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Residents troubled by gambling in Three Pagodas Pass

 HURFOM: People living in Three Pagodas Pass, a commercial hub that straddles the Thai-Burmese border, reported that corruption and illegal activities related to gambling and prostitution continue to afflict the town in 2013, with little intervention by local or state-level authorities. Out of the four administrative quarters in Three Pagodas Pass (TPP), Quarter 3 was alleged as the most notorious for gambling and corruption due to its large population of diverse ethnic groups and armed resistance members. Read more

Infrastructure lacking in Ye Township

HURFOM: Residents of Ye Township in Mon State recently reported feeling left out of government sponsored infrastructure and social development programs they said appear to be aiding other nearby areas. The perception has caused several Ye inhabitants to approach local and state-level governments, policymakers, members of parliament, and non-governmental organizations with the message that public assistance in transportation, communication technologies, and electricity is desperately needed to advance community wellbeing. The primary complaint made was that despite Burma’s political parties having new freedoms to submit community development proposals to the government, they have failed to champion these local causes. Read more

Mon Women’s Day celebrated on Thai-Burmese border

HURFOM: The morning of March 23 marked the 8th commemoration of Mon Women’s Day, an event that raises awareness about women’s rights and mobilizes social activism and collaboration among the Mon women’s community. The celebration is held in a different location each year, but always shares its date with the birthday of famed Mon Queen, Shin Saw Puu.

“Queen Shin Saw Puu was the only queen to reign over Mon Hanthawaddy Pegu in lower Burma. During her rule, no fighting occurred between Mon and other ethnic groups because of her influence and skill,” said Nai Shew Thein, a former executive committee member of the New Mon State Party (NMSP). “For this reason we decided Mon Women’s Day should fall on her birthday.” Read more

“Unofficial” tollgates taxing commercial truck drivers

HURFOM: In the past year, numerous travellers passing through Mon State and other parts of Southern Burma have regularly voiced positive reports about greatly reduced travel costs, decreased tollgate restrictions, and minimal inspection and identification checks. However, commercial truck drivers in the border area continue to allege that the government has not properly addressed corruption and extortion in the outlying areas, asserting that reforms still only benefit more urban populations. Read more

Tolls increase at new Border Guard Force gate

HURFOM: An important commercial route that connects the Thai-Burmese border to Ye Township in Mon State runs across a series of adjacent areas under the distinct control of the Karen National Union (KNU), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), and New Mon State Party (NMSP). Before last October, the road was marked by five tollgates, three managed by Karen groups and two by the NMSP, until a new gate was established by the Burmese Border Guard Forces [BGF] in Nae Phyar, close to where the road inclines to straddle Dey Byu Mountain. Around 40 truck drivers report regularly using the road to transport materials, and complaints have mounted that the newest toll is damaging trade revenue. Read more

Child protection conference in Kanchanaburi

HURFOM: On February 8, the Labor Rights Promotion Network (LPN) held a conference in Kanchanaburi to discuss collaborative approaches to child protection in Thailand. Participants included members of law enforcement, teachers, hospital staff, and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and particular emphasis was placed on seven central and western provinces, like Kanchanburi and Samut Sakhon, where labor migration, human trafficking, and child labor are common. LPN, a Thai NGO, closed the conference by exploring the root causes of risks facing children today and developing ways to improve child protection. Read more