything with them. The soldiers picked up the remaining items they wanted and destroyed what they could not carry. It’s like a real battlefield.”
Young men continue to be accused of being affiliated with local resistance forces. At least five young civilians were abducted for having alleged ties with the People’s Defense Forces in Dawei
according to their friends, on the evening of September 22, 2022. Two detainees Maung Maung Lwin and Ko Thet, were natives of Yebyu township, and three originally from Dawei. These arbitrary arrests happened when a group of 10 junta troops and local pro-junta militias, raided Painnae-Taw Ward, Dawei: “Their motorcycles have been confiscated and the troops brought all five men to unknown places,” said a 45 year old witness.
Nonetheless, young brave activists in Dawei are still pursuing peaceful protests despite the grave danger and numerous challenges in their areas. “We must continue raising our voices as the revolution is longer than we predicted. We are worried that the movement’s momentum will slow down.”
Key Findings
Inflation across all target areas has had a devastating toll on civilians who are unable to have their most basic needs met.
Clashes have led to forced internal displacement in Burma as instability and tensions force people from their homes.
Concerns have spread as the military junta begins to make decisions which would bar competing, democratic parties from the next election in Burma. The military junta has been trying to change/manipulate the numbers of constituencies.
Motorcycles, mobile devices, and money are regularly confiscated and extorted from civilians at checkpoints stationed by the junta deliberately along key-routes. Civilians were forced to pay excessive bribes to retrieve their possessions. However, very few were able to afford the high costs.
Torture remains rampant in Burma, and across target areas where innocent civilians are subjected to grueling, horrifying acts by the junta to extract information.
The international community including UN bodies and ASEAN are not responding swiftly enough to the situation on the ground in Burma, which demands urgent attention and consequences for the junta.
Military impunity remains deeply ingrained into the institutions representing the Tatmadaw, which only emboldens the junta to continue perpetrating human rights violations.
Children have been targeted by the military junta, and deprived of their basic needs including medical attention, food, education and the right to live safely.
The arbitrary arrests and unlawful detention by the junta are ongoing, as are warrantless raids and indiscriminate firing into civilian areas.
Recommendations
The Human Rights Foundation of Monland immediately calls for the following:
● A referral of the situation on the ground in Burma made immediately by the United Nations Security Council to the International Criminal Court
● Concerted and coordinated action by global actors for an urgently mandated global arms embargo which would prevent the free flow of weapons into the hands of the murderous junta
● Aviation fuel sanctions to put an effective end to the airstrikes in Burma which have contributed to significant loss of life, particularly among innocent civilians
● Targeted sanctions on military junta officials, as well as their families, which puts holds on their financial assets and possessions and undercuts their ability to do corrupt business dealings abroad..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Date of publication:
2022-10-01
Date of entry/update:
2022-10-01
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, Armed conflict in Burma - attacks on civilians, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups.
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pdf
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404.69 KB
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Description:
"One year has now passed since the
Burma Army’s attempted coup on
1 February 2021. The Human Rights
Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) began
documenting atrocities being perpetrated
against civilians by the military junta in
Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi
region on 7 February 2021. The crimes
that have been committed speak to the
unrelenting horrors which continue to
be forced upon innocent clusters of the
population. The majority of the people in
Burma strongly reject the military coup
and have been collectively strengthened
by a commitment to toppling the
terrorist regime.
More than anything, the Burma
Army craves legitimacy and has used
violence as a tool to try and submit
the people to their will. However,
despite the grave horrors projected
onto civilians, the Spring Revolution
remains unbroken. It is a struggle that
civilians feel they cannot step away
from until their freedom and rights are
restored. One year ago, the Burmese
military made clear its disregard for
democracy and peace. They reaffirmed
the reality that they would not follow
the rules of international, democratic
governance but would rather try to
rewrite their own playbook which went
even beyond the 2008 military drafted
Constitution. By dismissing key pillars of
a functioning, free and fair government
in their refusal to accept the victory
of the National League for Democracy
(NLD), the people very quickly resisted
– and have continued to show their
strength through protests, underground
organizing and even taking up arms to
join local civilian defense forces.
Despite the mass momentum which
has fueled the revolution, the Burma
Army has only wielded more violence
including air and ground strikes to force
civilians to submit and for armed groups,
including ethnic armed organizations
(EAOs) to surrender. However, the
people remain vigilant and committed
to ensuring that they are victorious in
their long deserved quests for peace and
security..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Date of publication:
2022-01-31
Date of entry/update:
2022-02-02
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état, Anti-coup protesters, Human Rights Defenders, HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, Freedom of Movement, violations of in Burma/Myanmar
Language:
Format :
pdf
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215.53 KB
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Description:
"HURFOM: Ten months of terror have passed since the Burma Army orchestrated a failed coup on 1 February. “Trajectory of Terror,” is a new briefing paper by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) which outlines human rights violations committed in Mon State, Karen State and the Tanintharyi region perpetrated by the military junta between the end of February until the end of November 2021. Military impunity is emboldening the junta to commit more atrocities.
