The Drug Problem in Burma

A new report by the Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO), called “Poisoned Hills,” reveals that the war against drugs in Burma is not going nearly as well as previously thought.  Statistics used by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) say that the Burmese government has made great strides over the past decade in reducing opium cultivation.  However, the PWO claims the UNODC’s statistics are faulty, and supplied by the ruling State Peace and Development Council, which tailors numbers to gain increased international aid to help “fight” the war on drugs.  The “Golden Triangle” area, where Burma meets Laos and Thailand, has become notorious for being one of the worlds leading producer of drugs.

Image Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin

Shockingly, the PWO states that land used to cultivate opium increased fivefold in three surveyed townships from 2007 to 2009.  This data was compiled from three townships in Shan State in Northern Burma, where an estimated 90% of all Burmese opium is produced.

This has had an enormously detrimental effect on rural villages.  In one village in Mantong townships, 85% of men 15 and over are addicted to opium.  The report shows that opium-addicted fathers often resort to selling off their properties, sometimes including their own children.

Many farmers feel they have to grow opium to make a living. Decades of economic mismanagement under the current military regime has made opium the only lucrative crop. Many had previously grown tea, but as the government underpaid farmers for their crops, there was no longer any economic incentive to grow it.

To make matters worse, PWO’s findings show that the Burmese military regime is implicated in the drug trade. It may occasionally stage a show by burning a few bags of opium here and there, but in reality, it relies on the drug trade to finance its military operations.

Image Source: Irrawaddy

Just because the military junta backs the drug trade does not suggest the villagers enjoy peace and security in their farmlands. The big pool of money from the drug trade goes into the pockets of senior officials. Only a tiny trickle of it seeps into the pockets of soldiers on the ground. Unable to make a living with their meager salary, foot soldiers often extort money and food from the farmers in exchange for not burning their opium fields.

Furthermore, the drug menace in Burma is no longer limited to its national boundaries but poses immediate threats to the neighboring countries. Thailand reported the amount of opium it seized increased eightfold from 2008 to 2009.  The PWO points out that the main reason behind high drug production is the on-going civil war. All armed groups inside the country, including the SPDC and the ethnic militias use the drug trade to finance their operations.

The international community needs to address the burgeoning drug menace by pressuring the Burmese military regime to “implement a nationwide ceasefire and begin a tripartite dialogue as a first step toward establishing genuine peace and democracy.” The transnational nature of the drug problem in Burma warrants this concerted international action.

Shame on you, Thai government: 3 families, 9 women and 4 children forcibly deported against their will

Image source: Alex Ellgee/The Irrawaddy

This morning, we all woke up to hear the terrible news about Thai authorities secretly smuggling three refugee families back into Burma against their will. Nine women, four children, and a 9-month old baby were among those who were forced to return to the war zone. They are the first batch of 3,000 Karen refugees that the Thai officials plan to deport back into Burma before February 15^th 2010. In addition to the worsening human rights violations, there is a great concern over landmines planted all over the border area by DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) and the Burmese Army. Just last year in August, a 13-year old boy lost his leg and an 8-month pregnant woman lost her foot after stepping on landmines.

It is utterly despicable and shameful on the part of the Thai authorities to terrorize and bully these vulnerable individuals to return to Burma where human rights abuses and possible death await them. Coupled with duplicity and lack of credibility are a complete lack of humanity and blatant disrespect for international humanitarian law by the Thai government.

In order to circumvent the shame of carrying out this appalling act, it has been reported that Thai soldiers are dressed in civilian clothing and vehicles and are forcing the refugee families out of the camp and into Burma. It is disconcerting to see that even in the presence of foreign NGOs, Thai officials have managed to deport three families back into Burma. With the weekend coming up and in the absence of foreign observers in the area, we fear that more covert deportation of refugee families will take place. A 60-year old Karen refugee said, “The Thais are like the Burmese regime. All my life I have been on the run and now it feels like I have to run away from the Thais.”

The Karen Human Rights Group claimed that the DKBA wants the refugees repatriated to provide labor for logging business in the area. One refugee awaiting the possible deportation said, “If we are forced to go back, the DKBA might make us be porters again.”

