MONTHLY NEWS IN BRIEF
INDEPENDENT MON NEWS AGENCY (IMNA) / THAILAND


COMPENSATION FOR PLANTATION BEING LOOTED:

GAS EXPLORATION AND COMPENSATION FOR LAND ON GAS
PIPE-LINE PROJECT:

BURMESE SOLIDER ATTEMPED TO RAPE A MON FEMALE TEACHER:

ILLEGAL CASH COLLECTION FOR EXAMINATION:

ARMY RECRUITMENT: 9-30 OLD AGES

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COMPENSATION FOR PLANTATION BEING LOOTED:
January 9, 2002

An unnamed Gas company has paid small compensation to
local villagers who lost their plants and plantation
during the Kanbauk - Myaingkalay Gas Pine-line, a
local source said.

A local headman, Nai Plann, chairman of Weang Ka Rai
village looted cash from the local villagers on top of
the compensation as he claimed that he has convinced
the company to get back the cash back for the
villagers.

The source confirmed that delegates of the company
offered compensation cash directly to clients instead
of transferring to local headman. The source added
that if the company transferred cash to local headman,
villagers would not receive a full among of K 10,000
for compensation because the local headman will cut K
2,000 on top of the return money.

Although villagers do not satisfy with his order, they
could not against him because he is a third range of
member of Anti-Insurgents Militia Force in
Thanphyuzayat Township.

GAS EXPLORATION AND COMPENSATION FOR LAND ON GAS
PIPE-LINE PROJECT

January 3, 2002 Mudon

Local Land owners have received small cash from the
Ministry of Mines, of Burma, a local source said.

A gas exploration was occurred between Kwanhlar -
Yaungdaung village in Mudon Township, the southern of
Moulmien, capital city of Mon State.

Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Ministry of Mines, visited the
exploration site and compensated K 2,000.00 for each
acre to Landowners, the local source added.

Kanbauk - Myaingkalay Gas Pine-line project operates
from Tenasserim Division across the Mon State through
Karen State, where hundreds of local people lost their
lands and plantations for years.

BURMESE SOLIDER ATTEMPED TO RAPE A MON FEMALE TEACHER

January 5, 2002, Ye

An unidentified Sergeant of Burmese Army has attempted
to rape a local female Mon teacher at her house in Ye
Township, a local source reported.

The Sergeant from the IB No. 343, escaped from the
house of the girl because local people managed to
arrest him in the sense.

A female teacher, Miss Aie Mon stays alone in her
parent house in an evening while the Sergeant sneaked
into the house. She lives in Pram Maw village,
northern Ye town, where the Burmese army operates its
military unity in the area.

The source added that the Sergeant speaks Mon language
very well and he has been attempted to abuse her in
the past. Local people have a common sense of his
activity of the day therefore he cannot rape her
easily.


ILLEGAL CASH COLLECTION FOR EXAMINATION

January 1, 2002, Ye

Students who cannot pay extra cash for teachers do not
have access to sit a State examination at Azin village
tract, Ye Township, a local source said.

Each student must pay K 1,000.00 for access to sit the
examination. Students of the Middle and High Schools
must pay the illegal cash in advance if they want to
sit for examination.

Moreover, students also have to pay K100.00 each
during school holidays for teachers' picnic events.

The source added that many low -income families have
great concerns for their children if they cannot pay
for this demand.

ARMY RECRUITMENT: 9-30 OLD AGES

January 18,2002, Thanphyuzayat,

A local Burmese Army recruitment unit has collected a
list of young people who will be recruited for the
defense force in Mon State, a reliable source said.

The IB No. 31 based on Thanphyuzayat town asked a
village militia force at Wakharu village to call a
general meeting and has collected 69 members of local
young from age range of 9-30 for recruitment.

A head of militia in the meeting said that people need
to attend military training but they can return home
after the training. The country will call upon when
it needs for resource, the source added.

This local militia group forces people to attend the
meeting despite they do not have their own wills to
participate in the meeting. We are very afraid of
this action for our young children, a local man said.

For further information: imna_news@yahoo.com

IMNA will update its news as soon as we receive
accurate source.









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