On Human Rights Day, HURFOM expresses grave concern over the lack of safety civilians are being forced to contend with amid the junta’s dark crusade for power and control. HURFOM calls for an immediate forfeiting of powers by the Burmese military and an end to the violence which has killed hundreds and injured many more, including the elderly, women and children. [Download in English]
The human rights situation in Burma has spiraled out of control. The increased violence and negligence wielded by the military Generals has left millions without food and shelter. Civilians do not feel safe in the country. Homes are being looted, and villages are being burned to the ground in deliberate acts of arson by the junta. Members of political opposition parties and human rights defenders have been forced into hiding. Children are being denied the right to be educated safely as military soldiers roam schools and use classrooms as bases. Livelihoods have been crippled as landmines litter farms and encircle villages, making leaving for food and work a life or death prospect. This sabotage of survival has been brought on willfully by the Burma Army.
HURFOM fieldworkers have spoken to witnesses on the ground who detailed arbitrary arrests, abductions and assaults on fundamental freedoms of residents in our target areas. The violence has created an unstable environment where hundreds are fleeing persecution and fearful for what their futures hold.
A response by the international community which meets the gravity of the peril’s civilians are being confronted with on a daily basis is long overdue. As the year ends, it is with the most profound urgency that HURFOM reiterates calls of our network and allies to respond to the many crises which are worsening daily.
Media Contact
Nai Aue Mon, HURFOM Program Director, Email: [email protected], Signal: +66 86 167 9741
HURFOM was founded by exiled pro-democracy students from the 1988 uprisings, recent activists and Mon community leaders and youth. Its primary objective is the restoration of democracy, human rights and genuine peace in Burma. HURFOM is a non-profit organization, and all its members are volunteers with a shared vision for peace in the country..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Date of publication:
2021-12-10
Date of entry/update:
2021-12-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état, Anti-coup protesters, Freedom of Movement, violations of in Burma/Myanmar, Human Rights Defenders, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups.
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294.15 KB (26 pages)
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"HURFOM, Mawlamyine: A new briefing paper by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), “Running Out of Air: How the Junta in Burma is Abandoning Civilians in the COVID-19 Pandemic,” finds that the Burma Army is ill-equipped to handle the response to COVID-19. Since the military seized power in a coup on 1 February, the lives of civilians have been under constant attack. Hundreds have been killed by state-sponsored forces and thousands remain imprisoned for their role in pro-democracy activities, include health care providers. With multiple crises unfolding nationwide, the junta’s poor handling of the pandemic threatens to only worsen the already dire situation in the country.
In HURFOM target areas of Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region, hospitals and various health infrastructure are running out of supplies. This has crippled civilian livelihoods who are struggling to access oxygen, masks and medicine from pharmacies. With prices of material goods increasing, and the junta blocking all pathways to access life-saving support, civilians are being pushed to the brink of survival. Our findings indicate that the military is deliberating excluding the most vulnerable from access to healthcare, in order to preserve their own interests.
HURFOM is greatly concerned for the people of Burma. A lack of effective coordination to secure life-saving access to personal protective equipment and medical supplies has resulted in human lives paying the cost for the junta’s negligence. Without an immediate recourse in the response plan, the situation on the ground is only likely to worsen. Health providers must be protected and civilians guaranteed pathways to accessible, affordable care. Millions are at risk, and they are running out of options. HURFOM calls for immediate, urgently needed intervention by the international community and for regional actors including the Association of South East Asian Nations. The people of Burma cannot afford to wait any longer..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Date of publication:
2021-07-22
Date of entry/update:
2021-07-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Right to Health: reports of violations in Burma, HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
Language:
more
Description:
"Part 1: Situation Overview:
As COVID-19 devastates Burma, health workers and first responders are responding with strength and resilience: Burma is facing a public health crisis. The virus is sweeping
the nation with over 200,000 cases and nearly 5000 deaths
as Myanmar’s health sector struggles to keep up. To make
matters worse, people falling sick do not have adequate access
to life saving supplies, like personal protective equipment
(PPE), oxygen, or vaccines. At this moment, there is no clear
plan established by the junta to control the rising cases and
treat patients effectively.
Quite the contrary, hospitals and health care infrastructure are
struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The situation is
dire. Civilians suffering from the economic and social impacts
of the military coup, are now facing the worst outbreak the
country has seen yet.
The first COVID-19 case in Burma was recorded on 23 March
2020. In the months that followed, various committees were
established to coordinate a response to the pandemic. The
government proposed short sighted policies to tackle the
virus, but local humanitarian responders were not consulted.
The National League for Democracy (NLD) was attempting
to move forward with solutions to mitigate the impacts of
the virus, but when the military took over, these plans were
shattered.
By January 2021, the NLD purchased 30 million doses of
Covishield/AstraZeneca. These vaccine doses were to be
delivered in batches along with the 1.5 million doses of the
vaccine gifted by the Indian government.1
However, not long
after securing the vaccines, Burma descended into chaos on
February 1. The NLD’s plan to curb the spread of the virus was
effectively dead on arrival in the wake of the coup.