Image source: Alex Ellgee/ The Irrawaddy

“What can I do if my children are playing with birds and the bird flies into a landmine area?” said a refugee father, who expressed concerns and sadness at being forced to take his family to a heavily landmine infested area. The Thai authorities also split up family members during the deportation as one husband remained in the camp while his wife was deported back to Burma this morning.

In June 2009, more than 3,000 Karen refugees crossed the borders into Thailand as they fled from a military offensive by the Burmese Army and DKBA against the ethnic civilians. Both groups are notorious for committing human rights violations, including the use of slave labor, forced conscription of minors and sexual violence.

The international community and many human rights groups condemn this cruel and inhumane act by the Thai officials. Zoya Phan, International Coordinator from Burma Campaign UK and a Karen refugee herself from Burma, gave a press release this morning in which she stated, “What is clear is that Thailand will not stop the deportations because it is the right thing to do, only because they are shamed into stopping them. It is therefore vital the international community keep pressure on the Thais to stop this abuse of human rights of refugees. The government of Thailand will be responsible for any death or injury to the refugees they force to go back.”

Thailand forcing 3,000 Karen refugees back into war zone – Take Action

Image source: The Irrawaddy

3,000 Karen refugees who fled to Thailand last year to escape violent conflict in Burma have been ordered by Thai authorities to return to Karen state by February 15. The refugees, the majority of whom are women and children, are being sent back to a heavily land-mined area. Already, five Karen refugees who have returned have become victims of landmines, including a 13-year-old boy and a woman who was 8 months pregnant. Additionally, there is a shortage of food in the area, which is under the control of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), an organization known for human rights abuses against civilians such as forced labor, executions, torture, mutilation, forced recruitment of child soldiers, theft, extortion, and forced taxation.

In the face of such dangerous conditions, only one family out of 3,000 people said they wish to return to Burma. One refugee stated, “This is not voluntary; we are given no choice but to leave. I don’t know if I will make it home alive.” Organizations such as the Human Rights Commission of the Thai parliament, the Burma Campaign UK and the Karen Women Organization have all called upon the Royal Thai Government not to endanger these refugees by forcing them to repatriate into a war-zone. Zoya Phan, the International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK, stated that “Sending these refugees back to Burma is sending them back to possible death, slave labor or forced recruitment as soldiers.”

Please take 2 minutes of your time to take action for safety of 3,000 Karen refugees and urge the Thai government to stop repatriating them back into Burma.

Click here to take action at Burma Campaign UK >>

Celebrating Chin National Day

Yesterday (February 1st)  marked the 62nd anniversary of Chin National Day, which is a celebration of independence from the British rule in 1948.  The event is celebrated with the community coming together for dances, wrestling, singing and great food.

The Chin are also active in our community, over here in the States.  In December of 2009, at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, a Burma Awareness week was held to educate students and the community about the current situation in Burma.  It included panel discussions, a screening of the popular documentary film, Burma VJ, chantings by Burmese monks from the Saffron Revolution and traditional performances by a local Chin youth group.

Chin National Day, an event aimed at promoting national solidarity is sure to leave many Chins questioning the future of Burma. With looming 2010 elections and a new constitution that restricts the role of ethnic minorities in the country’s political process, while ensuring continued power for the military, these are indeed very dangerous and uncertain times for all people of Burma.

In addition, the track record of human rights violations and war crimes by the Burmese military continues to worsen.  For example, many locals are being forced to construct 45 miles of the Hakha-Gangaw road before the end of summer.  Workers are not compensated, and those unable to work must pay a 30,000 kyat fine.  The military has also forced all locals in Thantlang township to pay 1000 kyat for the renovation of a military camp. For many Chin facing food shortages due to famine, these extra burdens really make it hard to get by.  On a whim, the military havs also forcibly taken land from farmers, and in other instances, demanded farmers to cultivate rice and gave a huge portion of the yield to the army.

Despite the hardships and the pains, Chin folks brought with them unity, happiness and compassion to the national day event. They celebrated this special day, their spirits unbeaten, unwavered and with an eye to a brighter, democratic and freer Burma.

A poem from one of our supporters – Enjoy

Chalking the Streets of DC

When most people think of the word ‘graffiti’ it usually comes with negative connotations. However, its ability to catch the eyes of those passing by can also serve to raise awareness about important issues, such as Burma.

