Government agricultural authorities increase farming loans

IMNA
May 25, 2010

The Burmese agricultural authority known as the Myanmar Agriculture Development Bank, has increased the amounts of direct government loans that rice farmers may ask for during the 2010 rainy season rice cultivation period.

IMNA's field reporter learned that while the Bank offered Mon State rice farmers loans of 10,000 kyat per acre of farmland in the year 2009, this year farmers have been permitted to ask for as much as 20,000 kyat per acre. The loan policy and loan increases have been implemented in each of Burma's 7 states.

“They increased loans for this year. For [us] farmers who want the loans, we have to make the list at the VPDC office [give personal information and farm acreage], after the Myanmar Agriculture Development Bank sends the money, we can take it [the loans] from the village headman,” explained a Mudon Township farmer who told IMNA that he had requested loans.

Relying on loans to fund rainy season cultivation is a long standing practice among farmers, as rainy season planting requires large amounts of expensive fertilizer; however, only in June 2009 did the Burmese government begin offering direct loans to farmers in Mon state, rather than forcing cultivators to travel to large cities to apply for grants.

IMNA's July 8th 2009 coverage of the change described how Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) headmen are now in charge of requesting loan money directly from the Bank's regional branches. Farmers apply for loans at their local village headmen's homes.

According to reports, the Myanmar Agriculture Development Bank began extending funds to each of its branches in every township of Mon State at the beginning of this month.

IMNA's interviewee in Mudon Township claimed that in 2009, he had been among the ranks of farmers who opted not to take out the loans, but that last year's poor harvests had forced him to ask for the funds Sources around Mon state report that demand for the loans has increased dramatically, largely due to 2009's poor rice harvests. Widespread flooding and pest infestations resulted in massive damages to many Mon State farmer's rice crops, and most have yet to recover from the economic blow.

“This year many more farmers asked to get loans than last year, because last harvest time the farmers had less [rice] paddy production. Many farmers need [loans] for the expenses of this year's cultivation. Less farmers do not ask [for loans], just the farmers who have enough money,” he reported

A village headman in Mudon Township further explained, “I already borrowed about 1.8 million kyat for loans in my village, some farmers still want to get the loans, so I will ask [the Bank's Mudon Township branch] to get more”.

IMNA's field reporter reported that all Mon State rice farmers are expected to pay a monthly interest tax of 2.7 kyat for every 100 kyat borrowed; farmers are expected to commence repaying their loans after the 2010 rainy season rice crop has been collected.

The specific reason for the loan increases is unknown. Some sources speculated that the move is a an attempt by the Burmese government to curry favor before the 2010 elections; others insisted that loan amounts have been increased to compensate for the catastrophic financial losses of the 2010 rainy season.

“We don’t know exactly why the government has increased the [amounts] of the loans, but I think it’s the government's policy to organize the people [before the 2010 elections]. Other's think that it's [the loan increase] because last harvest time many farmer had less paddy production, so many has been difficult this year for them to cultivate rice,” said a second farmer from Mudon Town.

Rising rice prices spark concern in Mon State

Jaloon Htaw
Thu 21, May 2010

Due to both poor rice harvests following the 2009 rainy season, and planting delays caused by this year's extended dry season and rampant water shortages, rice prices in Mon State are now dramatically higher than they were in May 2009, and farmers from the region claim that prices will only continue to elevate.

The 2009 rainy season in Mon State was plagued by widespread flooding and pest infestations, resulting in massive crop damages and extremely poor harvests, resulting in high rice prices during 2010.

“From my 30 acres, I got [harvested] only 500 baskets of rice. Regularly, it [my farm] grows 1,400 baskets of rice. Not only our farm, but also other farms in the town had decreased harvests,” said a farmer from Mudon town.

During a normal rice farming season, paddy rice is harvested in December. This year's delayed rainy season means that harvest time, and a fresh influx of rice on the Burmese market, will be pushed back; rice scarcity, and hence high rice prices, will continue for a prolonged period.

“Also, now the rain is very late, there is a water shortage, and the prize of rice is still increasing,” the Mudon town farmer added.

According to a Moulmein-based rice trader, who conducts trade between the city and Three Pagoda Pass Township, on May 1st 2010, the price of a standard 64 kilogram bag of rice increased by 3,000 kyat across the board. High quality rice is now is 31,000 kyat per bag, average quality rice is 28,000 kyat per bag, and low quality rice is 22,000 kyat per bag.

“Last year in May, the good rice cost for one bag, only 17,000 kyat.. Now even though rainy season has not yet arrived, the prices are going up, so the price [of rice] will increase more than it is now, because [we will have to wait] a long time for the new paddy [rice to be harvested]” she explained.

According to a rubber plantation owner from Mudon Township, this year's extended rainy season and extreme water shortages have resulted in low harvests of rubber sap. Plantation owners fear that they will not gain sufficient income this year to afford the steadily increasing price of rice, especially as prices for their meager rubber harvests have declined, and rubber sap production will cease in the upcoming rainy season.

