BBC MONTHLY REPORT MON NATIONAL RELIEF COMMITT. mul.:i." M. N.R.C

Transcription

1 199 mul.:." 1m M. N.R.C BBC MON NATONAL RELEF COMMTT MONTHLY REPORT

2 The Five Points of the Aim of Mon National Relief Committe Resettlement of the refugees who become homeless due to th Rangoon military regime. To help the welfare of the refugees who become jobless due Rangoon military regime. To take care and look after the health of the refugees. To fight against illiteracy for the children in the refugee camp To struggle for human rights.

3 The Organization of Mon National Relief Committee 1. Phra Wongsa Pala - Chairman 2: Nai Shwe Thein - Vice Chairm 3. Nai Kasauh Mon - Acting Secre 4. Nai Dung Htaw -Member 5. Nai Chit Nyunt -Member 6. Phra Tay Jae -Member

4 Monthly Report of Mon National Relief Com (June, 1997) "..,U.J.l",.uU';.;t in Transporting Supplies n June, the monsoon weather of rainy season already came to Thailand the supply transportation process for the Mon refugees is not completed as th allowed to continue transporting supplies by Thai authorities in late May. A tempted. to send all defined supplies into camps even the permission was late. Because of heavy rain and windy in first week ofjune, all roads that have and Tavoy campsites were nearly destroyed. Some places of road were colla water also cut the route. After one week of hard rain, it stopped for anothe sunshine came and offered opportunity to MNRC to repair the roads and re-c sent into camps. nitially, the MNRC could send supplies up to former Loe Loh made temporary rice-stores there keeping it for some days. But the most parts close to campsite already destroyed and could not repair to became as normal Since the road collapse and water level in streams made difficulty for store all stock-piling supplies inside camps and then, the MNRC decided to st where the refugees could carry it easily. On the rt'ad proceeded to Tavoy cam built another two temporary rice-stores after the trucks could not climb up th kept supplies in those stores. The refugees themselves agreed to store rice in th building rice-stores. The security situation in area where Tavoy campsite situated is not so st information was informed by camp committee to MNRC and it has been rel supplies in camp's rice warehouse. About the three hours walk from campsite' troops have been taking base for several months and presently they have incre of its troops and also created a military training school there. The place is lied. i area where the SLORC troops have taken base since before the end of 1 Y96. According to local source, the SLORC have conscripted new soldiers sin of May and brought them to this basic military training school. Those consc taken from Yebyu, Tavoy and Tha Yet Chaung township of Tavoy district. Und of Coastal Region Military Command led by Brigadier Sit Maung, the Burmese t from every villages to provide them from two to five male young villagers depe tion of the village, to attend the basic military school. After they were trained, t as new soldiers in SLORC several battalions. According to SLORC initial plan, it has slowly increased the numbers o 500,000. But the SLORC has no external enemy and the main aim of increasing o realized that to suppress ethnic armed resistance groups which are separate in area of Burma. When the SLORC tried to gather new conscripts voluntarily, it sible to reach necessary numbers that they have defined. n its new tactics, it a script new soldiers by force without waiting to get them voluntarily. Comp military zones Coastal Region Military Command has several enemies around conscript local ethni.c villagers to become Burmese soldiers.