On Jan 27, students at George Washington University chalked on the sidewalks of their DC campus to raise awareness about the human rights violations in Burma. Their inspiration came from students and youth activists in Burma who had chalked and sprayed graffiti on roads and buildings in Mon and Shan states in early January, using art as an outlet to express their despair and growing frustrations over the current situation.

Many are opposed to the upcoming election in 2010, the first in 19 years (in 1991 Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy Party won an overwhelming victory but has since been blocked from taking power by the junta). There are constitutional and political obstacles placed by the military junta that will surely prevent a free and fair election from taking place.

Those, who came to this chalking event, spoke of how important it was for them to support the democracy and human rights movement in Burma. While this event will not change the minds of those in power, it will show the Burmese people that they have support from around the world.

Happy Birthday Zarganar!

If he could have chosen where to spend his 49th birthday, Zarganar, a famous Burmese comedian, may indeed have decided that sitting in prison, while not ideal, was worth it.  There are few people in this world that give up their own comfort to fight for others, and Zarganar is one of those few people.

Zarganar with Family

Zarganar is currently serving the second of his 35-year prison sentence. He was sentenced for providing relief efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis that left a trail of death and destruction in 2008. His offense was to speak to foreign reporters about the military government’s cruel ignorance of the pain and suffering of the Burmese people. As you may already know, the military junta selfishly obstructed the global outpouring of aid to the victims of the cyclone, resulting in 140,000 deaths and millions of people homeless. When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, the Burmese government, ashamed of its own incompetence and selfishness during the Cyclone Nargis incident, banned its state-run media from reporting the earthquake and the rescue initiatives by the international community for the Haitians.

Now to tell you a little bit about the man of the day: Zarganar means tweezers in Burmese. The pseudonym traces back to his time as a dentist before he became a full-time activist and artist. Early in his career, he spoke our against the military junta, knowing clearly the enormity of the risks of being right under a government that epitomizes deceit, brutality, and repression.

In addition to his political vision and efforts for Burma, Zarnagar also worked laboriously to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to bring help and attention to the socially stigmatized victims because of HIV/AIDS.

Tonight, most of us will go home from a stable job to spend time with our family. These are one of the many comforts and pleasures of life we can afford to have. Zargana chooses to sacrifice his own comfort and his family for a cause greater than himself. For that, we salute you, Zargana, for your courage, integrity and unshakable love for Burma.  Happy Birthday!

For more information about Zarganar, you can go to FreeZarganar.org

An increase in human rights abuses in Burma emphasizes the importance of House Resolution 898

In its recently published World Report 2010, Human Rights Watch reported that Burma’s human rights record continues to worsen ahead of the 2010 elections, saying, “The Burmese military junta systematically denies citizens basic freedoms, including freedom of expression, association and assembly.”

The Human Rights Watch World Report stated that:

- There are an estimated 2,100 political prisoners currently incarcerated in Burma for peaceful protests
- Over 230 Buddhist monks who were involved in the 2007 Saffron Revolution are still in prison
- International demands for an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma increased in 2009
- The Burmese military commits “extrajudicial killings, forced labor and sexual violence” in ethnic conflict zones

Aung Myo Min, director of Human Rights Education Institute of Burma, said to The Irrawaddy, “The Burmese military junta commits systematic human rights abuses and crimes against humanity every year,” and “The United Nations has many weaknesses because it cannot take action against abusers of human rights. It should revise and amend its policies and mechanisms on human rights.”

On Saturday, January 23, Reuters reported that more than 2,000 Karen people fled their villages after the Burmese military attacked last week, shooting and killing several Karen people, burning down houses, arresting villagers and forcing others into labor. The story stated that tens of thousands of Karen refugees have fled to overcrowded camps across the border in Thailand over the past few years. The military junta is trying to recruit thousands of soldiers to join its border patrol units, either voluntarily or by force, and is threatening to attack ethnic groups like the Karens if they do not comply, Reuters reported.

Finally, the executive director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Kari Tapiola, visited Burma last week in order to renew a contract allowing the United Nations to monitor complaints of forced labor. In an interview with The Irrawaddy, he said that the use of forced labor and forced conscription of minors into the military are still prevalent in Burma, if not on the rise.

The new year has not brought change to Burma. All of these reports show that the situation in Burma is not improving, and that the international community needs to take concrete actions to halt the mass atrocities and to bring accountability to the military junta ruling. House Resolution 898 calls for the United Nations to set up a Security Council Commission of Inquiry to investigate into Burma’s war crimes and crimes against humanity, to impose global arms embargo, and to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma.

