(THE NATION 3-10-96)

Mon leaders claim fewer abuses Agency France Press-Rangoon The Burmese military is " slowly stopping" forced labour in an area where Total of France and the US-base Unocal are constructing a natural gas pipeline, an ethnic Mon leader said yesterday. Speaking at a government sponsored news conference, Nai Shwe Kyin, leader of the New Mon State Party, said that forced labour and other rights abuses continues in areas of Burma's Mon state administered by the army. But the behavior of troops is improving "because they are getting more money now", he said. Although abuses continue, " they are slowly stopping," he added. The news conference was organized to discuss development in areas controlled by armed ethnic groups that have signed ceasefire agreement with the military government in Rangoon. The ceasefire agreement have left soldiers with time on their hands, and so some were working on road building, Nai Shwe Kyin said. Total and Unocal have denied reports they were involved in forced labour and relocation, but human rights watchdogs have said that the army began developing the entire area with forced labour only after signing contracts with the oil companies. Nai Shwe Kyin said that he will ask the government to divert some of the gas from the pipeline to a cement plant planned in the Mon state. The pipeline is to run from the Yadana gas field in the sea of Martaban to the Thai border.

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Dear friends solidarity with Burma and human rights observers,

The Mon information Network (Canada) strongly denounces the speech given by the leader of the New Mon State Party, Nai Shwe Kyin which had reported by AFP Rangoon, dated (3-10-96) by " The Nation" news paper published in Bangkok, Thailand. Mon Information Network (Canada) has been concerned the plight of Mon people who are under suppressive military regime and feel much regret by his speech at a State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) sponsored-news conference. MIN also wonder if the speech is prepared and manipulated by SLORC. It is rootless remark and neglecting the desires of the local majority people. By saying "Forced labour and other rights abuses continues in area of Burma's Mon State administered by the army. But the behavior of troops is improving because they are getting more money now. Although abuses continue, they are slowly stopping." Nai Shwe Kyin should retrospect and focus the long struggle of the New Mon State Party under his leadership and the cause for the rights to self-determination. It is unbelievable for us to hear this speech. And obviously, he is unable to share attention and sympathy to his own people. It was well understood that the New Mon State Party had reached a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese junta on June 29, 1995 over a year ago. The reluctant Mon group, with pressure from some powerful Thai policy makers in cooperation with some businessmen was forced to enter the ceasefire agreement and it was also a weakness of the leadership within the New Mon State Party. The face is that NMSP's well tradition of its leadership in the Mon people has stepped down after the ceasefire agreement. Even though the Mon civilians are hoping for a better life and peace, forced labouring and different types of taxation has increased in their areas. While the leaders are in the trap of the military junta, what we concerned is, the villagers are working on road building by forced labour. According to our well informed sources, the situation in the Mon state is even worse after ceasefire agreement and only those handful privileged people are taking benefit from the blood and sweat of their people. Despite this negligence statement the real situation is well documented by; 1/ The Mon Information Service (Bangkok) reported "Forced Labour on the Construction of the Ye-Tavoy Railway in 1995", 2/ MIS ( Bangkok) "Endless Nightmares in the Black Area" (Human Rights Violations in Burma's South & Southeastern Region During 1995) reported in March 1996, 3/ MIS ( Bangkok ) French Total Co's and American Unocal Corp's Disastrous Gas Pipeline Project in Burma's Gulf of Martaban and 4/ Total Denial-Burma ( July 1996) reported by Earth Rights International and Southeast Asian Information Network.

October 9, 1996

Mon Information Network -CANADA