“Now rubber prices are decreasing and the rice prices are increasing. It will soon become the rainy season, and the rice prices will go up more than they are now. So we will have problems buying rice,” he told IMNA.

Retired Mon National Liberation Army soldiers return to the fold

Loa Htaw, IMNA
21 May 2010

Over 30 retired Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) soldiers have arrived at New Mon State Party (NMSP) headquarter since April 22nd, a NMSP official informed IMNA today.

The NMSP formally refused to convert its armed wing , the MNLA, into a Burmese government-run militia group on April 22nd, the deadline the government had set for the party to make its final decision regarding the issue. Sources informed IMNA that the party's decision has earned it widespread support from the Mon State community, including prominent senior monks and retired party members.

“Many retirement soldiers have arrived both at party headquarters [in southern Ye Township] and in [NMSP-controlled] districts [Thaton, Moulmein and Tavoy] but I cannot estimate the number,” IMNA's source from the NMSP stated.

“At least 30 retired soldiers and some new soldiers arrived at NMSP headquarters from April 28th to the first week of May,” reported a senior NMSP soldier who had recently journeyed from NMSP headquarters to the Thailand-Burma border.

Other retired MNLA soldiers and commanders have delayed their return to the party, but will leave retirement if the Burmese government officially breaks its ceasefire with the NMSP, he explained.

Currently, the MNLA is dealing with providing its returning members and currently-enlisted soldiers with sufficient weaponry, he added.

The MNLA, the armed wing of the NMSP, was formed in 1971. IMNA's coverage of the force in September 2009 cited the party's website as claiming that at the time of the 1995 ceasefire agreement, the MNLA was comprised of 7860 soldiers. Many of its soldiers retired from the army after the party made its 1995 ceasefire agreement with the Burmese military, and in fall 2009 the party's website claimed that troop numbers had fallen to 350 soldiers; this statistic has evidently changed.

Nai Aung Naing's MPDF group gives military training in southern Mon state

IMNA
19 May 2010

Sources report that the Mon Peace and Defense Front (MPDF), a Mon splinter group lead by former New Mon State Party (NMSP) Maj. Gen. Aung Naing, is currently leading a Burmese government-sanctioned military training in Thanphyuzayart Township, Mon State.

Allegedly, the MPDF is holding the training in hopes of attracting new members, so that it might increase its ranks enough to qualify as a State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) led Border Guard Force (BGF). IMNA's field reporter in Thanphyuzayart Township learned that the group has been told by SPDC military authorities that the group needs 500 members to meet BGF standards. Before the commencement of its recruitment campaign in Mon State,
military experts estimated that the group was comprised of roughly 20 individuals.

To increase party membership, MPDF member Nai Shwe has been leading recruitment campaigns in Ye township and La-mine sub-township; members are also campaigning in Mudon and Thanphyuzayart townships, a Lamine resident who received recruitment information explained to IMNA.

According to IMNA's field reporter, the training began since the first week of May and thirty-eight new members attended the course, which is currently being held at a Buddhist temple in Yathaetaung village, Thanphyuzayart Township.

“Currently, the MPDF is campaigning amongst former members of New Mon State Party and graduated students [from university], ” reported the Lamine resident.

This source explained that while the group had succeeded in getting average civilians to attend the Thanphyuzayart training, preference was clearly given to more educated and NMSP-associated recruits.

“Some villagers were titled as lieutenant and some were titled as second lieutenant” said resident from Lamine.
In contrast, University graduates are reportedly to be titled captains, while former NMSP members will at the very least become commanders if they join the MPDF.

Nai Aung Naing resigned from the NMSP in 20008. The MPDF is currently based in Pa-an Township, Karen State. At the time of IMNA's last article about the party, published in January 2010, the party was rumored tentatively aligned with a second Mon splinter group, Nai Shaung's “Rehmonya group”, but this alliance has yet to be formally confirmed.

Khaw Zar town residents struggle with new people's militia tax

IMNA

According to IMNA's field reporter in Mon State's Khaw Zar sub-Township, Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 31 has ordered residents of Khaw Zar town, the region's largest community, to form and fund a new 10-person people's militia.

According to town residents, a meeting about the new militia was held on April 14th at the town's Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) office. Reportedly, the town's quarter headmen explained that each of Khaw Zar town's 700 households must now pay a monthly tax of 3,000 kyat to fund the salaries of the new militia; each household must also contribute an additional 50,000 kyat to the new militia's arms fund.

“ [There are] two quarters in our town, the two headmen held the meeting. We will find the people who want to be in the militia, but the [rest of the] villagers have to pay for them [monthly salaries] and for their guns,” stated a villager who attended the April 14th meeting.

Reportedly, widespread reluctance to join the new militia has sent even the most financially challenged members of Khaw Zar town scrambling for funds.

