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HURFOM releases “Yearning to be Heard”, highlighting farmers’ continued struggles for justice concerning Burmese military land confiscations in Mon State

On 12 February 2015, The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) released a report entitled “Yearning to be Heard: Mon farmers’ continued struggle for acknowledgement and protection of their rights”, highlighting farmers’ continued struggles for justice concerning past and on-going Burmese military land abuses in Mon State. Read more

Yearning to be heard: Mon Farmers’ continued struggle for acknowledgement and protection for their rights

Introduction 

In October 2013, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) released Disputed Territory, a report documenting the emerging trend of Mon farmers fighting for recognition of their land rights in the face of unjust land and property confiscations. The report analyzed specific barriers impeding their success, from weak land policy and inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms, to an absence of support from various sources. Read more

HURFOM launches documentary, Touching the Fire, in Mawlamyine

The Human Rights Foundation of Monland, based out of Mawlamyine’s Mon State, launched a documentary film and press conference on January 31, 2015, at Mawlamyine’s Kaung Myat Hotel, concerning a coal-fired power plant project in Ann-din Village, Ye Township, Mon State. The film, “Touching Fire”, introduced to media and civil society organizations, documents the voices of both local residents and Toyo-Thai Company representatives in order to express each perspective surrounding the proposed power plant project. Read more

Comments on Video Documentary on the Planned Coal Power Plant in Ann-din Village, Ye Township, Mon State

By Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) & Local People

1. After the Toyo Thai Company, based in Thailand with the most share of Japanese companies, plans to build a coal power
   plant which produces 1270 megawatt of electricity, have created a lot of concerns and in-stability among the local people in the area.  This video documentary have recorded the negative impacts to the communities, due to this so-called investment.
2. It has been some intensive conflict and disagreement between those opposed the project and those will be benefited from the project.   The community people along the Pa-lain mountain range, which comprised of 9 villages, have understood the negative impacts of the coal power plant from various sources and they have been constantly opposed the project.
3. This coal power plant will provide a few megawatt of electricity power to the local people in Mon State, and the majority will be sold out to the neighboring countries.  However, the generations of local people will be suffered from the negative impacts from the power plant.
4. Burma/Myanmar is rich with its natural resources especially with various types of energy resources such as gas.  It belongs a plant of gas in its western and southern sea, in Gulf of Mataban, and Irrawaddy and Arakan coastal areas.  However, the previous military government and the current government has sold out the gas via Yatana, Yetagon and Shwe gas pipeline to Thailand and China prior to the local people in Burma.
5. On the other hand, the government agrees to bring the coal power plant and dam construction into the country, which are totally opposed by the people in the democratic countries, where the civil society area strong.  But it aims to sell out these electricity power from power plant and dams.
6. This is the key mistake of energy policy by this government, selling out its rich resources, not use for the people, and brings in power plants which will impact thousands of the people of their livelihood, socio-economics and environment.
7. This video documentary shows about impacts of this governments’ mistaken energy policy toward the local people, by describing their opinions and feeling and their attitude toward coal power plant.

Dated: 31 January 2015

34 year-old man attempts to rape a women in Wae Rat

U Min Soe, 34, son of U Nyi Law and Daw Law Ma from Kwin Gyi Village, Yaydarshay Township attempted to rape Mi P, 45, a single woman, daughter of Nai Phaw Soi and Mi Law from Wae Rat Village multiple times, the most recent attempt occurring in mid-August 2014. Read more

16 year-old student raped by 74 year-old man in Chaung Zone Township

A 16 year-old girl from Quarter 4 was raped by 74 year-old U Kyaw Myint on December 6, 2014 in Taung Sone Village, Chaung Zone Township, Mon State.

U Kyaw Myint, who has not had a wife for 10 years, works as a money transfer, transferring foreign currency to Myanmar.

U Kyaw Myint has a Thai phone in his house which, on the day of the incident, Mi H H used to talk to her parents who are currently working in Thailand. Read more

No Justice for Paung Township Community

On December 8^th, a Paung lawyer reported that there is no justice and no rule of law in Paung Township, Mon State. There are a lot of cases that do not receive justice in Paung community such as issues surrounding motor-vehicle accidents, domestic violence, and taxation of local businessmen. Read more

Unknown Karen armed groups extort taxes from Mon farmers

Unknown Karen armed groups are demanding taxes from local rubber farmers, once again, in eastern Wae Ka Li Village, Thanbyuzayat Township, according to a local farmer.

“A week ago, an armed group consisting of three Karen men in full military uniform, but without military arm bands, holding assault rifles and a carbine, extorted taxes from plantation owners at 50,000 kyat per acre,” said the farmer.

The farmers are now avoiding paying the taxes. The Karen armed group went to Nai Mon Htaw’s plantation during his employee was tapping rubber, asking him to pay the group 50,000 kyats per acre. The group will not allow farmers to tap their rubber plants without paying taxes to the group. Nai Mon Htaw told his employee to pack his stuff and stopped working on the plantation for a while. Read more

What Defines a Good Leader?

In Burma’s 2010 general election, the country’s first election in twenty years, former military commander U Thein Sein won a majority vote to become the president of Burma. For five years now, since that election, Burma has been transitioning towards democracy. In the upcoming 2015 presidential elections, the election commission has committed, to both the people of Burma and world leaders, to hold free and fair elections. Read more

Twelve Hnee Padaw Households Face an Uncertain Future as Fire Destroys Their Homes

Nearly twelve houses burnt to the ground as a fire ripped through Hnee Padaw Village, Mudon Township around 7pm on January 3rd, resulting in 500-600 million kyats worth of damage and displacement of the families. The fire was ignited when embers fell onto a bed in one of the houses, subsequently spreading through the house and on to surrounding houses. Read more

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