Burmese Army and Karen Bgf Breach
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issue no. 3/2019 | decembeR 2019 News, Report, Analysis and Activities on Human Rights Situation in Mon Territory issue no. 3/2019 | decembeR 2019 The PublicaTion of The human RighTs foundaTion of monland (huRfom) nmsP:nmsP: burmeseburmese armyarmy anDanD KarenKaren bgFbgF breachbreach ncanca Monitoring Committee-Union (JMC-U) and the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC), according to a source from the NMSP. “Regarding the armed conflict, we’ve been planning to report to the JMC-U. Then, we’ll also try to meet with officials from NRPC. We hope they can help us in solving the current problem,” said Nai Win Hla, a member of NMSP Central Executive Committee. The NMSP met with Mawlamyine-based Southeast Military Command on December 2 and discussed the Japanese Well situation. General Secretary Nai Aung Min, CEC member Nai Win Hlan and Colonel Nai Han Thar of the NMSP met with Colonel Maung Maung Latt of the Southeast Command but no December 5, 2019 in Japanese Well village, near the Three concrete agreement was reached. Pagodas Pass area at the Thai-Burma HURFOM: On November 27, 2019, the border. The armed forces took control “We met today to discuss about what Burmese army and the Karen Border of the base and village. In order to is happening in the Japanese Well base. Guard Force (BGF) attacked the New resolve the conflict, the NMSP is We [tried to find a way to] negotiate Mon State Party (NMSP) military base submitting a report to the Joint Read more on page3>> The 71sT clash beTween Knu anD nmsP InTernaTIonal InjuresInjures cIvIlIans;cIvIlIans; houseshouses anDanD shoPsshoPs human rIghTs DesTroyeDDesTroyeD Day sTaTemenT in Ye Chaung Pyar and a camp based in by hurFom Phalae Don Pheik in Three Pagodas Pass Read more on page16>> Township. Nai Hongsar, the vice-chair of the NMSP provided some background to the outbreak of violence. “There is a territory dispute. The KNU set its flag on the NMSP’s controlled area, in the Photo:MNA October 22, 2019 Phalae Don Pheik village. [The] NMSP had discussed [the issue of who HURFOM: In the early morning of controlled the area] with the KNU long October 17, 2019, violence broke out ago. In the end, as [an agreement could between the New Mon State Party not be made], the NMSP removed their (NMSP) and the Karen National Union flag and sent it back to the KNU on 16 (KNU). KNU’s soldiers attacked a NMSP camp based in Ma Yan Chaung village Read more on page 11>> Read more on page3>> The PublicaTion of The human RighTs foundaTion of monland (huRfom) | 1 issue no. 3/2019 | decembeR 2019 News mon sTaTe governmenT Plans To buIlD DeeP seaPorT aT KalagoKe IslanD December 3, 2019 “Kyaik Kha Mi waters are 8-meters in state policies and missions. For local depth. Ships carrying between 10,000 development, Mon state needs to HURFOM: The Surbana Jurong Group and 15,000 tons can sail in 8-meters. invite the investment in local from Singapore launched their “Mon There is less [depth of water] in areas,” continued the Chief Minister. State Investment Affair 2019” at the Yangon. The water depth is 18 meters Strand Hotel in Mawlamyine on the to 23 meters in Kalagote island. Our According to one young person, local 29th and 30th of November, with the country will [benefit from this] people of Kalagote island are not well support of the Mon state government. development if we could build the informed of the deep-seaport plans. The topics of discussion included deep-seaport there. Whether it is for “We saw some people did a land investment potential in , agriculture, rice or other things, Kalagote island is survey last year. But we didn’t know fishery, deep-seaport, oil and natural the main place for any trade, “ said Dr. who they were. Some people said it is gas, eco-tourism, real estate and Aye Zan. for a deep-seaport. There will be a construction as part of the “The Mon Information presented at the huge hardship for the fishing State Vision Master Plan 2035”. investment affair showed that the community if a deep-seaport is built. strategic plan is designed to address the Some villagers (who don’t understand The Chief Minister of Mon State, Dr. Aye the impact) think there are benefits Zan told the media that a deep-seaport needs and policies of Mon State and has been drafted with inputs from local when the company comes,” said the is part of the strategic project plan and youth. will be built in Kalagote island in La organizations and Mon State Mein sub-township, Ye township, Mon authorities. According to the Chief Minister, In Mon state. “The state and local governments are State, there have been 80 investment inviting new investments