“If we join the people's militia, we will get 100,000 kyat for one month, but no one wants to join. Every resident is trying to pay money for them [trying to afford the taxes], some of have problems getting the money, but they are trying because they don’t want to join the militia,” a second villager reported.

Despite the sizable paychecks that village militia members often receive, the job is often regarded as highly undesirable inside Burma, largely because of the dangers associated with it. Village militia members are at the mercy of their superiors in the Burmese military; during times of conflict, militias are often caught in the crossfire between Burmese battalions and insurgent group. Reportedly, many Khaw Zar town resident fear that their new militia will soon be caught up in a potential war between the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and the New Mon State Party (NMSP), following the latter's recent decision not to convert their armed wing into an SPDC-controlled force.

According to IMNA's field reporter Khwa Zar town's quarter headmen have, for the last 10 days, ordered town residents to spend the hours between 6 am and 10 am building a security hut next to the town's TPDC office. Once the community's people's militia is formed, the group will use the hut as a checkpoint for maintaining the town's security.

Southeast Command condemns NMSP as “illegal” at USDA conference

IMNA

According to sources, during a May 7th meeting between members of the Mudon and Moulmein Townships' Union Solidarity and Development Associations (USDA) and the Burmese government's Southeast Command (SEC), the latter's Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win warned USDA members that the New Mon State Party (NMSP) should now be considered and “illegal” armed group.

The meeting was held at SEC headquarters in Moulmein city, and attended by a small group of top USDA officials from Mudon and Moulmein. The USDA is a civilian, allegedly non-political, organization controlled by the Burmese military government; the group is most frequently used by the Burmese regime to organize Burma's civil society.

“Maj. Gen. Thet Naing Win said at the meeting, we now [should] recognize the NMSP group as a not legal armed group. [Because of this, they told] the USDA members to be careful,” a USDA member, and meeting attendee, who asked that his personal details remain anonymous explained.

This USDA member also informed IMNA that Thet Naing Win informed meeting attendees that the NMSP had been unofficially considered an illegal armed group since April 28th of this year, the deadline for the party to submit the Burmese government's desire to turn the NMSP's armed wing into a state-controlled militia group. The party has also refused to participate in the upcoming 2010 Burmese elections; under the 2008 Burmese constitution, this renders the party “illegal”.

A high-ranking NMSP member, who requested that IMNA withhold his identity, confirmed his party's yet-unannounced illegal status; he added that the party is currently unsure of the Burmese government's policy regarding “illegal groups”, and that the date of the official announcement of the NMSP's status is highly uncertain.

“Maybe they will announce [our illegal status] today, maybe they will announce it next year,” he elaborated.

The NMSP's public refusal of the State Peace and Development Council's (SPDC) “militia group offer” at the end of April 2010 sparked widespread speculation and fear in communities across Mon State. Many fear that the party's decent into “illegal” status will lead to the end of the ceasefire agreement reached with the Burmese government in 1995.

“The NMSP agreed to a ceasefire with the Burmese government about 15 years ago, the people can [currently] live in their areas in peace, the people want to live with no violence into their areas,” a public service personnel from Mudon town explained to IMNA.

“If the NMSP and SPDC fight, we will have problems, and things will be not safe for us” he added.

Forced reconciliation is not healing Burma's ethnic minority strife

“Unity by force does not last long”. This is point that Burma's ethnic minority leaders often make to Burma's current military regime, pointing to past history for proof.

The Burmese military regime, the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC, is pressuring many high-profile ethnic ceasefire groups from many different areas of Burma - Kachin, Mon, Wa and Shan - to transform their armed forces into “Border Guard Forces” or militia groups, without offering these groups any political settlement or solving any of the long-standing political problems between the SPDC and Burma's minority groups. The regime is using force to pressure ethnic minorities to remain under its control. Many ethnic armed groups have replied that without a political solution, which guarantees rights to their peoples, they will not surrender and will not transform their armed forces into Border Guard Forces or Militia forces. Hence, unity by force, just like in the past, will never work in the present day.

The current Burmese regime is very proud of their three kings, Anawrahta, Bayith Naung and Alung Paya, for establishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd Burman Empires in the 11st century, 15th century and 17th century respectively. Now, the SPDC has placed statures of these 3 kings in Naypyidaw, Burma's new capital, and the SPDC's military leaders salute them and pay tributes to them every year on their Armed Force Day, which falls on March 27th.

History shows that these 3 Burman kings established Burman empires using force and brutal atrocities against other non-Burman ethnic nationalities in the nation's frontier, connecting Mon and Arakan territory, and invading Thailand; in a similar manner, the current military government is trying to colonize all ethnic minorities in a “ 4th empire”. However, each of these 3 Burman empires collapsed in rebellions by ethnic minority groups.

