Burma_Thailand: Shan community groups: Don’t push refugees back into active war zone

 

 

MONDAY, 27 AUGUST 2012 15:47 SHAN COB

August 27, 2012

Press release

Shan community groups: Don’t push refugees back into active war zone

Shan community groups are gravely concerned about imminent repatriation of over 500 refugees from a camp on the northern Thai border into an area of active conflict.

Today, the Norwegian Refugee Council, contracted under the Norwegian-led “Myanmar Peace Support Initiative,” will begin house-to-house surveys of refugees in Koung Jor camp, northern Chiang Mai province, about their willingness to return to Mong Hta, about 20 kms across the border. This almost deserted village has been designated as a resettlement site for refugees during ceasefire negotiations between the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and the Burmese government.

Since the SSA-S signed a ceasefire in December 2011, there have been ongoing skirmishes, including in Mong Hta, between Shan troops and the Burma Army, which has not pulled back from conflict areas and has reneged on territorial agreements. Burmese Railway Minister Aung Min had promised the sub-townships of Ho Mong and Mong Hta, bordering Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai provinces, to the SSA-S, but there are still over 40 Burmese military camps in these areas.

The refugees in Koung Jor told Norwegian representatives in July they did not want to go back to Mong Hta due to fear of the Burma Army and other pro-government militias in the area, which is littered with land-mines. Most of the refugees are not from Mong Hta, but from Central Shan State.

The survey starting today in the camp is spreading panic among the refugees, who fear they will shortly be pushed back. The Norwegian Refugee Council has programs inside Burma, but has never before worked with Shan refugees.

“The refugees must not be used as guinea-pigs to test out the peace process,” said Sai Khur Hseng, of the Shan Sapawa Environmental Organisation “Instead of putting pressure on the refugees, international donors should pressure the Burmese government to negotiate a just and lasting peace.”

Shan community groups released a statement in June 2012 calling on foreign governments and donors supporting the peace process in Burma to be neutral and not to push ethnic groups under the Burmese government’s pro-military 2008 constitution.

Sai Khur Hseng: 0816722031, shancbosforum@gmail.com
Ying Harn Fah, 0892627848
Moan Kaein, 0819921121
Charm Tong: 0816036655

Shan community groups: Shan Human Rights Foundation, Shan Sapawa Environmental Organisation, Shan Women’s Action Network, Shan Youth Power, Shan Youth Network Group

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Background of Koung Jor Refugee Camp 

Koung Jor camp is situated about 500 meters from the Shan border, in Wiang Haeng district of Chiang Mai province. The refugees in the camp fled to Thailand in May 2002 from fighting between the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) and the Burma Army.

Most of the refugees are from Central Shan State. They had been forced from their homes during the mass forced relocation by the Burma Army in 1996-1998, and moved to stay in villages close to the Thai border, south of Mong Hta, opposite Wiang Haeng. At that time, the border crossing point was open, and villagers were able to make a living from trading.

The area of Mong Hta, formerly under Shan resistance control, had been taken over by the Burma Army in 1996, when Khun Sa’s Mong Tai Army surrendered. During 1999-2000, the Burma Army allowed United Wa State Army (UWSA) to move troops and families from northern Shan State into the area. In May 2002, the SSA-S attacked the Burma Army and UWSA bases around Mong Hta, causing villagers in the area to flee to Thailand for safety. Some villagers who were left behind were tortured and killed by the Burma Army.

Over 600 refugees were given shelter in temples on the Thai side, where they lived in cramped conditions for one year. In mid-2003 they were allowed to set up a camp in the grounds of Wat Fah Wiang Inn Temple, close to the border crossing of Lak Teng. 

Arakanpost July August 2012

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Burma: Arakanese houses put up for sale in Maungdaw

Maung Aye

Maungdaw: A number of houses owned by Arakanese in downtown Maungdaw in Arakan State are now reportedly being put up for sale.

The house in Maungdaw will be sold.( Photo- Eleven Media)

“Yes, I have found some houses of Arakanese with billboards that read “this house will be sold”. It is very regrettable and that shows mainly that there is no secured conditions for Arakanese to live in their town anymore”, said an Arakanese elder living in downtown Maungdaw.

A youth from Ward No. 1 in Maungdaw also said the numbers of Arakanese houses that are advertised to be sold are increasing within the last few days.

“Now there have been already 16 houses being advertised for sale. There is no security for Arakanese to live in the town because the masterminds of recent violence who include the UN and NGO employees were freed by the government without taking any action. As the government has done so, the future situation here will become worse and many residents in Maungdaw now fear that they lack security for their lives. So, they are now preparing to move to Rangoon after selling off their properties here”, said the youth.

He said that some of his neighboring houses are amongst those up for sale as well.