In the months that followed, COVID-19 cases remained
relatively low. But in recent weeks, cases have skyrocketed.2
Myanmar Doctors for Human Rights suggests this is partly
due to a lack of testing that took place before the coup.3
Now,
thousands are dying from COVID-19 nationwide as a third
wave has spread to nearly 90% of townships throughout
Burma.4 The outbreak is without a doubt, the worst the
country has experienced and comes as multiple crises are
threatening civilian safety, including internal conflict and
adjusting to post-coup authoritarian norms.
Against the backdrop of a wave of deadly cases, the junta
is committing extreme acts of warfare on medical officers
and their supplies. Junta soldiers have been seen forcibly
dispersing civilians for merely queuing up for oxygen.5 The
military has also turned their weapons on Burma’s health
workers for their role in actively condemning the military’s
violence since February. According to the United Nations, the
junta has attacked at least 158 medical personnel, killing over
60 people and injuring dozens more.6 Security forces have also
arrested and charged more than 139 doctors, and seized over
50 health facilities.7
The junta have continued to exercise their power to prioritize
their needs and well-being over civilians. Military leaders and
soldiers were among the first to be vaccinated in the country,
and are in the position to decide who is vaccinated, if at all.
As the crisis becomes more severe, civilians are losing trust
in health systems under the military.8 Meanwhile, tens of
thousands are being displaced as internal conflict in Burma’s
ethnic states continue to ravage communities.
Further, the junta’s lack of compassion is a troubling
indicator of what’s to come in the coming months. The junta
has undermined all efforts to respond to the humanitarian
disasters unfolding in the country – of which are not limited
to the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences of their
incompetence and inaction will be long-lasting, particularly
on those least prepared to make a strong comeback alongside
a crippling economy..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Date of publication:
2021-07-22
Date of entry/update:
2021-07-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Right to Health: reports of violations in Burma, COVID-19 (Coronavirus), HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
3.13 MB
more
Description:
"The short-lived era of democratic reform in Burma
came to an alarming halt on 1 February 2021, when
the leaders of the Burmese military seized power in
a well-orchestrated coup. The democratically elected
National League for Democracy (NLD) government
was overthrown and key members of parliament
arrested. The military generals who staged the power
grab said that the November 2020 election was
fraudulent. But despite their claims, there has been
no evidence of this at all.
Not long after the military took control, laws were
amended to make it easier to prosecute anyone who
challenged their authority. The most widely used law
has been Section 505 of the Penal Code, used by the
authorities to stifle dissent. The law stipulates that
it is illegal for anyone to make, publish or circulate
any statement, rumor or report with intent to cause,
or likelihood to cause fear or alarm to the public.
The free press specifically has been targeted for
reporting on the military’s violence and like many
others, have faced charges under botched trials by
the junta-controlled courts inside detention centers
and prisons. The moral landscape of human rights in
Burma has been eroded and deliberately derailed by
the Burmese military.
But civilians have responded with state-wide
protests. The demonstrations went on for months,
and drew thousands condemning the actions of
the military. The junta in turn, at the direction of
the so-called State Administrative Council (SAC),
has continued on a spree of mass human rights
violations across the country. Despite bloodshed,
warrantless arrests and impositions of Martial Law
in several townships, the people of Burma remain
defiant. General strikes led to the establishment
of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), and a
shadow government, the National Unity Government
of Myanmar (NUG) was formed.
Resistance to the military continues to take on
different forms. The military’s attacks on all
people of various ages, genders, socio-economic
backgrounds and ethnicities have triggered
growing calls for more unity and collective action
to overthrow the junta. These efforts are a growing
force in the rallying calls for long-needed change in
Burma, including for a democratic, federal union.
In areas which the Human Rights Foundation of
Monland (HURFOM) works in, including Mon State,
Karen State and Tanintharyi region, the assault of
fundamental freedoms against innocent civilians has
been widespread. This is especially true for those
associated with the Civil Disobedience Movement
(CDM), an active movement of resistance taking
place across multiple fronts, from striking doctors
to armed protesters in the street. Those arrested
have been forced to endure torture in detention.
According to HURFOM data, at least 41 have been
killed across the target area states. Another 222 have
been injured, while 1,372 have been arrested and
detained since the coup. But the nationwide death
count has soared to almost 900, with over 6,000
arrested. HURFOM has also observed an increase in
the confiscation of mobile devices and destruction of
private property, including people’s homes.
The sense of hope and freedom brought on from
Myanmar’s democracy era is now totally lost.
Survival has become the main focus as rallying forces
continue to be fueled by wide-spread rejection of a
military-government. The only way to beat the junta
is to stay alive and to find new ways of delegitimizing
their rule. Human rights defenders are regularly
on the run, forced to meet in secret with other
dissidents to overcome the harsh realities of the
present moment which people are being strained to
contend with.
The chaos and instability of the security forces
brazen attacks have affected thousands of civilians
who have fled their homes to seek safety. HURFOM
has categorized the mass internal displacement into
three groups of people fleeing: political dissidents
escaping persecution, civilians fearing the junta in
their villages, townships and those who have been
economically impacted seeking better opportunities.
Further, this short briefing paper outlines the
impacts of militarization on displaced communities
since the coup and the underlying consequences.