Successive military governments and the Burmese army have invaded the ethnic minority territories since Burma's independence from Britain in 1948; these forces have exploited the ethnic minority regions’ rich natural resources - jade and mining in Kachin State, logs in Shan State and Karen State, natural gas from the Arakanese and the Mon people’s Andaman Sea - and hav weaged wars against these regions' people.

In 1947 and 1948, the ethnic minority groups dreamt about peace and unity with Burman leaders, led by Gen. Aung San (father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi), through the founding of a Federal Union of Burma by signing the Panglong Agreement in Shan State. This is the correct political solution for Burma's problems, but it has been rejected by successive military governments.

SPDC has moved along its 7 point “roadmap to democracy” without considering the different opinions of both pro-democracy opposition groups and ethnic minority nationalities. The SPDC only desires to preserve its political power legally, via the 2008 militarized constitution and its planned 2010 elections. Real national reconciliation will not happen with this constitution and the upcoming elections. Millions of ethnic minority people living in the country's border areas, conflict zones, and rural areas have no chance of participating in the upcoming elections.

A possible conflict could occur in the ethnic minority-controlled areas of Kachin State, Shan State, Mon State and Tenasserim Division, or in the nation's border areas with China and Thailand. Since the ethnic minority political armed groups have had experience with both politics and the military, it is not easy for the SPDC to manipulate these ethnic organizations into lying down and accepting forcible unity with the SPDC’s via its constitution.

The SPDC needs to realize that the country's current political situation is very different from what it was in past centuries, when the Burman kings ruled by force and pressure. In our modern world, where ‘unity through diversity’ is meaningful, the military commanders must alter their strategies in order to establish a union of Burma, where all ethnic groups can live in peace and harmony.

All Mon Region Democracy Party submits party flag and symbol for Commission approval

Loa Htaw, IMNA
17 May 2010

The All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) submitted its party's name, flag and symbol to the Myanmar Union Election Commission on May 14th, the government-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported yesterday.

The party also opened its head office in the capital of Mon State, Moulmein City, at Myaing Tha Yar quarter, stated the newspaper.

The party flag is a new design that differs greatly from those of other existing Mon political parties, party Chairman Nai Ngwe Thein informed IMNA. The party flag sports a white guiding star in front of a Golden Sheldrake (a sacred bird from Mon history) in flight on a red background. The party's symbol is a flying Sheldrake.

“We have to wait and see whether the commission will approve of our leaders, flag, and symbol,” Nai Ngwe Thein reported.

The AMRDP is led by Chairman Nai Ngwe Thein and Vice-chairman Nai Hla Aung, who were elected during the party's most recent meeting on May 10th. The party's flag and symbol were chosen the same day by committee members.

The AMRDP is, at present, the only Mon political group legally participating in the upcoming 2010 Burmese elections, as per the election laws enforced by the Myanmar Union Election Commission. Other Mon political groups, including the New Mon State Party (NMSP), refused to participate in the electoral process, in part because participation requires a party to uphold the much contested 2008 Burmese Constitution, a document that the NMSP has publicly denounced.

“Participating in the elections does not mean that we are going to be the government's slaves and do whatever the government wants. We are going to raise our voice for our people in the parliament” Nai Ngwe Thein told IMNA today.

The AMRDP aims to represent Mon people in all regions of Burma, as well as other ethnic groups living in Mon-controlled areas of the country. The party has planed to campaign in a variety of areas in southern Burma, including Pegu (once part of the ancient Monland empite), Mon State as it was created in 1974, some areas of Karen state, and in Taninsserin Division.

According to The New Light of Myanmar's May 14th publication, the Election Commission has permitted the formation of 28 out of 32 political parties that have applied for approval, and 4 out of 13 political parties are already completely registered.

Karen National Union denies the Burmese government’s bombing accusations

Loa Htaw, IMNA
14 May 2010

Today the Karen National Union (KNU) has denied the Burmese government’s numerous accusations regarding the several recent bomb blasts.

The latest accusation was on the most recent bomb blast, on May 9th, in Three Pagoda Pass (TPP) township at a Burmese military check-point on the Thailand-Burma border.

KNU general secretary Naw Zipporrah Sein said, “The accusations are nonsense. We have no policy to do such things which affect people and we never attack people.”

According to the May 12th New Light of Myanmar newspaper, the two bombers, Aung Aung and Maung Phyu, reported that they were in fact hired by an official from Brigade No. 6 of the KNU.

The two bombers were seriously wounded and were treated in the TPP hospital. Maung Phyu lost his left hand and hurt his left thigh, while Aung Aung hurt his left flank.

A New Mon State Party official believes that the two bombers have been detained by the Burmese military in the TPP township. They were both taken somewhere unknown after a few hours of treatment in the hospital on the night of the bomb blast. They both used to work for the Karen Peace Front which surrendered to the Burmese military government in 1997.

The government has accused KNU of bombings at least three times since the Rangoon bomb blasts in April 2010, which killed more than 10 people and wounded over 70 during water festival. The latest accusation was on the bombing in TPP Township.

