KAOWAO NEWS NO Newsletter for social justice and freedom in Burma. January 7- February 4, 2010

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1 KAOWAO NEWS NO. 158 Newsletter for social justice and freedom in Burma January 7- February 4, 2010 Readers' Front Burmese Army Intrudes NMSP control zone 63 rd Mon National Day Celebrated Worldwide Most drugs seized in Thailand come from the Burma Army: Businessmen Overseas Mon call for the release of arrested Mon monk 2010 Election: Buddhist Monk and Youth Arrested, Tortured Mon National Day Billboard Censored Joint-Statement on the 63rd Anniversary of the Mon National Day Hunger for Education The Karen Flag: A Symbol of Unity ********************************* Readers' Front Dear readers, We invite comments and suggestions on improvements to the Kaowao newsletter. With your help, we hope that Kaowao News will continue to grow to better serve the needs of those seeking social justice in Burma. And we hope that it will become an important forum for discussion and debate and help readers to keep abreast of issues and news. We reserve the right to edit and reject articles without prior notification. You can use a pseudonym but we encourage you to include your full name and address. Regards, Editor Kaowao Newsgroup editor@kaowao.org **********************************************

2 Burmese army intrudes into NMSP control zone Kaowao: February 4, 2010 Sangkhlaburi -- Local civilians are facing more Burmese Army intrusions into the NMSP area that breach the 1995 NMSP ceasefire agreement, Kaowao has learned. About 50 troops led by Lt Col. Tin Maung Maung from the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 407 has taken up a position at Ta Dein village situated along Three Pagodas Pass Thanbyu Zayat motor road. The area was designated for the New Mon State Party when they reached a cease-fire agreement with the Burmese government in The women in the village are harassed by the Burmese soldiers and husbands are returning home from working at other places, said Blai Mon, a Ta Dein villager. The Burmese soldiers are infamous for gang raping and use women at will for intimidation and sex, he added. The local villagers live under constant fear while the Burmese Army takes everything from knives, vegetables to livestock, said a trader who arrived at the Thai Burma border recently. Another troops from (LIB) No. 282, based in Yebyu of Tenasserim Division, also intruded into the Suwannaphom Village near the General Head Quarters of the NMSP in the 2 nd week of January. A senior leader of the NMSP expressed deep annoyance over the intrusions of the Burmese army: It is a sign of showing force and aggression against us after we criticized their Border Guard Force proposal. We will stick to our side of the bargain and maintain the cease-fire agreement, but they (SPDC) should respect their word as well, said the NMSP leader. Meanwhile, NMSP President General Htow Mon told Kaowao that the NMSP is aware of the SPDC s movements after they disagreed to the Border Guard Force proposal. Caught between a rock and a hard spot on whether to show force or give in to the Burmese government, he is urging all the Mons to unite in solidarity and be on alert during the current tension between the Burmese Army and the NMSP. ************************************************************** 63 rd Mon National Day Celebrated Worldwide Kaowao: February 5, 2010 The Mon kicked off their annual Mon National Day celebration which fell on Saturday, January 30, 2010.

3 With the Mon celebrations being held under the watchful eyes of the military s surveillance team in the villages and the larger towns in Mon and Karen State, Tenasserim, and Pegu Division where the Mons live, the thousands of Mon nationals living outside of Burma in the democratic countries around the world, celebrated the event freely in South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The Mon refugee and migrant communities in Malaysia, Singapore and Korea took their day off and got together to join cultural events with live rock music, traditional dances and food. The Mon community on the Thailand Burma border hosted an event with the New Mon State Party President, Nai Htow Mon and the other Thai Mon leaders at Palai Japan village near the Three Pagodas Pass. The Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), a co-ed of smartly dressed women and men in uniforms, staged a military parade and sang the Mon national anthem at the opening session. Several communities in Thailand - which hosts thousands of Mon migrants - saw several events around the kingdom, including, Samutsakhon, Phuket, Tak, Hatyai, and Ratchburi, Kanchanaburi Provinces. The Mon National Day in Thailand showed that the Thai-Mon community spirit is alive and kicking during the celebrations which were held a week in advance to the January 30, at the Parchar Mon village in Nong-chang District of Uthai Thani on January 24 with over 6,000 Thai- Mon from over 20 Thai provinces in attendance, according to the Bangkok based Mon Youth Community members. The Mon have deep roots in the Thailand, as well as in Burma, being among the first of the indigenous peoples with a recorded history that dates back to the Mon Dvāravatī kingdom of Thailand in the sixth century A.D. In North America; the Monland Restoration Council (MRC) sponsored an event that featured cultural performances, live concerts, Mon food and speeches from the American and Mon community leaders in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States on January 30. The Canadian Mons will host their celebration on February 6 in Calgary, Alberta. ********************************* Most drugs seized in Thailand come from the Burma Army: Businessmen S.H.A.N: February 4, 2010 Business people on the border SHAN has interviewed confirmed that most of the drugs seized in Thailand originate in the Burma Army controlled militia groups and not Wa as reported by several news agencies.