In addition, this briefer also makes direct calls
for action regarding the humanitarian situation in
Burma, where for the most vulnerable demands an
immediate response..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Date of publication:
2021-06-20
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, Human Rights and international relations, Anti-coup protesters, National Unity Government (NUG), 2021 Burma/Myanmar coup d'état
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
250.32 KB
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Description:
"On World Refugee Day, HURFOM is reminded of Burma’s history, which over the last seven decades has been marred by violence by the Burma Army. Their onslaught led to the establishment of nine refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border where hundreds of thousands traumatized survivors sought safety. Ethnic people have long been targeted by the regime for their culture and traditions as well as their resistance to live under the regime’s occupation. Today is a testament to their ongoing strength and willful determination to live freely and peacefully in their home country. It saddens HURFOM that the current reality is not safe for their return.
Since seizing power in a coup on 1 February, the people of Burma have been forced to suffer deep-rooted consequences. Their livelihoods have been put on hold as the economic state of affairs spirals. In addition to increased militarization, warrantless arrests and property destruction, civilians have been forced to make difficult choices. In Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region, civilians have been forced to flee for various reasons including being targeted by the regime for their anti-coup activities. Thousands have fled to escape violent conditions in their townships as well as to seek greater livelihood opportunities. HURFOM documentation suggests at least 41 have been killed, 1,372 arrested and detained and over 222 injured in our target areas since the coup.
HURFOM is deeply worried for the future of Burma. Innocent civilians should not be forced to carry the burden of war. Therefore, we call on the international community for urgent humanitarian assistance including food, water, and shelter for displaced populations. Further, donors and international agencies focusing on war-affected refugees and IDPs must recognize the work of local community-based service providers, organizations, and civil society groups trusted by the beneficiaries to coordinate an effective and efficient humanitarian response..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
Date of publication:
2021-06-20
Date of entry/update:
2021-06-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burmese refugees: discussion groups, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., Humanitarian assistance - emergencies, Human Rights and international relations, HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon
Language:
more
Description:
Key Findings:
1.
Between 1995 and 2017, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
has
documented the widespread and systematic violation of human rights by the Burma
Army and Ethnic Armed Organizations
(
EAOs
)
in Mon S
tate and Mon areas of
southeast Burma
.
The majority of the perpetrators of these abuses have been able to
act with impunity and have not been held accountable for their actions
.
2.
During the reporting period, HURFOM has documented a minimum of 108 incidents
of arbitrary arrest, detention, or torture by Burma Army soldiers and EAOs, affecting
well over 3,300 individuals
.
Over 30 Burma Army battalions were implicated in these
abuses, the majority of which occurred in Ye Township, Mon State and Yebyu
Township,
Tenasserim Division
.
3.
From 1995 until 2017, HURFOM has documented over 57 incidents of extrajudicial
killings by the Burma Army and EAOs, for a minimum of 190 deaths of villagers
.
While
the majority of victims were male, HURFOM also documented the killing
of women
as well as children, some as young as ten months old
.
Over 27 different Burma Army
battalions have been implicated in these abuses
.
4.
Since 1995, HURFOM has documented over 67 separate incidents of sexual violence
committed by the Burma Army, aff
ecting over 106 women, children, and men
.
These
incidents ranged from rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, and forced participation in
beauty shows and over 27 Burma Army battalions were implicated as participating in
some form of sexual violence
.
5.
HURFOM has
documented the confiscation of over 100,000 acres of land by the
Burma government and the Burma Army, often directly related to militarization and
major economic projects in these areas
.
6.
Villagers in Burma expressed an inability to forget the violence inf
licted upon them,
and voiced desires for justice, including prosecutions, return of land, monetary
compensation, community development, demilitarization, guarantees of non
-
repetition, apologies, and peace"
.
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
Date of publication:
2017-12-00
Date of entry/update:
2018-02-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
3.08 MB 975.5 KB
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Description:
မွန်ပြည်လူ့အခွင့်အရေးဖောင်ဒေးရှင်း၏ နှစ် (၂၀) ပြည့်အမှတ်တရ ထုတ်ဝေသည့် လက်ကမ်းစာစောင်
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland - Burma (HURFOM)
Date of publication:
2015-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2016-04-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
Format :
pdf
Size:
2.45 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
"In October 2013, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) released
"Disputed Territory", a report documenting the emerging trend of Mon farmers fighting
for recognition of their land rights in the face of unjust land and property
confiscations. The report analyzed specific barriers impeding their success, from weak
land policy and inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms, to an absence of support
from various sources.
While "Disputed Territory" explored the broad spectrum of land right violations among
Mon communities, our current report focuses more specifically on the progress, or lack
thereof, in cases of military land confiscation. In this regard, over a year has passed and
yet Mon farmers continue to find themselves in a fruitless struggle. New details of past
and on-going unjust military land acquisition continue to be brought to HURFOM and
other media outlets, on the one hand proving that Burma?s political climate has become
a safer space for victims to petition their rights, while on the other hand showing that
significant challenges continue to preclude true justice for housing land and property
(HLP) rights violations.