In TPP township, there are several ethnic groups in addition to the KNU, which have been fighting with the Burmese government for their ethnic rights. These include the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the Karen Peace Front (KPF) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP).

Mon literature and culture summer schools struggle to keep classrooms open

Loa Htaw, IMNA
13, May 2010

Mon literature and culture summer schools must rely solely on Mon donors for funding, Mon National Literature and Culture Committee (MNLCC) Joint Secretary Nai Hong Dein informed IMNA today. Schools and students alike are suffering as a result.

Nai Hong Dein informed IMNA that funding from a foreign NGO* was cut two year ago, after the organization had provided the MNLCC with financial support for 10 years. This year, the MNLCC has only received aid from Mon individuals and organizations based abroad.

“This year, we have cut down expenditures on the school activities based on the funds we received from our people. We received 600, 0000 kyat for books and 400,0000 kyat for state-level examinations and providing [top students] awards in the closing ceremonies,” he explained. “Normally, it [the Mon summer school project] costs at least 120,00000 kyat per year [to run]”.

“We are not sure where we will get the funds and how we are going to survive for next year. But we will keep running the schools anyway,” he added.

The Mon summer school program was founded by Mon monks in 1941 and has been run by the MNLCC ever since. Traditionally, the Mon community both within Burma and abroad has met most of the needs of the schools, with the aid of some additional funding provided by NGOs based inside Burma.

The summer schools are organized by the MNLCC to give young Mon students the opportunity to study their own ethnic group's literature and culture, subjects which are barred from inclusion in the state-controlled government school curriculum, taught in Mon State during the regular school year.

According to MNLCC statistics, in 2006 the summer school program enrolled a total of 63,320 students and had 1,900 volunteer teachers. The schools operate in almost every township in Mon State, as well as in some villages in Pegu District and Karen State.

Mon literature and culture classes are usually held during Burma's summer season, lasting from March through May, when schoolchildren in Burma are on summer break from government school.

*Editors Note: Name withheld for legal reasons

All Mon Region Democracy Party and Kayin People Party in dire need of funds

Loa Htaw, IMNA
12 May 2010

The All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) and Kayin People Party (KPP) are both desperately seeking election funds from their respective supporters.

Both parties are facing financial problems and are currently in need of funding to cover all costs necessitated by the election process, including party representative fees, traveling, and office rentals, KPP spokesperson Te Say Wah Nyunt and AMRDP leader Nai Janu informed IMNA today.

According to government election laws released in March of this year, each party must pay a fee of 500 thousand kyat per party representative to the Myanmar Union Election Commission.

In the 1990 elections, the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) registered 19 members for its campaign; registering each member cost a fee of 10,000 kyat. The AMRDP spokesperson indicated that the party wishes to register even more representatives for the upcoming 2010 elections.

Party leaders from each group reported that thus far, both parties have only been able to collect funds from among committee members, and are facing difficulties funding traveling and office rental costs.

“Now we are collecting the funds from among committee members and have a temporary office at Insein in Yangon [Rangoon],” Say Wah Nyunt of the KPP reported. “We do not have the money to rent a permanent office yet.”

Representatives from the AMRDP reported that the party currently lacks even the funds to rent any form of campaign quarters.

Nai Janu stated “ The AMRDP has no permanent or temporary office, and will look for an office soon. Approximately, our party needs 120 million kyat, including 500 thousand kyat for each of the representatives, traveling, office renting and other necessary costs.”

“We do not have money. The businessmen have not donated any money yet, and we want our people to help us to run for the election” he said.

The KPP spokesperson also emphasized, “We are only relying on our people. If our people will donate 500 kyat each, we will not have any problems and we hope our people will provide us [with] the funds.”

Both the AMRDP and the KPP will run in the 2010 elections this fall, overlapping their campaigns in in Mon State, Karen State, and Tenasserim division.

All Mon Region Democracy Party (ARMDP)

The party aims to represent Mon State and other ethnic minority groups living in Mon-controlled regions. The party hopes to increase the political and cultural rights accorded to ethnic minorities, and to aid Burma’s transformation into a democratic state. The AMRDP was officially named and founded during an April 7, 2010 meeting and the party name was approved by the Burmese government on May 4th. The party also elected two leaders to and picked a party flag and symbols that they submitted to the Myanmar Union Election Commission on May 10.

