Lower water reveals historic pagodas and potential concerns in dam safety

July 5th, 2010

The origonal Three Pagodas are seen at an unknown date prior to their flooding by the Vajiralongkorn reservoir

Akka : Three ancient pagodas rise up from now dry land which, only a few months ago, was submerged below river waters. Sangkhlaburi, along with other lakeside communities popular with tourists, have been experiencing dramatic decreases in its water levels.

Villagers have reported to IMNA that they do not remember ever being able to see the ancient Pagoda.

However due to low water level, researchers and tourists from all over Thailand have been coming to see the historical Pagoda. The amount of interest being generated for this site from researchers and tourists has been further raised due to the Government’s recent initiative to promote Thailand’s pagodas.

The Three Pagodas were made by Mon people over 400 years ago. Many Mon fled to Thailand during this time because the Mon Kingdom was defeated by the Burmese army in1594. The Three Pagodas mark what used to be the border with Burma.Once arriving in Thailand the Mon built several pagodas, such as this one, the pagoda was built as a tribute to peace and ending conflict.

The remains of the Three Pagodas are seen rising up out of the water as the Vajiralongkorn reservoir empties

Despite the pagoda’s historical significance, in 1984 the Thai Government completed the construction of a hydroelectric dam based in Thom Pha Phum to serve Kanchanaburi District. As a result the water flooded the old town of Songkhalaburi and the Three Pagodas.

The Dam, first named the Khao Laem Dam, and later renamed to Vajiralongkorn Dam, powers three 100MW hydroelectric turbines, powering Kanchanaburi province. Additionally, according to EGAT the dam controls seasonal flooding and provides irrigation water for farmers.

The reservoir is fed by three rivers, the Sangkhlaburi, BeKey and Landdi. While water levels typically drop during hot season, Thailand is suffering from a significant drought that has emptied the lake into area irrigation ditches. According to Thai news sources, twenty-seven of the dams in Thailand have experienced nearly fifty percent water evaporation.

However some area residents also suspect the unseasonably low water level is due to the formation of a crack near the Vajalonkorn dam in Tong Pa Pume after a minor earthquake in 2006. The dam, which is situated over a fault line, has been considered a high-risk area for earthquake damage, according to the Thai newspaper The Nation.

Residents in Tong Pa Pume have reported that the dam has been opening all three of its run off gates in the evenings, and traffic towards the dam face is restricted.

Despite the attraction of the previously submerged pagodas, residents have reported some negative impacts including the cleanliness of drinking water and more frequent disruption of electricity. For reservoir side villages, a continued drop in water levels could impact local economy including, tourism, trade, and fishing.

Nai Chit Nge, who has lived in a houseboat on reservoir for over twenty five years, reported to IMNA that “We have been lived here for a long time. The water was at 226 inches at this time last year, while it is at 108 inches now.”

Kawthaung Temporary Passport Office to move to Ranoung

July 2nd, 2010

BY Akka : The Temporary Passport Office for migrant workers in Kwathaung is moving to Ranoung starting on 1 July 2010.

From 1 July through to 30 September, the temporary passport office will be moved after an agreement was reached between the Thai and Burmese governments.

According to one of public service personnel at Ranoung, the office is being moved because it is much safer and more convenient for Burmese migrant workers in Thailand without ID cards.

“Now that the office has moved here, it is much easier and cheaper for migrant workers to obtain temporary passports, which mean that they don’t need to worry about being arrested.”

She explained that 15 public service police from Burma had already arrived at Ranoung and also over 100 migrants workers have received passports, so as of this week operations are proceeding smoothly.

On an average day at the passport office in Kawthaung, around 400 migrant workers were issued with temporary passports. At the office in Ranoung thanks to a large wide office, around 1000 migrants can be issued with passports in a day, according to one of traveler service.

There are 14 Service Companies in Thailand that assist Burmese migrant workers who want to obtain a temporary passport.

A temporary passport holder can legally go to the whole of Thailand and Burma. Additionally, they hold the same rights as Thai citizens, such as health support, and in the case of violence, the right to make a report to the Human Rights Department.

Although the Thai government initially gave migrant workers without temporary passports until 28 February 2010 to obtain one, they have extended that deadline until 28 February 2012.

There are three temporary passport offices on Thai-Burma border. Ranoung, Myawaddy and Tachileik have all been assigned different registration codes as of 26 May 2010.

Burma Labour Solidarity Organization estimates that there are 2 million illegal and legal Burmese migrant workers in Thailand.

Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge closed by authorities

Juli Chai, Asah

Authorities have closed the Thailand-Burma Friendship Bridge after the swollen river washed away chunks of the Burmese land downriver to Thai side.

The Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge was ordered closed today by Myawaddy authorities though no official explanation was given. However a Burmese official close to members of the Myawaddy Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) told IMNA, “They closed the bridge, because of these land problems between each other. Some of the land from the Burmese side was washed [down and] brought to the Thai-side. Because of that problem, Burma authority closed the bridge to traders from Thailand for a awhile. We heard that they will open after its resolved.”

As the arrival of rainy season brings more frequent and heavy rains, water runs off the nearby mountains and in to the Moei [Thaung Yin] river. In this case, as the river has grown, it has begun washing soil and debris away from the Burmese riverbank, and down to the Thai side of the riverbank.

At the closure of the bride, low level conflict has erupted between authorities, according to several administrators who have spoke with official in Myawaddy. The problem is apparently over the issue of Burmese soil being washed down and deposited on Thai soil, and the loss of trade revenue at the bridge closure.

“They closed today. But many of authorities have said they will be resolved without [much] conflict to other, which it why [they will] close the bridge just a awhile,” added the official close to the TPDC. “However, many cars from inside, from Moulmein or Hpa-an, [are] still coming.”

Additionally, according to a second administrator close to Myawaddy’s TPDC, boats crossing between illegal trade gates which shroud the bridge have been stopped from crossing the fast moving river. The result has already been a drastic cut in income for traders making the trip between Mae Sot and Myawaddy.

“Trucks with goods on Thai side [trading from Mea Sot to Burma] has to stop at the Thai [side] boat quay,” one trader explained. “Also trucks with goods which will be traded by legal crossings over the Bridge have to stop in front of the bridge too.”

Authorities have yet to explain the reason for the close, leaving residents to guess about the cause of the closure and when the bridge and river crossings might re open.

Three days prior, members of the special police arrived in Myawaddy from Nay Pyi Thaw, to check for and seize illegally sold goods. The crackdown spread fear amongst traders of complete losses of goods brought form Thailand, and resultantly shut down their shops and trade. The result has been a series of days of limited trading and little income, explained one Burmese trader explained.

The Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge was built by Thai Authorities in 1995 and opened in 1997.

When open, explained a member of a trade group from Taught District, the bridge and illegal crossings bring many of goods from Thai side, with a profit to Thai traders of nearly 40 million baht each day. With this closure, he believes the economic losses for Thai traders a will be harsh.

Passport office move preempts rainy season dangers

Kon Hadae

The Burmese government temporary passport office in based in Kawthuang will be moved to Ranong during the coming rainy season, according to Kawthaung residents.

The move from Kawthaung to Ranong was arranged in order to ensure easier travel and to avoid the dangerous of boats sinking carrying migrant workers crossing to make temporary passports, a Kawthaung resident who is close to a member of the temporary passport office, said.

“If [you] travel from Ranong to Kawthaung two ways, it takes [a total] time of one hour. Rainstorms normally hit during rainy season,” said the resident, summarizing what he had been told by passport office staff had told him. “It is very dangerous for the travelers. Moreover it is very difficult for the people who have never traveled by boat - they are easily get sick. If they get sea sick it could be bad for them”.

The Burmese temporary passport office staff has begun preparations to relocate to the new office in Ranong, however the move is not yet complete. “I have seen that the new office has been painted, but have not set up the name [sign] yet,” an eyewitness from Ranong described.

A move in location of temporary passport office will make processing of temporary passports more easy for migrants, by shortening the journey and decreasing the cost of the trip. A worker who has already made a temporary passport explained, “[If] we go to Kawthaung from Ranong, we have to pay 100 baht for the boat to get a temporary passport in Kawthaung, [and to return] have to pay 100 baht again. [We pay] a total of 200 baht.”

Nearly 600 migrants a day arrive in Kawthaung to make temporary passports, a Kawthuang based broker told IMNA.

The danger for migrants crossing to Kawthaung is real. On May 15th, 2009 an express boat crossing From Kawthaung to Ranong sank, with 11 people dead and only 8 survivors. During rainy season, boats are stopped for two or more days until the weather is stable. One week ago ships running between Kawthaung to Ranong were halted for 4 days during heavy rainfall, a resident broker reported.

The decision of moving the office came during a government meeting at the foreign minister’s department in Nay Pyi Daw that addressed topics of migrant workers working aboard in Thailand, according to Khitlunge, a government media source, on June 5th.

Retired NMSP leaders may form party to join 2010 election

Akka

Recently retired members of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) appear to be poised to from a second Mon political party to participate in the coming 2010 election.

The three ex-NMSP members, Central Executive Committee (CEC) member Nai Chan Toi, Central Committee (CC) member Nai Tin Hla, and CC member Nai Htaw Auein, filed to retire from the NMSP party after the party refuse the final offer of the Burmese State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to reform its armed wing as a border guard force.