Since the release of "Disputed
Territory", and addressing one of
the barriers to justice it
highlighted, Mon farmers have
gained greater access to
education regarding their HLP
rights, and are more aware of
procedural requirements for
landholders under the 2012 land
laws. However, while farmers
have repositioned themselves,
armed with information and
supported by advocates,
progress remains stalled:
farmers? land rights and tenancy remain insecure, properties confiscated by the military
have not been returned, and farmers have not yet been justly compensated. Although
there are legal channels through which farmers may now petition for their rights,
appeals go unanswered. Compounding the lack of restitution for previous infractions,
Burma?s small-scale farmers continue to live under the threat of future, continued land
confiscations.
With the value of Burma?s land steadily increasing, farmers are eager to have their land
returned to them, or be provided with just compensation. Patience is running thin
among those seeking justice, as the government continues to deny responsibility for the
military?s crimes and government bodies established to resolve land disputes fail to do
so. Farmers have learned their lessons from the past, changed their strategy in fighting
for their rights, but the results remain the same.
Building on previous analysis, HURFOM contends that continuing barriers to progress lie
primarily in the country?s broken land management system, the failures of recent land
laws to secure the protection of farmers? land rights, the failure of government bodies
and authorities to perform their responsibilities unbiased from military influence, and
the total impunity of the military due to the independent structure of the courts-martial.
Ultimately, HURFOM advocates that deep structural change regarding these deficiencies
is required, in order to redress past violations and protect farmers? land security into the
future; in doing so assisting the slow process of reconciliation and trust-building
between Burma?s government and Mon populations..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
Date of publication:
2015-02-00
Date of entry/update:
2015-02-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Land confiscation for military, commercial and other purposes, Tenure insecurity in Burma (including land grabbing), HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon
Language:
English
Format :
pdf pdf
Size:
834.47 KB 2.59 MB
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Description:
[Despite Gen. Thein Sein?s attempts to move
towards democratization or a democratic transition}
"...the Burmese Army still operates military
offensives against ethnic rebel groups in Karen State, Shan State
and Kachin State whilst the government has conducted ceasefire
talks. Human rights violations have continued in these areas and
thousands of ethnic civilians continue to suffer from abuses
committed by troops of the Burmese Army..."
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
Date of publication:
2011-12-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.65 MB
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Description:
"Research by the Women and Child Rights Project (WCRP) has demonstrated that grave violations of children?s rights continue to occur in southern Burma despite the creation, by the United Nations, of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) pursuant to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1612 on Children and Armed Conflict passed in 2005.
The Burmese government has failed to meet the time-bound action plan under Resolution 1612, demonstrated by the fact that WCRP researchers found numerous accounts of ?grave violations? under United Nations Security Council?s Resolution 1612 on children and armed conflict. These violations, committed by Burmese soldiers against children in southern Burma, include recruitment of child soldiers, killing and maiming, rape and sexual abuse, and forced labor. Though the Burmese government agreed to the implementation of a monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM), pursuant to Resolution 1612, to report on instances of these grave violations, WCRP has found that abuses have continued unabated since 2005.
The data detailed below provide evidence of widespread and systematic abuses, the vast majority of which were committed by soldiers from the Tatmadaw, the Burmese military. These confirmed cases of grave violations, taken from just 15 villages in two townships, committed over a period of 5 years, suggest that the Burmese government has failed to live up to its obligations under international law to protect children during situations of armed conflict. Limitations imposed by the Burmese government on the UN country team has made it difficult for them to receive, or verify, accounts of grave violations, in turn preventing the MRM from making a noticeable impact on the continued widespread abuse of children in southern Burma. WCRP?s data strongly suggests that the real numbers of abuses against children is vastly greater than officially recognized.
Additionally, despite the fact that WCRP?s primary research covered only the period from 2005 through November 2010, recent updated reports suggest that all of the violations documented by WCRP have continued to occur over the course of the past year. Despite the political changes that may be underway in Naypyidaw, children in areas where armed conflict is ongoing continue to suffer grave violations. Thus, the international community must take further action to ensure that the MRM can effectively protect the rights of Burma?s children and realize the objective put forth in Resolution 1612, an end to the grave violations of children?s rights..."
Source/publisher:
Woman and Child Rights Project (WCRP)
Date of publication:
2012-01-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-01-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Children and armed conflict, Childrens's rights in Mon State - reports of violations, Children's rights: reports of violations in Burma against more than one ethnic group, Women and Child Rights Project, home page, articles and reports, HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.1 MB
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Description:
The Mon, one of the earliest indigenous people in the Thai-Burmese area, were instrumental in disseminating Buddhism to the region. Nowadays they face a fight for cultural survival...
"
CONCENTRATED in the mountainous border area of Burma and Thailand, up to three million Mon are struggling to preserve their culture and language.
Researchers and anthropologists worry that Mon culture may disappear entirely, deliberately assimilated through the policies of both the Thai and Burmese governments.
Thai military officials observe a Mon festival in Samut Sakhon near Bangkok. (Photo: Bangkok Post)
As evidence, they point to Moulmein, the capital of Mon State in Burma, where the name of the Mon National Museum was changed by Burmese authorities to the ?National Museum,? and members of the Mon Literature and Culture Association were replaced by junta associates.