The currently elected party leaders, still pending approval from the Election Commission:

1. Chairman: Nai Ngwe Thein (Nai Janu)
2. Vice Chairman: Nai Hla Aung

The fifteen approved committee members:

1. Nai Ngwe Thein (Nai Janu), party leader No. 1
2. Nai Hla Aung, party leader No. 2
3. Nai Seik
4. Nai Baya Aung Moe
5. Nai Nwe Soe
6. Nai Lawi Ong
7. Nai Chit Oo
8. Nai San Tin
9. Nai Thein Han
10. Nai Myo Thit Lwin
11. Nai Soe Thein
12. Nai Aung Ba
13. Nai Sein Aung
14. Nai Sein Tun
15. Nai Than Shwe

Kayin People Party (KPP)

The KPP was founded on March 31, 2001, and submitted to the Myanmar Union Election Commission for approval. The party aims to promote good relations and trust among the different races in the country, to preserve the culture, literature and heritage of each races and to help groups mutually respect each others’ faiths and cultures, to improve the qualifications and capacity of individuals regardless of their faiths and ethnicities, and to promote the identity and quality of life of the Karen people amid these emerging changes.

The party leaders (pending the approval of the Election Commission)

Chairman: Saw Tun Aung Myint
Vice Chairman: Saw Sai Mon

The fifteen committee members:

1. Saw Tun Aung Myint
2. Saw Sai Mon 1
3. Saw Aye Ko 2
4. Saw Kenneth Wai Thor
5. Naw Tin Tin Yin
6. Saw Say Wah
7. Mahn Tun Tin
8. Naw Lorna
9. Nant Mary Sein
10. Saw Moe Myint
11. Naw Thablay Paw
12. Mahn San Tun
13. Mahn Kyae Win
14. Saw Samuel
15. Saw Pink Ko

Alternate members

1. Mahn Sein Hla Win
2. Naw Hsar Htoo
3. Nant Thinn Thinn Aye
4. Nant Marlar Aye

Contaminated water supplies lead to deaths in Ye township

Rai Maraoh, IMNA

Widespread reliance upon unclean waters supplies during this year’s hot season has lead to the outbreak of a deadly diarrhea illness in several villages in Mon State’s Ye Township.

Residents of villages situated near Ye town, including Zeiphyu Taung village, Azin village, and Chaung Taung village have reportedly been suffering from cases of diarrhea since late April 2010. Several individuals have already died from the illness.

During protracted hot seasons, such as this year’s, public wells in Mon state villages often run dry, forcing residents to purchase water from providers outside their communities.

IMNA’s field reporter learned that local water supplies in Ye town and its neighboring villages gave out in April of this year. Unfortunately the water supplies available for purchase this year are contaminated, and diarrhea illness continues to spread.

A doctor from Ye town who works at the local hospital informed IMNA, “In Chang Taung village and Azin village, some villagers have died. 2 villagers from Choun Taung already died because they suffered from diarrhea, but in Ye town no one has died yet, but many people have arrived at the hospital”.

“In Ye town hospital, many people were suffering [from the illness], but I don’t know the number, because some victims just stayed at the hospital for a few days. When I was at the hospital, two of victims were the same as me [sick with the same diarrhea illness]. It was mostly happening to adults,” said a recently recovered Ye town man.

He also informed IMNA that the medical staff at Ye town hospital has been providing family members of victims with preventative vaccinations to prevent the spread of the illness within households.

IMNA’s field reporter learned that all of the villages in the Ye town region contain Burmese government-run health departments; however, these health departments have yet to make any attempt to educate their communities about the recent diarrhea outbreak. Villagers reported that they have received no information about hygiene or living practices that might halt the spread of the illness, or how victims already suffering from infection should be cared for.

Three Pagoda Pass bombing blows up in attackers’ faces

Udaud, Loa Htaw
10 May 2010

Three Pagoda Pass (TPP) residents report that the bombing of a Burmese military checkpoint last night in the Thailand-Burma border Township left its two perpetrators seriously injured. The pair has been taken into custody.

The explosion took place in front of a Burmese military check-point outside of TPP town, at 9:10 pm on the night of May 9th. According to a New Mon State Party (NMSP) official, the two Karen bombers, named Maung Phyu and Aung Aung, drove a motorbike into the “walk only” section of the checkpoint and attempted to throw explosives into the station as they passed by. The explosives missed their mark, and detonated too close to the vehicle, injuring both men. The two were immediately arrested by the battalion.

“The bombers were taken to the hospital for a few hours, and then transferred to Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 284’s base in TPP for investigation last night,” the NMSP official reported.
Maung Phyu lost his left hand and hurt his left thigh, while Aung Aung hurt his left flank, U Tin*, a TTP resident whose home is located nearby the explosion site, informed IMNA.

Sources in the area, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that both Maung Phyu and Aung Aung are former members of the Karen Peace Front. Reportedly, Aung Aung was a former policeman from Hpa- an Township, Karen State, before he joined at KPF. Residents living around the bomb site reported to IMNA that the KPF has already refused responsibility for the bombing, claiming that both perpetrators had resigned from the group long before the events of last night.

The KPF is a Karen armed group that formerly functioned as the Karen National Liberation Army’s Brigade No. 6; in 1997 the leaders of the brigade surrendered to the Burmese military government. The group has subsequently remained loosely allied with the Burmese military and operates a number of road and river checkpoints in the Three Pagodas Pass area, and serves as a semi-administrative presence in the town.