Another elder from Maungdaw said the Arakanese residents have decided to move to other places from their town after the government released the main suspects of the violence in their area in fear of international pressure.

“The situation here will be under control as long as the forces of the army are deployed. If the army retreats, the situation will get worse again because the government has already released the culprits who are most responsible for the arson attacks and killings of Arakanese people in our area without taking any action against them. There is no law to protect us here and who should we rely on for our security. So, we have to decide to leave”, said the elder.

He said the recent news of bomb threats on five landmark places in Maungdaw that include Alodawpyiy Monastery, Police Station, and Telegraph Office has also heightened the anxiety amongst the local residents for their security.

Many Arakanese residents said there will not be sustainable security for them to live in Maungdaw due to the weaknesses in government’s administration and the armed security forces are still deployed in every public place and around the residential wards in order to control the situation.

Narinjara news

trade-fair-held-to-raise-funds-for-arakanese-and-kachin-children

Aung Khine Mike (Rangoon)

A trade fair with the aim of raising funds for the education of children from Arakan and Kachin states was held on the 25th of August in the Taw Win Center-Shopping Mall in Pyay Road in Rangoon.

The fair was organized by the Parahita (Philanthropic) Youths Network based in Rangoon.

“We faced so many difficulties while trying to make this fair possible. We are now very happy because we can hold the fair successfully and so many people have come to participate in the fair as well”, said a leader of the youths.

An entertainment program was also included in the trade fair and singers from the youth group entertained entertained the visitors with songs dedicated to finding in Burma.

The youth group sold food, photos, paintings, traditional sling bags and other souvenirs at the fair in order to raise the education funds for Arakanese and Kachin children.

Ko Min Ko Naing, the leader of 88-Generation Students also participated in the trade fair and delivered an encouraging speech to the youth group.

“When I was in prison, I had heard that youngsters were indulging in fun, such as playing games, and were leaving for foreign countries. Now these young people have proved to me with their good deeds that they are not as I had heard”, said Ko Min Ko Naing in his speech.

The fair was held from 9 am to 9 pm in the shopping mall which teemed with crowds.

 http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/trade-fair-held-to-raise-funds-for-arakanese-and-kachin-children/

KI A attacked back to government military unit which attacking to LaiZar headquarters

Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) attacked back to government military unit seriously which is attacking to LaiZar headquarters said one of KIA commanding officer.

“Two battles are still fighting near LaiZar headquarters. It started since yesterday. But today, it is more serious and take long times than yesterday. And also battles are spreading on the way of LaiZar headquarters’ food supply and transportation. At least, it is spreading about (5, 6) battles. It is seriously. We cannot tell it certainly yet.”  Commanding officer said that on 28, August, 2012.

The battles are fighting in the main area of LaiZar and also spreading at Brigade 5 areas. Yet the government military units was attacking to LaiZar headquarters in everyday, they could not come closer about months and then KIA’s military units attacked to government again as in this current.

In KIA Brigade 5 area, have fought between Kha La Ya (56)’s military unit and KIA’s Common Security military unit near Doh Phone Yan School on 27 August. Similarly, government military unit Kha La Ya (260) and KIA’s battalion (3) military unit have fought at the area between Wu Htaung and Lawh Khaung on that 27, August. And then, government’s Kha Ma Ya (301) military unit and KIA’s battalion (3) have fought near Kha Zuu village again.

Other than Brigade (5) area, KIA’s battalion (6) under control military unit (Pher Kat area) have fought with government’s Kha La Ya (272) military units at Phyu Hmaw, Sai Jar Bwan, and Morning Star Company or (Moe Tauk Kyal Company) on 27 August in morning 9 am until 4:30 pm. Those battles are continuing until today and KIA is in better situation said local people on 28, August.

Thus, Pher Kat local people moved to Pher Kat Town. KIA’s military units form Pher Kat had upper hand on government and attacking on them more seriously said local people.

Before KIA’s military units attacked back, they first seriously attacked to government’s back row, food supply and transportation forces which for government’s military units attacking to LaiZar headquarters. KIA had upper hand on the government’s back row and continuing attacked back to government’s front forces near LaiZar headquarters.

 http://www.phophtaw.org/english/

Burma-War: 6,000 people flee from Hpakant battle

Tuesday, August 28 — Within two weeks, over 6,000 miners and residents in Burma’s Hpakant jade mine have fled from war zones to local Christ churches and Buddhist monasteries in Hpakan.  The fighting intensified in the jade mining region in western Kachin State when a Burmese Army column took position near Maw Mau Bum— the jade mining village and strategic military post for the Kachin Independence Army’s Battalion 6. The internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently receiving basic food and medical assistance from the religious organizations and jade companies.  According to local volunteers, no IDPs to date have received government support.