In Thailand, meanwhile, security officials pressured organizers of the annual Mon National Day festival in February to refrain from singing and dancing, to limit the festival to one day, to identify the organizers of the festival and ban the participation of unregistered workers from Burma.
In addition, Thai officials also urged the public not to support the Mon cultural events at Samut Sakhorn, home to almost 200,000 workers from Burma, the majority of whom are Mon..."
LAWI WENG
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 16, No. 4
Date of publication:
2008-04-00
Date of entry/update:
2008-04-27
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Mon (cultural, political), HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, Education in Mon State
Language:
English
more
Description:
"This report does not aim to give comprehensive details of the pipeline project to date, as this has been done elsewhere. Instead, this report focusses on presenting some information and interviews related to developments in the pipeline route area, particularly since the beginning of 1995. The information and interviews used have been obtained from several sources, including the Mergui-Tavoy Information Service, the Committee for Publicity of People's Struggle in Monland, independent sources and KHRG interviews..."
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Regional & Thematic Reports (KHRG #95-27)
Date of publication:
1995-08-01
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
SLORC has sent in thousands of troops to secure the pipeline route and the foreigners themselves, and these troops are making life much harder for villagers in the area through forced labour and extortion. Furthermore,villagers are now being used as forced labour to clear the pipeline route itself and build supply roads for pipeline supplies. Though the oil companies are hiring labour, SLORC is using forced labour wherever possible with or without the knowledge of the companies, who simply have too few employees in the area to see what is going on. The villagers see it very well, and we have interviewed several of them who describe it. This report consists of 3 parts: a summary of the current situation of the pipeline project, interviews with villagers who have recently fled the area, and an Annex consisting of a TOTAL letter about the project (translated from French) and a map of the area.
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Regional & Thematic Reports (KHRG #96-21)
Date of publication:
1996-05-23
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Report of an expert fact-finding mission in December 1999.
Particularly strong on methodology and the clinical description of torture. Includes high-quality photos. Most interviewed were Karenni or Mon... TOC: Summary; Preface; Introduction; Methods; Ethics; Results; Forced labour; Porter service; Forced relocation; Arrests; Other incidents; Looting; Killings; Rape; Disappearances; Torture; Landmine accidents; Army units; Discussion; Conclusion; Appendix, cases; References; Tables; Figures... "We interviewed and examined 129 persons who had fled Burma / Myanmar from December 1998 to December 1999, and compared the degree of reported human rights violations with that from the previously examined persons who fled November 1996 to November 1997. Of the interviewed persons, 88% reported forced labour and 77% porter service, 54% had been forcibly relocated from their villages, 87% had had their possessions looted, and 46% had lost at least one relative through killing, disappearance, or landmine accident. 20% reported that they or a near relative had been tortured. Of the former, four had remarkable scars that strongly corroborated their histories."
Hans Draminsky Petersen, Lise Worm, Mette Zander, Ole Hartling, Bjarne Ussing
Source/publisher:
Amnesty International, Denmark, Danish Medical Group, Danchurchaid.
Date of publication:
2000-03-14
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Political prisoners and other violations in Burma - reports, Discrimination against the Karenni (Kayah), Torture and ill-treatment: reports of incidents in Burma, HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon
Language:
English, Danish
Format :
htm
Size:
353.1 KB
Local URL:
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Description:
Map
Source/publisher:
Burmese Border Consortium (BBC)
Date of publication:
2005-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Extortion for school-building (Interview #1), school fees (#1,2), textbooks (#1,2), school corruption (#2), threats against teachers/parents if students get involved in politics (#2), Burman-only curriculum (#2), dropout rate (#1,2), child conscription into the Army (#1), Ye Nyunt Youth (#1), USDA (#1), human rights in Thaton (#2).
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Regional & Thematic Reports (KHRG #96-16)
Date of publication:
1996-05-10
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Escaped convict "Maung Aung Shwe" (not his real name) arrived in a Mon camp in February 1995 after escaping a forced labour camp on the Ye-Tavoy railway. His story gives some insight into the life and thoughts of a criminal prisoner in Burma. Some names and details of his story have been omitted to protectthe people involved.
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Regional & Thematic Reports (KHRG #95-28)
Date of publication:
1995-08-02
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Mon - the forgotten refugees in Thailand
Das Volk der Mon ist die Urbev?lkerung im heutigen Kernland von Thailand, im Gebiet von Bangkok in Richtung burmesische Grenze (Kanchanaburi Provinz) sowie im benachbarten burmesischen Bergland und im Kerngebiet des heutigen Burma mit seiner Hauptstadt Rangoon. Einst Tr?ger einer fr?hen und hochentwickelten buddhistischen Kultur, wurden sie in den vergangenen Jahrhunderten von anderen, aus Norden eindringenen V?lkern immer mehr verdr?ngt. Sie stellen heute sowohl in Thailand wie in Burma eine stark benachteiligte ethnische Minderheit dar. Die Mon in Burma f?hren seit Jahrzehnten zusammen mit zahlreichen anderen ethnischen Minderheiten einen Kampf um ihre Unabh?ngigkeit und eigenst?ndige Entwicklung. Diese Bestrebungen werden von der Milit?rjunta mit einem systematischen Vernichtungsfeldzug beantwortet.