*Editor’s Note: Name changed for security reasons.

Battalion launches missiles into Mudon Township village

IMNA

A series of rocket-propelled-grenades (RPGs) launched into Hnee-padaw village in Mudon Township, Mon State, on May 7th incited widespread panic among villagers. According to witnesses, the missiles struck a private residence, and no injuries were sustained.

Artillery Battalion (AR) No. 318, based in Arbit village in Mon State's southern Mudon Township, shot three RPGs into Hnee-padaw village, which is located roughly 1.5 miles from the battalion's base, at 10 pm on Friday. The battalion has been situated in Arbit village since the Burmese government reached a ceasefire agreement with the New Mon State Party (NMSP) in 1995.

An eye-witness to the explosions, who asked that his identity be concealed, told IMNA, “I saw it when it was shot.” He reported that the missiles struck the toilet room of a Hnee-padaw family's home.

“The villagers were very scared and spread out to run out from the rocket. Some hid on the ground,” he explained.

Hnee-padaw community members informed IMNA that they have attributed the attack to growing tensions between NMSP soldiers and the Burmese military. Villagers feel that the missiles were perhaps meant as a threat to NMSP supporters in the village.

A villager from Hnee-padaw explained, “We ran away because we thought it was a battle between Mon and the Burmese soldiers”.

IMNA's eye-witness to the blasts offered an alternate reason, indicating that the missiles could have been launched during a disagreement between AR No. 318 soldiers regarding to sentry duties around the area.

According to this source, AR No. 318 began patrolling the villages and motorways located in the area of Mudon Township under its jurisdiction in late April, after a string of bomb blasts across Burma and Mon State instigated a security crackdown in the region. Village headmen and local police forces in villages under the battalion's control have reportedly been told to instigate strict security measures to prevent bombings in their villages, including monitoring the movement of visitors in their communities.

IMNA's eye-witness to the attack indicated that the AR No. 318-controlled villages of Young Doung and Hnee-padaw are being particularly targeted for security crackdowns because the villages are believed by Burmese authorities to contain particularly large amounts of NMSP supporters and Mon political organizations.

A Hnee-padaw villager reported to IMNA that residents of the village have been told by their village headman that leaving their homes after 10 pm will make them subject to fines and accusations of foul play. He also explained that Mudon Township has been subject to particularly strict patrols since a bomb exploded in a Thanphyuzayart police station last week; reportedly, Mudon Township authorities fear that their region is next.

Nai Chan Dein group kidnaps 22 Yephyu Township residents

By Asah:
According to sources, on the night of May 5th , members of the Nai Chan Dein group, a Mon splinter faction, broke into the homes of residents in two neighboring Yephyu Township, Tenasserim Division villages, and kidnapped at total of 22 individuals at gunpoint.

15 victims were taken from their homes in Yebu village, while 4 men and 3 women were kidnapped from the neighboring village of Kyout Ta Lin, a resident of the latter community informed IMNA yesterday.

A source in the area, who asked that his identity remain anonymous, informed IMNA that the Nai Chan Dein group has demanded a ransom of 2 million kyat for each of its 22 hostages; reportedly, victims were pre-selected based on their relationship to wealthier families within the area.

IMNA’s source in Kyout Ta Lin claimed that the group is notorious for plaguing the region with demands for funds, but that this latest kidnapping represents a violent escalation of the group’s tactics.

“The Nai Chan Dein group has done [acts similar to this] many times, like demanding money from each household [extortion demands]. But now they have kidnapped the residents and asked 2 million kyat for each of them. This causes trouble for the residents who can’t afford to give them money,” he explained.

He added that the 22 victims are still being held by their captors, and those whose families cannot afford the required sums have reportedly asked that their ransom prices be reduced.

A Yephyu Towship village headman estimated to IMNA that the Nai Chan Dein faction has been asking for arm-fees from villages throughout the township for the last several months

A source from Ye Township’s Zin Ku village, a community of 400 households mostly comprised of farmers and families of migrant workers, reiterated the headman’s claims, and indicated that the group has begun to specifically target wealthy households and communities for its extortion commands.

“The Nai Chan Dein group was coming and asking for money in our village frequently, but they aren’t asking for as much as before. Now a house which is wealthy has to give them 100,000 kayt, but [they only ask] 20,000 for a farmer’s house.”

This resident also added that the group had not set a deadline for the submission of it latest round of extortion demands, although some families had already paid the fees.

The Nai Chan Dein splinter group operates in northern Yephyu Township, and in Mon State’s Southern Ye Township. The group’s last reported kidnapping occurred in January 2009, when the faction accosted 40 Ye villagers journeying from their homes to their rubber plantations, and held nearly 30 of the victims for ransom for a week’s time. At the time of IMNA’s coverage of the incident, Nai Chan Dein currently only commanded between 20 and 30 soldiers.