The members were officially recognized by the NMSP as retired during the 2nd week of May.

But the ex senior officials actions since retirement have led some members within their old party, and outside, to suspect the three of preparing to form another political party prior to the 2010 election.

“Now [these] leaders have retired and some [regular] NMSP members, and they have assembled at the NMSP office [Moulmein NMSP office], but did not have permission from the NMSP,” said a current CC member of the NMSP. “The NMSP shut down their office after they reject the border guard force [proposal].”

The NMSP shut their liaison offices in Rangoon, Moulmein, Thanphyuzayart, Ye, Three Pagoda Pass, and Myawaddy after they reject the border guard force on April 22nd, out of fear of an imminent break down in the long standing ceasefire the NMSP has held with the SPDC. The NMSP has maintained a ceasefire with the SPDC since 1995 at which time the NMSP was allowed to open offices in these cities.

According to a Mon political observer, “[The] three NMSP leaders retiring [and] reopening the NMSP office - they will [likely] continue this business and they’re trying to form a [political] party to join in the election.”

A current member of the NMSP, who is with Nai Chan Toi at the shuttered NMSP office in Moulmein, told IMNA briefly that, “He [Nai Chan Toi] has arrived in the Moulmein office now, but I do not know anything,” and refuse to answer further questions when asked for details.

IMNA has also learned that the retired NMSP officials have also traveled to other closed offices, with Nai Htaw Aeuin reopening the NMSP office in Thanphyuzayart, and Nai Chan Toi reopening the office in Ye.

While the retired members have refused to comment about the suggestion of their potential effort to form a new party, a Thanphyuzayart based monk described an instance in which, “Nai Htaw Aeuin said the NMSP had allowed them to join the election”, at a gathering of monks organized by Nai Htaw Aeuin who hoped to win their support for the election.

One current senior ranking member of the NMSP, on the condition of anonymity, commented that, while the deadline for registering a political party passed on May 6th, he believes this possible new group would be given special circumstances under which to form as the government wants to show that NMSP members will participate in the election.

One political observer based along the Thai Burma border commented that a special condition could conceivably be struck, as Lt. Gen Ye Myint has made plans to visit in Moulmein this month with the Southeast Commander Maj. Gen Thet Nai Win.

According to NMSP members it is widely known in the party that the Maj. General has friendly relations with the ex-CEC member Nai Chan Toi, from their period of having attended Mouliment University together. In pervious years every time a meeting was called with the SEC Maj. General Thet Nai Win, Nai Chan Toi attended and acted as the primary liaison.

The All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMRDP) is currently the only other Mon political party prepared to participate in the 2010 election, after submitting their party information for approval by the Myanmar Union Election Commission and opening their office head quarters in Moulmein, the capitol of Mon State, in early May.

Chinese funding freed Burma to participate in Shanghai Expo

By Kong Janoi/ Shanghai

The Chinese government has subsidized the pavilions of developing countries to join the 184 Shanghai Expo.

The funding for the otherwise excluded countries comes as the expo also promises to give foreign nations and companies a chance to further develop business partnerships with China and Chinese companies.

A representative of Bangladesh Pavilion, Mohammad Abdul Halim, said they came to the expo through the expo committee arrangement.

“We did not even invest a single penny on this expo. We even get a salary from the expo committee,” he said. “We get a small building here but it is fine for us.”

According to Shanghai Expo official website the Chinese government spent US $58 billion on the Expo and related infrastructures in Shanghai.

Burma, which shares a border with China and tight economic connections, was invited to the expo this year. It is the first time isolated nations, such as Burma, North Korea, Zimbabwe and Iran, are participating in a world expo.

With the theme of the Shanghai Expo being, “A Better City, A Better Life”, these isolated nations, such as Burma, increase exposure for their culture’s heritage and relation to the economy of China.

These countries’ pavilions have not been popular amongst visitors due to the little amount invested on the pavilions and exhibitions. However some people are still coming to see these pavilions because they have had no lines in which to queue as compared to the more popular pavilions where visitors have had to wait several hours.

Inside the Burmese pavilion, a Hong Kong Tourist, Yuen man-yuk reported, “I felt strange when I saw those countries showing tourist-like attractions in the World Expo because I expected to see such hi-tech exhibitions in the Expo and other fascinating new inventions.”

The Burmese pavilion, which is part of the Joint Asia Group III, shares it’s building with Laos. The Burmese theme, entitled “Better Urbanization with Harmonized Eco-System”, is designed like a Mandalay palace inside, and features a hanging picture of Shwedagon pagoda as the background. In the pavilion local customs and culture are introduced. Additionally the pavilion hosts the sales of diamonds and other Burmese products.

