Access to Justice in Mon Communities

November 15, 2018

 Human Rights Foundation of Monland

 Fighting reduced and tensions eased after bilateral ceasefire agreements were signed in 2012 by the Government of Myanmar with the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karen National Union (KNU) respectively.  While both KNU and NMSP were involved in negotiating the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), KNU signed in 2015 and NMSP waited until 2018. Read more

Farmers afraid to attend plantations after man injured from Landmine Blast in Yebyu Township

November 6, 2018

HURFOM: On October 28, a plantation worker was seriously injured by a landmine blast in Kyaung Shar Kwin, Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Division. Around 100 owners and daily workers are too afraid to attend their nearby farms in case of further blasts. The area is currently under territorial dispute between the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karen National Union (KNU). Read more

Mon National affairs budget cut in controversial decision by Chief Minister

November 1, 2018

HURFOM: During a revision of the 2018-19 budget the State Government has significantly reduced its allocation to Mon National affairs. One third of the budget from the previous year has been scraped in favour of Karen National affairs. The lower budget  will not cover proposed projects, impacting the most on Mon education programs. Read more

YOU CANNOT IGNORE US: Victims of human rights violations in Burma from 1970 – 2017 outline their desires for justice

October 16, 2018

Yangon: Victims of human rights violations desire government reparations and deserve to see justice for what they have suffered, said the Reparations Working Group initiate by the Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma) in a new report released today. The report, which is the first ever needs assessment of victims of human rights violations in Burma of its kind, offers preliminary recommendations for action that must be taken for victims of human rights violations to restore and rebuild their lives, including justice and accountability for the abuses that they have suffered and guarantees of non-recurrence. [Download the Report] Read more

Myanmar Human Rights Commission under scrutiny in report launched by civil society groups

October 10, 2018

A report scrutinizing the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) was released by civil society groups on 9th October in Yangon. The report shows the failings of the commission to address rights violations committed by the military and to comply with international standards. Read more

Local woman dies after being hit by vessel hired by MCL

October 3, 2018

HURFOM: On September 19th 2018, Daw Myo Tha Dar Shwe, aka Ma Pae Pae, a local fisherwoman, died after having an accident with the “MV Kaung Hein” vessel of the High Mix Company that was hired by the Mawlamyine Cement Limited (MCL) to transport coal to their coal-fired cement factory in Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State.

“According to U Ohm Tun, a local fisherman, his boat was behind Ma Pae Pae’s. Upon seeing the vessel, Ma Pae Pae rowed her boat to the [Ataran] riverbank. But the vessel tried to avoid the fishing net and also came near to the riverbank. After that, the rear part of the vessel hit Ma Pae Pae and she fell into the river. U Ohm Tun tried to save Ma Pae Pae, but he had to row back to the riverbank as another vessel reached the scene of the accident. After the [second] vessel left, U Ohm Tun tried to search for Ma Pae Pae, but he found nothing.” said U Aung Tin Oo, the Chairperson of Kyaikmayaw Fisheries Department. Read more

Mawlamyine Municipal Department to bar local farmers from access to farm land

September 28, 2018

HURFOM: The Mawlamyine Municipal Department tried to fence a 235-acre paddy field farmed by the 23 local farmers in Thar Yar Aye Ward, Mawlamyine, Mon State on September 15th 2018.

The farmland has been confiscated by the department since 1999, but the department has not done any with the land yet, so the original owners have been farming paddy rice on the land. However, the department, now, has tried to fence the farmland in order to bar the farmers from farming on the land. The farmers have decided to oppose the abusive act by the department. Read more

INTERVIEW with land confiscation victim: As there has been no improvement, everyone is living in silence

September 28, 2018

HURFOM: “We didn’t collect latex from our rubber trees for a long time. In 2016, the military [Burma Army Artillery Battalion No. 315] called us and said that we had to pay tax if we want to continue working in our plantation. We were already worried [about the situation] at that time. Our plantation was near to the military base and we had to worry about the possibility of [our land] being confiscated.

In the very first year [2016], we had to pay more than 200,000 kyat (US $125.50). In the next year, the tax increased up to about 500,000 kyat  (US $313.63). We had been worried as we didn’t know what would happen in the upcoming years. In 2018, the military said they confiscated our plantation. We were in trouble. Starting from that time, we’ve been struggling to get our land back. We filed reports to the Mon State [government] and also to the Naypyidaw [Union government]. But there was no change. Read more

Mon State Government Discourages Support of local for NMSP after signing NCA

September 25, 2018

HURFOM: The Mon State Government has restricted activities related to Mon Affairs after the New Mon State Party (NMSP) signed the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) early this year, according to report.

Even when the NMSP hadn’t signed the NCA, we went to the NMSP military training and gave our support. Now, after the NCA, [the Minister of the Mon State Ministry of Security and Border Affairs] gave us a warning [about supporting the NMSP military training]. It’s unacceptable. [Anyhow], I’ve already decided to support Mon affairs in the future,” said Mon Activist Monk Aot Jae. Read more

8-year-old girl raped while trying to seek shelter from the floods

September 20, 2018

HURFOM: On September 3rd 2018, an 8-year-old girl who was taking temporary shelter from the flood was raped by a motorcycle taxi driver near Mawlamyine Railway Station.

The girl lives in B— village, Hlyne Bwa Township, Karen State, and was temporarily staying in Shan Su Street, Aung Kyin Ward, Mawlamyine, Mon State. She was raped near the station while trying to go to Mote Tama Town. Read more

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