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Food crisis looms in refugee camp on Thai-Burma border

Lawi Weng:

With camp authorities in Ban Don Yang, on the Thai-Burma border announcing a cut in rations for next month more and more desperate refugee camp inmates are attempting to find work outside.

Many refugees grow paddy on the mountainside for food. Some look for vegetables or bamboo shoots while others hunt for wild animals in the jungle to earn money, worried as they are about an imminent food crisis in the camp, said Nai Taramon, a refugee in the camp. Read more

UN and international community need to prioritize issues in Burma

Lawi Weng, HURFOM:

The extension of the detention period for pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for a further 12 months marks yet another sad day for the people of Burma.

The junta’s aspirations are clear. Releasing Suu Kyi may help promote democracy in Burma, and they don’t want that. They cannot allow her or her prominent followers, some of whom they continue to pursue and arrest, to re-enter the political arena. Read more

Manipulation in the People’s Referendum

HURFOM:

The ruling military regime planned to win the May 2008 People’s Referendum at any cost because they already plan to win the 2010 Elections. In the People’s Referendum, the SPDC authorities and their supporters from USDA and other organizations planned to manipulate votes. Read more

Child Arrested for Father’s Crimes

WCRP:

Thanpyuzayat authorities arrested 13 year-old Mi Seik Hlone at 11:30am on the 13^th of February, 2008 as she attended her Mon National School class. The arrest came about after her father, Nai Sai, was found guilty of manslaughter, following a violent argument between him and other man on the 1^st of February; he and his wife fled shortly after the incident. Read more

All Ages Amphetamine Use on the Increase in Mon State

HURFOM:

The origins of the recent influx of amphetamines into Sanghklaburi are unknown and widely debated; the Mon people claim the pills are Karen in derivation while the Karen point the finger at the Mon. A third contender is the Burmese officials, who most people agree have a hand in the illegal trade in some way. Thus the question of amphetamine production is a complex one, and it is not confined to the illegal trade category, with widespread use becoming more commonplace inside Burma. Read more

Referendum 2008; Burma’s Road to a False Democracy

SPDC announce 92.4% approval for the constitution

Introduction

Under 46-years of military rule the people of Burma have had to live with near-constant intimidation and oppression leading to adversity politically, economically and socially. These people live in fear of the government’s intelligence and cannot speak freely. Ethnic minorities are ignored or marginalized by forced relocations and guerilla fighting. People are imprisoned for daring to challenge or question a highly suspicious and edgy government. Read more

NMSP Make Second Amphetamines Arrest

By Lawi Weng:

Over 3,000 amphetamines were seized and a smuggler arrested by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) near Three Pagodas Pass on the Thai-Burma border on Friday evening, according to source from NMSP.

Saw Moe Win, 38 years old, is from the Karen ethnic minority. According to the NMSP, the amphetamines were linked with the activities of the armed ceasefire group Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). Read more

Pre-vote Under Control of Mon Ceasefire Group

HURFOM:

In the lead up to the May 10 referendum, pre-vote boxes were sent to New Mon State Party (NMSP) controlled areas yesterday, according to a NMSP officer in Halockani camp.

The pre-voting period will conclude by May 10, in line with the Three Pagodas Pass Vote Commission instructions to the NMSP. Read more

Rice prices rise 25% in Three Pagoda Pass

HURFOM:

Rice prices have risen twenty-five percent in Three Pagoda Pass on the Thai-Burma border.

Two weeks ago a 60 kilogram bag cost 820 baht. Today, the price is 1030 baht.

While much of South East Asia is facing a rice shortage, unseasonably early rains have made the roads along which new supplies of rice must travel to Three Pagoda Pass impassable. The early rains caught some traders by surprise, and they have not had sufficient stocks to handle the supply disruption. Read more

Villagers forced to guard pipeline as referendum approaches

By HUFROM:

Villagers in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, are being forced to guard a section of the Kal Bauk to Myine Kalay gas pipeline in response to rumors that ethnic rebels will bomb the pipeline during a national referendum, scheduled for May 10th.

Recent rains have destroyed fences and removed soil, exposing previously protected sections of the pipeline. Burmese Army Infantry Battalion No. 6 has ordered shifts of three villagers to guard sections of the pipeline, day and night. The civilian guards are not paid, must provide their own food and water and have also been ordered to repair fences along the pipeline. Read more

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