5 Because of this conscription of new soldiers, many young villagers fled escape. Some villages have to provide payment to military to avoid providing villagers had to provide at least 10, 000 Kyat for one villager if they could not prov to instruction. The local commanders also made money from forced conscription Because of this unstable situation that happens close to Tavoy campsite, th would not like to keep all supplies in camp's rice warehouse. They preferred to more safe places. For Tavoy campsite's refugees, the MNRC could send all suppl to the end of 1997, but they had to carry it about some kilometres from their cam n June, the rain situation did not give much chance to MNRC all supplie Ree, where the campsite is situated far in comparing with Tavoy area. As the road mountains to reach to the camp, it was the most difficult places to send in all su most supplies in Loh Loe area for Bee Ree camp and when the weather allowed w to re-carry it. Too many places of the road were collapsed and we had to fix it arranged to keep supplies in rice-store on the way that situated on the top of a could send supplies which provide up to mid of November. We will have to c provide supplies for Bee Ree refugees to complete up to the end of the year. Prachaub Refugees, Hunger for Protection About 900 refugees who remained in Thai territory after the homes in Pr Chaung Chi area were burnt down, did not receive much protccticn and safe sh returned to former campsite where the Burmese Army is taking base. To ensu return, the officials from Bangkok based UNHCR also visited to temporary ca refugees while they were sheltered in Thai territory. But after they arrived back campsite, no monitoring have been provided and followed up. After the Mon Army, Mergui District (MAMD) surrendered to Burmese A the refugees have been confused where they should return. On May 25, SLO MAMD celebrated official surrendering ceremony for a brief while some part o agreed to surrender. On the following days, more MAMD agreed to surrender. refugees from Chaung Chi were in Thai territory and were under care of Thai bord were provided with safe protection and foods by Thai authorities and other indiv Before the surrender, they have asked the local Thai authorities who enc provide safe shelter in Thai territory. But they were constantly refused b:' the a cording to Thai authorities, they must be returned to Burmese territory, but they Sangkhlaburi or must return to Chaung Chi again. They were remained in fear of tion to Chaung Chi area. But after MAMD surrender, it was very unsafe for returning to Chaur,g Chi area because the Burmese Army already took base in plac to their villages. After the surrendering ceremony, the SLORC has to arrange another impo to publicize that the public in the area are supporting the surrender of MAMD an SLORC leaders and their border area development program. When the SLOR celebrated surrendering ceremony, there were no much villagers in Chaung Chi area local officials had to wait for villagers for several days to celebrate Public Suppor The SLORC officials also told to MAMD to organize their own villagers to r May 29, some MAMD officials arrived to temporary camp in Thai territory and villagers to return the former homes again. According to them, they said that SL

6 ised them to develop the area with education, health assistance and other factors the most villagers insisted that they would not like to return former villages beca troops are taking base. But according to MAMD officials, SLORC officials Brig chief commander of Coastal Region Military Command, will meet with Thai m arrange for the return of the villagers to their former places. On May 30, Brigadier Sit Maung officially met with Thai military officia vision and then agreed to send those refugees back. On the following days, the B military officials made often visit to temporary campsite and put more pressu return Chaung Chi area. The Thai authorities said they will not accept refuge territory and should return their peaceful homes. At the end after several rou intensive pressure, the refugees had no choice except to return. When the UN rived to them and inquired whether they would like to return or not, they had t tis not the end of the story. After the refugees returned and stayed in fo were ill-treated and blocked by the army not to flee into Thai territory again. Th the village are with check-points of the Burmese Army and the villagers could n chance to get access into Thailand. But some villagers also tried to flee into Tha According to escapees from the villages, presently theslorc has conscrip from the whole villagers to build their military encampment. [n each village of C the SLORC planned to build their military baszs and soon after arrival of villa territory, they were forced to work for the mili tary. The SLORC officials ordered to take responsibility to bring villagers to worksites. They have been forced to basis and if refused, they were severely punished. The most village headme leaders who refused to return when they were in Thai territory and now the SLO take responsibility to build bases, as a revenge. Their daily works in military ca grass, digging earth, making fence and etc.,. Every able-persons including wom in the villagers have been forced to work. The officials also promised to provide the refugees, but only little amount of one week rice was provided at the end of When they arrived in villages they have lack of opportunity to re-build make farms for survival because they are busy with military defined works. B insist the military, or they will be punished. Among the villagers, the SLORC of some villagers to be their agents and checked opinion of villagers. fone village he must be severely punished or killed. The villagers could not trust each oth know who are agents. Thus, they are staying in fear of terrible circumstance. On June 21, when the SLORC officials called a meeting with villagers and complete the encampment as early as possible. And they also instructed to brin and foods from their homes. At the end of the meeting, a villager also asked them villagers in daily basis and allow some of them to work in re-building houses and farms. While he was proposing his opinion, one official hit him with water glas villagers not to make any complaint to military. They were also warned that to ea uted by military and work for military, if not, they must be severely punished. n future, the SLORC has several projects to develop this area mainly to b conscription of forced labour in area may continue as the SLORC has m u,-h exam labour in building several roads in the whole country of Burma. Even thoug houses in Burma, country of origin, and fled into Thailand they were still not rec gees by Thai government. The international community clluld provide lack of sadly that no any world organization would like to provide mllnitoring after the