Hans-G?nther Wagner
Source/publisher:
Netzwerk engagierter Buddhisten
Date of publication:
1995-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, Karen and other refugees from Burma in Thailand - general reports and articles, Mon (cultural, political)
Language:
Deutsch, German
more
Description:
"...This report documents the continued systematic violation of internationally recognized human rights committed by the Burmese army in 1993-1994 against one of Burma's main ethnic minorities, the Mon. It also catalogues the treatment of the Mon by Thai authorities, which falls far short of international standards relating to the status of refugees and fundamental human rights principles.
Throughout 1994, thousands of Mon continued to stream into Thailand, where a small proportion were able to take refuge in camps in Thailand established in 1990, but most became illegal workers. In Thailand, however, they found a government whose foreign policy, like so many others in the region, was driven by "commercial diplomacy." Thailand was as determined to send the Mon back as it was to strengthen economic relations with the SLORC...."
Human Rights Violations of the Mon by the Burmese Government :
Arrests and Extrajudicial Executions of Suspected Rebels;
Abuses Associated With Taxation;
Forced Relocations;
Forced Labor.
Abuses of the Mon by the Thai Government:
The Attack on Halockhani Camp and the Thai Response;
The Treatment of Mon Migrant Workers by Thai Authorities;
Thai Policy Towards Mon and Other Burmese Refugees.
Source/publisher:
Human Rights Watch/Asia
Date of publication:
1994-12-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
htm
Size:
306.17 KB
Local URL:
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Description:
Amnesty International is concerned that the Burmese army has arbitrarily detained, extrajudicially killed, tortured and ill-treated members of ethnic minorities in the Shan and Mon States and the Tanintharyi (Tenasserim) Division in eastern Myanmar. This report is drawn from January and February 1996 interviews with dozens of members of the Shan, Akha, Lahu, Karen, and Mon ethnic minorities in Thailand. Most of these refugees are farmers and villagers who said they had fled from their homes because their lives were made impossible by the security forces.
Source/publisher:
Amnesty International (ASA 16/38/96)
Date of publication:
1996-08-08
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Armed conflict in Burma - Impact on village life, including health and education, Discrimination against the Shan, HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon
Language:
English and French
more
Description:
The report includes the direct translations of some SLORC written orders sent to villages in the area of the Ye-Tavoy railway line between Mon State and Tenasserim Division, which is currently being constructed entirely by the slave labour of tens of thousands of Mon, Karen, Tavoyan and Burman villagers (see the related report "The Ye-Tavoy Railway", KHRG 13/4/94). These orders are now months old, but copies of them have only recently been obtained by the Karen Human Rights Group. The work has been ongoing since late 1993, and similar orders are still being issued now. All of the orders were signed by SLORC officers or officials, and in most cases were stamped with the unit stamp. Photocopies of the order documents themselves are available on request. Where necessary, the names of people, villages, and army camps have been blanked out and denoted by xxxx? to protect villagers. Many of the orders end with phrases like "Should you fail to obey it will be your responsibility". The villagers know that this means that should they fail for any reason, SLORC will likely send troops to loot the village, destroy some houses, seize porters, execute villagers, or in some cases shell the village with mortars.
Note: While SLORC stands for State Law & Order Restoration Council, it administers locally through State or Divisional LORC, Township LORC, Village Tract LORC and Village LORC. This abbreviation LORC (Law & Order Restoration Council) is used throughout this report.
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG Set 94-E)
Date of publication:
1994-09-02
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Mon State & Tenasserim Division. May-Dec 94; Forced Labour; Threats of violence; extortion; reprisals; forced relocation. ... ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: forced resettlement, forced movement, forced displacement, forced migration, forced to move, displaced
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Orders Reports (KHRG #95-01)
Date of publication:
1995-01-05
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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Description:
Ye-Tavoy Railway, Dooplaya District
"This report contains direct translations of several SLORC orders sent to villages in 1995. Orders #1 thru #15 were issued in the Ye-Tavoy railway area and concern railway labour. The Burmese copies of these orders were provided to KHRG by XXXX. Orders #16 and #17 were issued to Karen villages further north in Dooplaya District..."
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Orders Reports (KHRG #96-22)
Date of publication:
1996-05-27
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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Description:
Karen State. Aug-Nov 94. Karen Men, women, children. List of people killed, wounded, arrested, disappeared, by SLORC. Killings; wounding; EO; ransoming; looting, pillaging; forced portering; torture; arbitrary detention; extortion; inhuman treatment (beating); forced labour.
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Regional & Thematic Reports (KHRG #95-02)
Date of publication:
1995-01-14
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Discrimination against the Karen, Karen and other refugees from Burma in Thailand - general reports and articles, HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon
Language:
English
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Description:
Porters, burning of villages, interrogation & beatings by Army and MI, sentencing, conditions in Moulmein Jail, prison labour, beatings in prison, illness and death in prison, early release due to NMSP ceasefire deal.