to achieve grants made up to November 2019 and the USD dollar value totals $5,743.980. In this issue News : Mon teachers instructed not to get involved in News : Mae Tarow villagers worried by red flags brought to their politics community by an armed KNU group HURFOM ACTIVITIES: The 71st International News: Burmese (Myanmar) Army and BGF troops Human Rights Day Statement by HURFOM steal over 75 Million Kyat from Palaing Japan Villagers 2 | The PublicaTion of The human RighTs foundaTion of monland (huRfom) issue no. 3/2019 | decembeR 2019 News from page no.1 News nmsP:nmsP: burmeseburmese armyarmy anDanD KarenKaren bgFbgF breachbreach ncanca protocols and agreement and to withdraw the base,” continued Nai Win Hla. In 2017, the Burmese army invaded two MNSP bases – Zee Hna Pin and Hpa Yar Taung check points located beside Thanbyuzayat-Three Pagodas Pass road and the army maintains control of these bases today. Nai Win Hal claimed that the Burmese army and the Karen BGF breached Section 8(B), Chapter (3) of NCA, which defines the terms for movement of armed troops in the areas controlled by other ethnic armed groups, is allowed only after obtaining prior agreement. “They reported to us that they wanted and settle the problem. (But) we didn’t withdraw their forces from the to observe the Thai-Burma border. The get an agreement,” said Nai Win Hla. Japanese Well base. local officials reported to us and we allowed the request. But they couldn’t According to the NMSP, the Japanese “According to our experience, it’s a bit wait till the official order reached the Well military base is an official difficult (to regain control of the base). local officials and then they invaded recognized permanent base according I don’t think withdrawal happens (our controlled area). So an armed to both 2012 State and Union Level easily. In 2017, the Burmese army clash broke out. Their actions breached Ceasefire Agreement and the invaded our bases and haven’t [to this the NCA,” said Nai Win Hla. Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) day] withdrawn from those bases. This that was signed by the NMSP in 2018. conflict may be similar to those Since the Burmese army and the Karen previous ones. But [in those cases] we BGF control the Japanese Well village, During the meeting with the Southeast had not yet signed the NCA. Now we approximately 900 local villagers fled Command on December 2, the NMSP have signed the NCA and it depends their homes and have taken shelter on requested the Burmese army to on them (the Burmese army) to respect the Thai side of the border. News from page no.1 clash beTween Knu anD nmsP territory but NMSP said it is theirs. The conflict arose from this and now Injures cIvIlIans; houses anD shoPs fighting has happened,” stated Nai Nyan Htun, the Chairman of the Tavoy DesTroyeD district of the NMSP. able to gather further details about the robberies and destruction of property. Nai Nyan Htun added that the leaders from the two sides will attempt to “Due to the fighting, while villagers negotiate a resolution. were running off, one woman and her baby were grabbed (by a KNU soldier) “This occurred at the ground level . and he shot a gun near their ears. And To prevent the recurrence, we must the baby fell down from his mother. have a negotiation at the district level. Now, both mother and baby got a So today (October 18) we are traveling Photo:MNA sudden hearing loss and also got to Three Pagodas Pass to meet with October 2019. They were not satisfied frightened,” reported a health activist the KNU officials [who] arrived there and attacked,” explained Nai Hongsar. working on the Thai-Myanmar border. yesterday. We need to negotiate an agreement. But we don’t [yet] have a As a result, Phalae Don Pheik villagers A deputy company commander of plan to report this issue to the Mon had to flee from their homes and a Phalae Don Pheik NMSP was killed State Joint Ceasefire Monitoring number of shops were destroyed. during the fighting. Committee (JMC-S),” said Nai Hongsar, Villagers later discovered their vice-chair of NMSP. belongings, gold, and money were also “(KNU) made attacks at two places at stolen. Due to the displacement of the the same time. Mainly, it was due to a villagers, HURFOM has not yet been territory [dispute]. They said it is their ○○○ The PublicaTion of The human RighTs foundaTion of monland (huRfom) | 3 issue no. 3/2019 | decembeR 2019 News mon Teachers InsTrucTeD afraid of being monitored and punished,” continued the teacher. noT To geT InvolveD In According to some teachers, there is not PolITIcs a friendly relationship between “You all are using Unicode font now government teachers and Mon so your posts and comments (in social teachers.