However there are no Burmese staff present in the pavilion, compared to other countries have their own staffs to represent their country. Visitors have reported that due to the building’s size and little visual development, the “Better Urbanization with Harmonized Eco-System” takes five minutes visit.

The offer by China to fund Burma’s pavilion is telling, Nyo Ohn Myint, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee for the National League for Democracy Librated Area (NLDLA), believes. Nyo Ohn Myint says that China wants to influence those countries in term of economy and politics.

“China has a lot of border trade [between the] Burmese and Chinese government,” notes Myint. “They want Burmese government to be more efficient and independent economically within the Chinese scope, So they can grow a Chinese economic empire. That is why the Burma [is] invited [to] the Expo.”

Xinhua, a Chinese government controlled news agency, said that China and Burma will sign a series of agreements to boost existing bilateral trade, which reached US $264 million this year.

Burma has faced economic sanctions form the United States and other western countries since 1990 when the ruling military junta refused to acknowledge the results of national election that overwhelmingly elected the opposing party, the National League for Democracy, led by noble laureate Aung San Su Kyi.

Since, the question of sanctions has been increasingly divided, as 20 years later the Burmese military regime remains in power and the Burmese economy remains stagnant.

Myint added, “The Burmese government exports only raw material like timber and some kinds of natural resources. China wants Burma to be more open minded to deal with the world because the sanctions are part of the problem in that Burma cannot co-exist the international economic sector. But that [also makes] China [the] only door for Burmese government to deal with international communities.”

For some visitors that attend the Burmese pavilion at the world expo, the Chinese effort to support Burma’s fledgling pavilion, is an opportunity for awareness. A United States tourist, Matt Maar, said the China effort inviting isolated countries to the Expo is a sign of a new step to solve their problems.

“It is good because isolation is not going to solve the problem. They should be given a chance see and realize [what] benefit there is to open their countries. I think the move by China is on right track.”

Villagers ordered to fund reconstruction of Headman’s home

Kon Hadae
June 2, 2010

Villers from Ye Phyu Township have been asked by the village headman to pay for the costs of rebuild his house which was destroyed by a Mon insurgent group, according to villagers.

A Htan Ja Nu villager, that received the order from the headman, explained to IMNA that the village residents were being made to pay depending on their income. Families who have the highest income have to give 20,000 kyat, families who have moderate income have to give 15,000 kyat, and families that are bring in the lowest income receive 10,000 kyat.

“I heard from the headman say, ‘it is good my house was gotten in [the] fire because I am going to get a new house,’” a Htan Ja Nu villager recalled. “He has nothing to worry about. But it is problem for villages who were asked [for] money for the headman’s new house.”

The headman old house, which was built of wood, will be rebuilt in brick but at a greater cost, another villager said. It is not clear if the house will be larger, with one floor or two. He added that there are about 400 households in Htan Ja Nu village, so that when the village headman finishes collecting the money, he will get nearly 8 million kyat.

“The new house began to be built over 3 weeks ago. It still being built,” an eye witness from the village said.

According to KaoWao Newsgroup, on April 30, the splinter group, the Mon National Defense Army (MNDA) and local Burmese government Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 282 engaged each other in the area in a 15 minute skirmish, and the house was set in fire. But a local source clarified to IMNA’s reporter that during fighting the MNDA bombed the headman’s house intentionally. The house caught on fire and 7 people in the house, including 2 daughters of the headman, were injured. The sourced said that the headman and his wife were not injured. The identities of the remaining victims could not be confirmed though the villager confirmed one was a retired SPDC officer.

According to a local villager, the headman’s house had been targeted in the attack due to his frequent cooperation with the Burmese military. The villager noted the headman frequently agreed to demand fees from villagers by the order of the local battalion, as well as implement forced militia trainings.

Following the attack on the headman’s house, villagers were banned by the local Burmese LIB from sleeping in their plantations, which are located in the surrounding jungle.

In combination with the housing repair tax, the ban on plantation work has hit Htan Ja Nu villagers hard. Villagers report having to walk 1 to 2 hours in just one direction to reach their plantations. This is particularly problematic for rubber plantation owners who can just work at night.

The ban on night work in plantations has placed even greater pressure on the families who fall within the lowest income bracket. Many are reported to have taken loans from other residents to pay for the cost demanded to repair the headman’s house.

“Our villagers were only allowed to bring rice with them for one day of work in their plantations,” a local plantation owner who mostly sleeps at his plantation in the jungle told to IMNA. “They[Burmese military] worry that we will sleep in our plantation and make contact with Mon splitter group (MNDA).”