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Regional & Thematic Reports (KHRG #96-02)
Date of publication:
1996-01-09
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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Description:
"?Total Denial? catalogues the systematic human rights abuses and environmental degradation perpetrated by SLORC as the regime seeks to consolidate its power base in the gas pipeline region. Further, the report shows that investment in projects such as the Yadana pipeline not only gives tacit approval and support to the repressive SLORC junta but also exacerbates the grave human rights and environmental problems in Burma.... The research indicates that gross human rights violations, including summary executions, torture, forced labor and forced relocations, have occurred as a result of natural gas development projects funded by European and North American corporations. In addition to condemning transnational corporate complicity with the SLORC regime, the report also presents the perspectives of those most directly impacted by the foreign investment who for too long have silently endured the abuses meted out by SLORC for the benefit of its foreign corporate partners." ...Additional keywords: environment, human rights violations.
Source/publisher:
EarthRights International (ERI) and Southeast Asian Information Network (SAIN)
Date of publication:
1996-07-10
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Yadana Field - (Total, Chevron, PTTEP, MOGE), Discrimination against the Karen, Forced relocation of several ethnic groups, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, Non-ILO Reports on forced labour, including forced portering, in Burma and the region, Oil and gas pipelines
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
310.45 KB
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Description:
"Three Western oil companies -- Total, Premier and Unocal -- bent on exploiting natural gas , entered partnerships with the brutal Burmese military regime. Since the early 1990?s, a terrible drama has been unfolding in Burma. Three western oil companies -- Total, Premier, and Unocal -- entered into partnerships with the brutal Burmese miltary regime to build the Yadana and Yetagun natural gas pipelines. The regime created a highly militarized pipelinecorridor in what had previously been a relatively peaceful area, resulting in violent suppression of dissent, environmental destruction, forced labor and portering, forced relocations, torture, rape, and summary executions. EarthRights International co-founder Ka Hsaw Wa and a team of field staff traveled on both sides of the Thai-Burmese border in the Tenasserim region to document the conditions in the pipeline corridor. In the nearly four years since the release of "Total Denial" (1996), the violence and forced labor in the pipeline region have continued unabated. This report builds on the evidence in "Total Denial" and brings to light several new facets of the tragedy in the Tenasserim region. Keywords:, human rights, environment, forced relocation, internal displacement, foreign investment. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: forced resettlement, forced
relocation, forced movement, forced displacement, forced migration, forced to move, displaced
Source/publisher:
Earthrights International
Date of publication:
2000-05-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Yadana Field - (Total, Chevron, PTTEP, MOGE), Discrimination against the Karen, Forced relocation of several ethnic groups, Oil and gas pipelines, Burma: Internal displacement/forced migration of several ethnic groups., HURFOM and other human rights material about the Mon, Non-ILO Reports on forced labour, including forced portering, in Burma and the region
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
5.98 MB
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Description:
Railway labour (items #1-8), gas pipeline fees / labour (#3,5,6), road labour (#1), Army camp labour (#4,6,8), difficulty harvesting due to forced labour (#1,4), rice confiscation (#3,4,6), rice shortage (#4), land confiscation(#1,4), forced Army conscription (#1), porter fees (#2,4,5,6,7), porters (#2,7), Mon ceasefire terms (#2), Thai repatriation plans (#5,6,8). Issues specific to railway construction: deadlines / increased demands for labour (#2,3,5,6), convict labour (#1), labour camp statistics (#1), labour of women and children (#3,5,8), beatings (#1,5,6,8), sickness (#1,3,5,6,8), collapsing embankments due to rainy season labour (#1,2,5), video cinemas (#1,5), Ministry of Railways (#1).
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Regional & Thematic Reports(KHRG #96-01)
Date of publication:
1996-01-05
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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Description:
From Nov 93. Karen, Mon, Burman men, women, children: Forced labour as "development". Up to 30,000 forced labourers, including old people, children and pregnant women are working on a rotating basis on the railway; no food provided; violence against women; abuse of child, economic oppression; break-up of villages; torture; inhuman treatment (beating, deprivation of food, medicine; beating to death; killings; rape; rapes followed by killing of victims; woman gave birth on site, no care, baby died; extortion; burmanisation (violation of ethnic language education rights); land confiscation; destruction of orchards; depletion or abandonment of villages.
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) Regional & Thematic Reports
Date of publication:
1994-04-13
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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Description:
TOPIC SUMMARY: Railway labour (Story #1,2,4-10,12,14,15), abuse of the elderly (#8,9,10,13), abuse of children (#1,4,6,8,10), abuse of women (#1,2,4,6,8,12), rape (#6,12,15), beatings on the railway (#1,2,4-6,8,12,15), other beatings (#1,3,4,5,10,13,15), deaths on the railway (#5,6,8,9,15), other deaths/ killings (#4,11,13,15), extortion (#1,2,6-9,12-14), looting (#1,2,3), land confiscation/ destruction (#1), forced labour for commercial logging (#3), convict labour (#5,15), political prisoners on the railway (#5), prison conditions (#5,15), porters (#1-4,9-11,13), testimony by SLORC soldiers (#4,11), abuse of soldiers (#4,11), natural gas pipeline (#9,13).
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group Regional & Thematic Reports (KHRG #95-26)
Date of publication:
1995-07-31
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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