7 THE REFUGEE POPULATON OF THE FOUR CAMP ARE FOLL ijune,1997) Camp Family Adult F Children M F BeeRee Tavoy Prachuab Halockhani Total Y THE MATERALS RECEVED BY THE MON NATONAL RELEF CO ijune,1997) Organization Rice Fish Salt Paste (Sack) (Kg) (Kg) Bean (Kg) COERR Consortium YOOO 1588

8 ' " J~i '000/ f<y""k hrll8 000A./,. ~.>l "~">d :'t"" ~~, "'0,,01111(1 'lf/ fxln A 3 rj ''' '000/ /,, /., f.,,/ N ' 1fl(l()! ~ 1t...,,,~. S ~ r). / / ' ] / Map of Moullnel" Dltltrlct ReseUlemenl ste (Sep, 1995) Disiancos l1lfe@ r"8/lla rllll8 10 C,nll"B Zone :!n V.lk Dnlrlt ()nn"rh~llo ronlllcnhu 6 h,slva'k f~lo(lchn"llo 1M'll Onnphnl hr lvalk DaM tlon~phnl to elltdell-ililt' wllk legend V"se<50 "ou~el 0 Vl1ase hollsn 0 VllloB' >200 ReSl!llem~"t Slits --- Mllln r(lol p~th - / MOllnlllln Cor told for dr, nllson Cnt Road-wholt,nr -' S l1lh'lly School ospllal (e) for 50% Ka,.n ~ horel.f 11.11" '000/.-... n"~i.,, 1~~18 Thailand

9 -----, ,-,---_._-.--_..,._-----, Mop (), Ye River Rosell/elllent sue (Nov, 1995) '-".hi;".. (k) JJJ1A1'ctl1 (1<:) _ :::..;;.;:;-;.".. r.;:;;r... -e-- N -1-! '&' r..' o1!!!! Distances lollarr:!n 111 Nyl Sa - 30 min "':lk N)" Sn 10 N~"r.'rtllB 'S 111'",,"olle "'nllll!! "N n """,.. hts 1',,'k s~ n y~ - t."y V"'" '") 31,,! by bonl Nyl S... - i trs by t"n 0-11ll" ~@!!!! Nalll1gP@mg! //. 'tt('.<$'/ ~/ ---- A/- ~ # o -- ( - Thailan l.egend. VilAsedO housts Vlllase houn Vlllase >200 houses Re"n',mt"15tH "b.ln 1001 pith MOl1lliain Car road for dr,,us Cor Ro~d lyhol, rur -th - Rnllwny S &:hool 10splial ~K) For 50'1'. f(.,," ~ Dorder /! /

10 Mac of Tavoy Distric: 1 Resettlement site (Nov, 1995) ~.. :;,, ~ ;r~?......,..;;~=~ ~ S H ~= N! T 1 P:ivaw 10 J Jaci Dona 1 HlM s.u: 1 Jao Dona 1

11 Bam Umo 1 de 2. ""'hr.. Ci.u:np 1 ~ K.rus1~ Ham - 15 Nam Ym co 1:loan:iu'- 12 l..:mv'aron;am Yen-.: ~!,2.ONamY_- 1 Map ot Mergui Disrric:: Resettlement Site (Nov. 1995) ~ 1 Vin / R /..s Vi Ma Mo Tnailand Oistan

12 19 m.u1.3." BBC mm.n. R.C MON NATONAL RELEF COMMT o