If you haven’t taken a look at the House Resolution 898, click here to read.

Releasing Suu Kyi and Tin Oo: To believe or not to believe?

Maung Oo, a senior official of the ruling military junta, announced last week that Aung San Suu Kyi and her deputy, Tin Oo, would both be released this year. However, party leaders of the National League for Democracy are not hopeful that the military junta will honor their promise.

Maung Oo made the announcement on January 21 to local officials, saying that Tin Oo would be released on February 13 and Daw Suu Kyi would be released in November. Khin Maung Swe, a spokesman for NLD, said in an interview with The Irrawaddy news magazine that Maung Oo’s announcement was not given at an official press conference or press statement and thus carried no weight.

“We welcome the news,” said Win Tin, a renowned pro-democracy leader in Burma. “But this is not politically significant since the elections would already be finished when Aung San Suu Kyi is released,” he said in an interview with The Irrawaddy. If Suu Kyi is released after the 2010 elections, the likelihood of NLD participating in the elections drops. Maung Oo reportedly said that the 2010 elections would be free, fair, and not rigged.

Nyan Win, Suu Kyi’s lawyer and a spokesman for NLD, told the Associated Press that Maung Oo’s statement was “nothing new or extraordinary,” and that “hopes for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s earlier release under the executive order were dashed.”

Maung Oo’s announcement came at a critical time for the junta, with the looming 2010 elections and increasing international pressure on the country over its human rights violations. This announcement could signal that the junta is trying to lessen international pressure or create a distraction from issues such as its crimes against humanity and the arrest of political activists within the country.

Aung San Suu Kyi is currently serving an 18-month term of house arrest, running from May 2009 to November 2010. Tin Oo has been under house arrest since the May 2003 ambush on Suu Kyi and NLD party members by a group of government-backed thugs. According to the terms of his house detention, he is scheduled to be released on February 13. Pro-democracy leaders say that since Maung Oo simply promised that Suu Kyi and Tin Oo would be released in keeping with their sentences and not earlier, the promise has no political significance.

Whether or not, the Burmese military junta will actually honor their promise and release Suu Kyi and her deputy in due time, no one knows. If you know Burma, you already know that the Burmese generals give empty promises all the time, to their own citizens as well as to the international community. It wouldn’t be the first time and it definitely wouldn’t be the last.

U Win Tin – A man of courage and integrity

“As long as the black stripes on the yellow background are vividly painted, the tiger is still a tiger.” – Win Tin, a journalist/poet/opposition politician/political prisoner

Interview with U Win Tin (Mizzima): Click here to read

U Win Tin is a journalist and a poet, renowned for his literary excellence and for his fearless beliefs in a free and democratic Burma. An indispensable figure to the Burma freedom movement, U Win Tin is, in the words of Aung San Suu Kyi, a man of courage and integrity. In 1988, in the midst of a nationwide democracy movement, popularly known as the 8888 Uprising, U Win Tin joined the National League for Democracy (NLD) and served as an adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi. Arrested in 1989 because of his senior position within the NLD, he was sentenced to 21 years in jail and served most of his sentence inside the notorious Insein prison. In 1996 while still in prison, U Win Tin wrote to the United Nations to highlight the subhuman prison conditions and unjust preferential treatment that went on inside Insein Prison. For his attempt, he received additional jail sentences. During his incarceration, U Win Tin was tortured, denied proper access to medical treatment, and spent much of his time in solitary confinement, also known as the military dog cells.

U Win Tin was finally released from prison in 2008. To this day, he remains the oldest and the longest serving political prisoner in Burma. Despite his health problems caused by the ill treatments inside the prison, at 81 years old, U Win Tin is still in the vanguard of political activities inside Burma. He decries the legitimacy of the upcoming 2010 elections and wears his blue prison shirt everyday as a testament to the lack of freedom in the country. In his most recent interview with Mizzima News, U Win Tin said; “Burma at this moment is like a jail, like a prison. The whole country is a prison and people are suffering. We talk about human rights violations and about the 2,000 political prisoners in jail now, but all people are prisoners. They are prisoners in their own country, in their own towns and homes.”