SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR’S REPORT FAILS

(Kao Wao: September 12, 2003)

Mon communities are disappointed with the United Nation’s Report on human rights by the Special Rapporteur of Myanmar.

The interim report prepared by Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights in Myanmar, which was released in the United Nations General Assembly in August 2003, said human rights violations decreased in Mon State after the main Mon armed opposition group signed a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese junta in 1995. However, small-scale fighting resumed after a number of break-away groups from the New Mon State Party took up arms again.

The Mon community in Monland and exiles responded with little satisfaction following the report of Mr. Pinheiro.

The Chairman of USA based Monland Restoration Council Pon Nya Mon said, “human rights abuses caused by fighting between the SPDC and the NMSP may have decreased since there are not fighting. However, HR abuses caused by non-fighting such as land confiscation, forced labor for road and military camps, tax extortion, the closing down of Mon national schools have increased substantially since the cease-fire. The most serious violation is organized land confiscation by the BA in several areas. Since 1995 about 10,000 acres of land have been confiscated in Mon state. This is tremendous loss in which people are unable to feed themselves, thus they face starvation. Overall, I think human rights abuses are increasing after the cease-fire”.

The interim report, transmitted to the members of the General Assembly on August 5, 2003 by the United Nations Secretary-General, acknowledged that it is based upon the findings of the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Myanmar in March 2003 and information received by him up to 28 July 2003.

The UN report stated that the Special Rapporteur followed a two-pronged approach in his investigations by (a) conducting independent interviews of refugees in Thailand, and (b) by making an independent assessment inside Myanmar by visiting some affected areas. The second (b) has not been completed to verify the independent interviews. All 9 Mon interviews were conducted in Maharchai, an area near Bangkok.

“We haven’t heard of his interview conducted here, but Ms. Guest from the Amnesty International came here for such (human rights) interviews in the previous year”, said Nai Lahoin, the migrant community leader of Maharchai fishing community.

The General Secretary of Mon Unity League Nai Sunthorn also said after the cease-fire agreement, human rights violations related to armed fighting has decreased in some areas, but other forms of violations such as forced labor, torture, rape, robbery and land confiscation committed by the State authorities have doubled.

The MUL, comprised of 14 member organizations, was formed as a forum for the Mon people after the NMSP reached a cease-fire deal with the junta. The umbrella organization sent a petition letter of “Land Confiscation by Myanmar Government” on November 15, 2002.

On August 22, 2003, the cease-fire NMSP leaders also submitted the letter to the SPDC leaders on land confiscation of Mon farmers by the BA.