Residents from New Mon State Party territory react to advance of Burmese battalions

May 3, 2010

HURFOM: Reports that military columns from the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) have entered into territory controlled by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) have fed fears amongst area residents of a potential break in the 15 year old cease fire.

According to a HURFOM field reporter in the areas close to where the incursions have been reported, on April 18th the military column from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 282 arrived in Rot Tha Mah village and the next day, the 19th, an unidentified number of soldiers from LIB No. 273 arrived Toe Lawi village. Both villages, which act as resettlement camps and havens for internally displaced persons, are about 4 miles far from NMSP Yebyu district head quarters for MNLA Battalion No. 2.

As a result villagers living in Toe Lawi village have reported being worried about having enough food to survive. Because these villages act as centers for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and therefore lack a regular structure for food growth, the Mon Relief Development Council (MRDC) has regularly brought 3 month supplies of rice for residents. It is not immediately clear how many residents live in the villages as the numbers constantly shift due to the constant influx and departure of resettlement and IDP populations.

“Right now we are blockaded by the SPDC soldiers because they are around us [on the roads]. We cannot go out of the village. If go we only can go empty handed without carrying out things. … when we live in the village we [are] worried about the SPDC soldiers using us as guides, human shields and minesweeper” explain 40 year-old Toe Lawi villager.

A villager in Joe Kha Bru village told HURFOM how most villagers there have packed their belongings as they prepare to try and move back to Ye town or other parts in Mon State.

According to resident from another regions of Mon State, Burmese soldiers from LIB No 209, No. 273 and No. 282 have now occupied land about 10 miles from Yebyu district MNLA Battalion No. 2, in Su Vona Bone village and about 10 miles from NMSP central headquarter in Ye township.

An ex NMSP soldier have his opinion when interviewed by HURFOM, Burmese soldiers do not respect the ceasefire agreement between NMSP and SPDC signed in 1995. He reported soldiers have been entering into NMSP control territory throughout 2010 without informing the NMSP and occupying some NMSP areas.

On April 22nd the SPDC and NMSP held a definite meeting in which the SPDC requested the NMSP turn its armed wing into a peoples militia force. The NMSP officially rejected the request after which large number of civilians from NMSP control areas moved to areas nearer to the Thai –Burma border such Khalocknee resettlement camp.

As tensions have increased the only secure way for residents to travel is with members of the NMSP, as they also have begun to relocate over fears of impending conflict. Asaid, a 50 year old Joe Kha Bru villager explains, “We are ready to move when the NMSP members move; we don’t know where we should go and live, we only know to accompany the NMSP”.

Other villagers have expressed fear about being associated with the NMSP. A villager form Su Vona Bone village told HURFOM he must move. “We are better off leaving the village because we live under control of the NMSP area; the Burmese soldiers surely will make problems for us [if we stay in NMSP territory].”

The sudden threat of war has created problems for some villagers who make their living through farming. One farmer explained that relocating and abandoning nearly harvestable crops would be a severe economic loss.

According to a HURFOM field reporter, many Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) soldiers’, the armed wing of the NMSP, have been urging their family members to move from NMSP headquarters and controlled area to Khalocknee resettlement camp.

“If the SPDC soldier and NMSP soldiers will fight we don’t know where we should go and hide – our village is very close between both sides,” explained a Pa Nan Paing villager.

In Three Pagoda Pass area families of NMSP members have begun moving to Palaijapan army camp along the border. Je Pyah which had been established by the NMSP on MNLA Battalion No. 3 land is now reported to be empty of all MNLA soldiers, as is the previously operated MNLA checkpoint near by.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News