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Bitter pills Breaking the silence surrounding drug problems in the Mon Community

I.    INTRODUCTION

In late 2012 the New Mon State Party (NMSP) initiated a vigorous anti-drugs campaign throughout various Mon communities in Burma.¹  Arrests of numerous drug smugglers were made, drug-using youth were sent to NMSP rehabilitation centres, and signs were erected in villages calling on residents to resist and combat drug use. This wave of action brought an issue to the table that had thus far been surrounded by silence from relevant authorities. Prior to this, domestic and international discussions of Burma’s drug problems had largely been restricted to regions in Upper Burma, in particular Shan State. However, NMSP action highlighted that drugs were also prevalent in Mon communities and were being abused by Mon youth. Read more

Land tax controversy between Ye residents and military battalion

HURFOM: An annual land tax has caused a dispute between residents from Ye Township’s Tu Myaung village and a Burmese military battalion. In previous years the tax was paid by Tu Myaung residents in exchange for permission to work on land confiscated from them in 2001. However, this year residents took a stand against military authorities and refused to hand over payments. Read more

New HURFOM report highlights use and trading of drugs in the Mon community

The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) released a report on drug problems in the Mon community, drawing on testimony from 140 individuals. The report aims to give a preliminary account of drug use and trading in Mon populations, exploring issues that range from the causes of rising youth drug use to the New Mon State Party’s (NMSP) recent anti-drugs campaign. HURFOM’s aim is to encourage a new focus on the issue, breaking a long-held silence to call for collaborative action from all relevant authorities. Read more

Land destruction looks set to continue in path of Thanbyuzayat to Three Pagodas Pass road

HURFOM: For the last two years construction has been underway on a 64.5 mile road, linking Thanbyuzayat in Mon State to the Thai-Burma border town of Three Pagodas Pass in Karen State. In a new move, the government’s Ministry of Construction Department, based in Burma’s capital Naypyidaw, has contracted out parts of the construction to 7 private companies: Dragon Power, Marn Pyi Tagon, Swan Ar Pyae, King General, May Lin Aye, 3K Star Power, and Shwe Chaung Zone Development. With HURFOM investigations suggesting that 280 acres of land have already been destroyed as a result of the project, villagers living along the road’s path have expressed concerns about what this latest development will mean for their land. Read more

Farmers in Kyiakmayaw Township seek justice for 2011 land confiscation

HURFOM: Farmers from Mae Kro village, Kyiakmayaw Township, Mon State have become some of the latest landowners to appeal to the government seeking justice for past land confiscations. This fact, and details of the original confiscations, were revealed by an April 2013 survey of 40 farmers from Mae Kro village, undertaken by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM). Read more

Unnamed armed group collects unpopular tax from residents in Ye Township

HURFOM: At the end of last month, residents in Mawkanin village, Limine Sub-Township, Ye Township, Mon State were asked by members of an unnamed Mon armed group to pay a set of unexpected and allegedly unwarranted taxes. Read more

Fraudulent government workers leave Kaw Pa Naw farmers uncompensated for land

HURFOM: Earlier this year local farmers from Kaw Pa Naw village, Kyiakmayaw Township, Mon State had their farms taken by the Pacific Link Company. This Burmese company, linked to retired military captain Zaw Lwin Oo, had aspirations to build a cement factory on their land. However, to this date 7 farmers remain uncompensated due fraudulence from individuals working for various government departments. Read more

Paung township residents protest against injustice in their communities

HURFOM: On 18 May, 2013 local people in Paung Township, Mon State, demonstrated against unjust activities alleged to be taking place in their villages. In the first permitted protest in the township’s history, residents accused township and village leadership of failing to protect the interests of local people. Amongst various complaints, protestors denounced extortionate electricity prices and alleged NMSP land confiscations. Read more

Bribed authorities prosper from growing gambling and drug industries in Paung Township, Mon State

HURFOM: In a series of interviews, villagers from across Paung Township, Mon State, have described how the township has become a hotbed of unsavory activity as a result of widespread corruption amongst local authorities. With police officials making a booming profit from regularly paid bribes for at least 5 years now, the gambling and drug industries in the region have been allowed to grow unfettered. Read more

Three Pagodas Pass residents living in fear of relocation

HURFOM: Residents of the lower part of quarter No. 3 in the Thai-Burma border township of Three Pagodas Pass are living in fear of being relocated from their homes, pending orders from senior military authorities that may come at any point. Read more

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