KNG Newswaf

Burma: From Map Ta Phut to Dawei, Aug 27, 2012 by Kwe Ka Lu video

Burma: Eight Thai Citizens Facing Prison

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Eight Thai citizens were among 92 people sentenced to 7 years in prison by a Burmese court in  Kawthaung, southern Burma on August 24, after being found guilty bringing illegal guns to Burma, according to local sources. The court found the group guilty of illegally importing the weapons into Burma following an investigation into eight people that ended in July. A source from Kawthaung Township who is close to the Burmese authorities told Kaowao that “They sentenced eight people for 7 years. There will also face one more charge in relation to possession of illegal drugs.” The eight people who were sentenced for gun running were part of a group of ninety two Thai citizens who violated immigration and forestation laws in Burma and were each sentenced by a court in Kawthaung Township to three and half years in prison on July 23. The 82 men and 10 women were arrested for encroaching on Burmese territory on July 4. Security forces seized timber-cutting machinery, bulldozers and trucks which they say were being used for illegal logging. narinjara news

Burma_Kachin:The local people will demonstrate from World largest Tiger Reserve.

By: KDNG

Thursday, 23 August 2012 11:35

The local people from the world largest tiger reserve in Hugawng, Tanai town ship, Kachin State, Burma, they are arriving to Yangon for demonstrating. This demonstrating is to get back their land 2 millions are-ca which were confiscated by Yuzana company. The company own by the MP U Htay Myint.The over 20 land owners from Sha Htu Zup, Awng Ra, Ban Kawt, Lajaba, Sanpya, Warazup. If the government doesn’t solve their land issue, they are preparing for demonstration at the in-front of Company, Ba Han town ship. Gold mining at Hugawng Tiger Reserve by Yuzana company. “We will do press conference at 1 PM in the City Star hotel and tomorrow will be asking authority to get permit for demonstrating. If the company doesn’t consult anything on it, we demonstrate at the in-front of Yuzana Company” Daw Bawk Ja said to Irrawaddy; who is helping to farmer group and NDF party member. The company has confiscated the land for sugar cane, tapioca plantation as boi fule sine 2006. Local people said that the company started large scale gold mining in February 2012. The local people have sued to company at Kachin State court since 2008 to 2012 but it doesn’t work. So they have to come to Yangon to know public. “Our land was grabbed by company, nobody know that case. So we don’t have any work for survive and have face difficulty for surviving and child education. If we did demonstration at our place, nobody would know and we would be oppressed by authority” said by Laja Ba whose 10 are-ca land was confiscated. Company is doing large scale mining at the  Large scale of gold mining by Yuzana company and village track officer in World the biggest tiger reserve  in Hugawng valley.The gold mining area has confiscated farmland a long Mogawng river from local people by Yuzana company. The reason for gold mining is constructed middle school in Sanpya village for local people under development project. But local people did not have benefit from the gold mining. School in Sanpya village is still lack of education for children and they have no equipments and materials.  Village track officer U Bahkyam Naw Di and Yuzana company give access to extracted gold mining.  Yuzana company and village track officer collect tax,  for one mining (500,000/-) five hundred thousand kyat and (300,000/-) three hundred thousand per month for gold bucket machine by boat in water.The gold mining under development project causes social problems are land confiscation, 90% of people using drug, sex industry. Large scale of environmental destructed by gold mining in the tiger reserve. People in Yuzana company area and gold mining in Tiger reserve have no rule of law and like as no administrated rule. People have challenged dangerous for their livelihood. Local authority always said that this is development for local people. Gold mining have extended more and more till today. But Local people are more and more suffering under development project. http://www.kdng.org/news/34-news/269-the-local-people-will-demonstrate-from-world-largest-tiger-reserve.html

Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burmese Government Set the New Dates for Third Round Negotiations

Karen National Union (KNU) and the Burmese Government Set the New Dates for Third Round Negotiations

28 Aug 2012

The Karen National Union (KNU) and the Government of Burma have agreement to set the new dates for the third round negotiations meeting.

The two parties agreed to meet from September 3 – 4, 2012 in Hpan-an, Karen State. The 3rd round negotiations meeting will focus on the guarantee of safety for civilian and the building of trust progressively at every level of negotiations. The following items will be principally discussed:

(1) The relocations of the Burma Army troops systematically from Karen State and other conflict ridden Karen areas; and
(2) The Code of Conduct, which was drafted by the KNU and submitted to the Burmese Government.

KNU believes that the endeavor to achieve a lasting peace after decades of armed conflicts and political disputes will be possible through the participation and support of all concerned parties and stakeholders.

The spokespersons will answer any questions from the media or the public.

Contact: Naw May Oo Mutraw – Phone: (66) 85 248 3013, Email:knu.nego@gmail.com

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