SPDC plans to build new cement factory in Pa-an Township

Independent Mon News Agency

6/6/01

To build new cement factory in Pa-an Township, SPDC’s Nationality Race and Border Area Development ministry, Construction Ministry and Southeast Region Military Command have coordinated with each other to construct a natural gas pipeline from Kanpout,Yadana gas pipeline project to Myainkalay area of Pa-an township, Karen State.

The pipeline passed through to Mon State, and many villages located in Ye township, Thanbuzayat township, Mudon township and Kyaikmayaw township in Mon State have been confiscated by the Junta since November 19, 2000.

In Thanbuzayatt Town, Nai Chan Mon’s house was moved back from pipeline area so that his well that was in backyard is now in front of his house.

In Thanbuzayatt Township, along motor road, we can see where the pipeline passed in front of the houses and many trees were cut down. The farm and house owners had to remove their belongings within three days by order from the head villager.

Nai Tayoat,a Chinese man, owned a ten acres farm that was confiscated in Toung Bone,Tong mohn village, northern part of Ye Township because it was situated near the pipeline.

SPDC collected tax for railway patrol in Anin, Anang village, Ye Township

After a bomb blast on the railway near the kyaung ywear(Karen village), Thabuzayatt Township, SPDC set up a plan to patrol along the railroad area. And it collected money to pay for the patrol from many villages situated in these areas. In Anang village, the villagers have to pay the authority 400 kyats every month; and every village has to patrol railroad.

On May 19,2001, LIB No.82 based in the southern part of Pa-an Township,Karen State, conscripted local villagers to repaired the motor road between Zartapyin Eindu without giving any payments according to local Mon people from the area.

When the junta built the motor road over six years ago, they confiscated the local people from the villages situated around these areas. The majority of villagers are Mon.

“ My son went to Thailand after he was conscripted to work in the motor road in about 1995,1996”, one local villager said. “ When he worked on the motor road, he felt very sick because he got malaria after working fir 3 days in the sun”, she added.

” I want one of my daughters to be a school teacher. If she is a teacher, we will not be conscripted to work like that; and we can also avoid paying many kinds of taxes”, she added.

Thayattaw villagers forced to harvest in kyonedoe, Kawkreik Township, Karen State

SPDC ordered Thayattaw (Grougp Kroak, means mango forest) villagers to harvest a military battalion’s paddy farm. They conscripted local people, over three days before the water festival, (Songkran days) without payment, according to the villager.

The authorities did not give any food or water to the villagers who were forced to work. They had to bring their food for their lunches.

SPDC conscripts money in Moelamine, the capital of Mon State

SPDC conscripted money in Moelamyine town to repair a motor road near the bottom of Kyaikthanlan range.

Some of houses had to pay 15,000/ 10,000/ or 3,000 Kyats, according to a source in the Mon community in Moelamyine.

Local people suffered because they have to pay more money. Some poor local people borrowed money from their relatives to pay the local authority because they did not have enough money in their savings.