Burmese Election Commission grants new Mon party permission to campaign

By Loa Htaw:

According to a Burmese Government newspaper on May 5th, the Myanmar Union Election Commission has granted the All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) permission to run in the upcoming multi-party general elections as a legal political party.

The party registered its 15 committee members with the Election Commission last month, and was granted permission to run on Tuesday, the Myanma Alin (New Light of Myanmar) newspaper explained yesterday.

“We are going to meet soon after we will receive the [official] letters from the government. Now we just know about the news from the newspaper,” said Nai Janu, one of the newly registered committee members.

The party will elect party leaders, discuss the design of a party flag and symbol, and draft a constitution to submit to the government during this to-be-held conference, he added,

The AMRDP was officially named and founded during an April 7th, 2010 meeting, and aspires to represent Mon State and other ethnic minority groups living in Mon-controlled regions during the upcoming electoral process. The party also intends to serve as the only Mon party to represent its people in the elections, thereby unifying the people under a single Mon party.

The Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) which won 5 out of 19 parliamentary seats in the 1990 Burmese elections has consistently confirmed the fact that it will not participate in the upcoming electoral process.

As of May 4th, the Election Commission has granted permission to 24 parties out of the 30 who have submitted applications to run in the elections; the cut-off for party applications was today, May 6th. In the 1990 general elections, over 90 parties led campaigns during the electoral process, with the National League for Democracy (NLD) party winning over 80 percent of the Burmese people’s votes; the party was never allowed to rule the country, and its leader, Daw Aung Sun Sui Kyi has been under house arrest for 14 out of the past 20 years.

Three NMSP leaders retire from party

By Loa Htaw:

According to an New Mon State Party (NMSP) insider, 3 NMSP leaders, including the NMSP’s Joint Secretary, have submitted requests to retire from the party.

Following the NMSP’s release of its refusal to become a “people’s militia” under the control of the Burmese government, several members of the NMSP retired from the party, although NMSP spokesperson Nai Chay Mon informed the press on April 23rd that the retirements were not related to the NMSP’s decision.

Executive Committee (EC) and party Joint Secretary Nai Chan Toi, Central Executive Committee (CEC) member Nai Tin Hla, and CEC member Nai Htaw Auein are included in the numbers of retiring NMSP members, IMNA’s source reported.

He explained that the NMSP has not released an official announcement regarding the retirement of its party members, and has not yet formally granted retirement to the 3 leaders yet.

Nai Chan Toi, Joint Secretary of NMSP, has belonged to the party for roughly 30 years. He was first worked at the Township Committee level of the party, and submitted a request to retire from the party last month. He graduated from Moulmein University, and was a former schoolmate of current Southeast Command (SEC) Maj. General Thet Naing Win.

Nai Tin Hla is from Kyaikmayaw Township and Nai Htaw Aein is from Thanphyuzayart Township.

The NMSP elects its leaders during its regular conference; the party confirmed that it would elect replacements during its next such session, but refrained from explaining when this would be.

Karen State Burmese military authorities refuse responsibility for future bombings

By Loa Htaw:

According to a businessman from Karen State’s Kawkareik Township, regional military authorities have responded to recent bomb blasts in Burma by publicly refusing to take responsibility for future such incidents in the area.

A market in Kawkareik Township was bombed on February 15th of this year; according to Mizzima News’s coverage of the event, 3 were injured, and one victim later died from his wounds. The tragedy was followed by a series of bomb blasts across Burma, including one on April 27th in Mon State’s Kyaikmayaw Township.

According to village residents, on May 1st, soldiers from the Burmese Infantry Battalion (IB) No. 81, under the jurisdiction of the Southeast Command (SEC), arrived in Kyone Pae village, Kawkareik Township. According to the businessman IMNA spoke with, the battalion held a meeting that same day, where soldiers informed Kyone Pae villagers that the battalion would refuse all responsibility, legal, investigative, or otherwise, for potential future blasts in Kyone Pae. The announcement reportedly was spurred by rumor of bomb threats within the village.

“The authorities also ordered the villagers to inform them if they receive visitors at their homes, and the villagers will be punished if they do not report [this] to the authorities” he said.

The soldiers also ordered the villagers to watch for blasts from their homes, and to clear garbage from the fronts of their houses, in order to prevent explosives from being planted in the debris, he added.

A second source from Kyone Pae, who asked to only be identified as Mi Non, informed IMNA that residents have been made extremely frightened by IB No. 81’s warnings of future explosions; paranoia about bombs being planted in residential areas is mounting. The battalion is reportedly still stationed in the village.

IB No. 81’s May 1st discussion comes at the heels of similar security meetings held around Mon State; on April 26th, 4 Burmese military battalions called village headmen to their regional bases in Moulmein, Mudon, and Thanphyuzayurt Townships. At the conferences, village headmen were ordered to increase bomb-prevention measures in each of their respective villages, and informed that in the event of an actual explosion within their communities, responsibility for the tragedy would be given to them.