4 The Wa are not out of the game yet, not by a long shot, said a young trader on the Tachilek- Maesai border. But the political winds are changing, so is the drug trade. The Wa used to be Number One. Now the militias are Number One. The United Wa State Army (UWSA) and several other ceasefire groups have since 2008 increasingly been under pressure to come into the fold of the Burma Army The UWSA and 5 other groups say they would not give up their arms until their autonomy demands are met. Since then, the militia s stars have been on the rise, agreed another businessman. The ceasefire groups trucks are searched, but the militias are not. The result is even the ceasefire groups have to turn to the militias for the safe transit of their drug consignments. One businessman earlier told SHAN that Thai entrepreneurs had been trying to take advantage of the situation by investing with the militias. They are the ones who bring in precursors like caffeine and pseudo ephedrine you have been hearing about, he said. They, unlike the Wa, like to churn out the pills first and look for the customers later. The Wa, he says, never make pills without order. They also are choosy with their customers: either they must pay cash on delivery or they must be long standing loyal customers. But why do most smugglers say they were carrying Wa goods and not others? It s to discourage rival groups from trying to hijack the goods, one businessman replied. If you say you are carrying Wa goods, no one will dare touch you. Also when you are caught on the Thai side and the media ask you where it comes from, the answer Wa will shut them up. Most of the junta backed militia groups are said to be involved in the drug production and trade. The most well-known is the group from Punako, Mongtoom tract, Monghsat township, opposite Chiangrai s Mae Fa Luang district. The Burma Army s Light Infantry Battalions (LIBs) 553 and 554 are stationed near their village. Yet despite their stars rising, their products are still low-quality compared to the Wa s. But just give them sufficient time, said the source, I think the Number One chemists from the Wa will be moving over to the militias. ************************************************************ Overseas Mon call for the release of arrested Mon monk Kaowao: February 1, 2010 The overseas Mon coordinating body has called for the release of a Mon Buddhist monk, Rev. Ajjae, from a Burmese military interrogation center in Yangon, who was arrested on January 7, 2010 in Thanbyuzayat town, Mon State, after being accused of organizing an anti-election campaign. Following his arrest he was reportedly to have been tortured and is being kept in a detention centre in Yangon.

5 The Overseas Mon Coordinating Committee (OMCC), comprised of the Monland Restoration Council (USA), Mon Canadian Society, Australia Mon Association, and Euro Mon Community, issued a statement on January 27 condemning the Burmese military regime for disrobing and torturing the Mon monk. A relative of the monk who spoke to Kaowao said that his family fears for his life after the Burmese authorities refused to inform the family on Nai Ajjae s condition and his whereabouts. The OMCC statement said: The arrest is just the Burmese government s tactic to intimidate, suppress, and clampdown on those who oppose the military regime s sponsored election to be held later this year. The pro-military regime s political parties and organizations are allowed to gather and campaign for the election, while the opposition parties and those who oppose the 2008 constitution and the coming election have been subjected to intimidation, suppression, and harassment, according to local sources. Nai Ajjae, 28, was on the way to the funeral service of Krein Kreik in Zopbu (Thanbyuzayat) Township, Mon State, when he was arrested by the military s security intelligence and taken to their office along with his computer and camera for questioning. Another young man was also arrested by the local police on January 11, 2010 for having relations with the monk, Kyaik Soi from Mutdon Village of Chaung Zon Township in Biluu Kyun. A Buddhist monk who fled to the border said some monks and young people were in hiding fearing arrest after the military intelligence searched Nai Ajjae s temple in Mudon Township. The Burmese intelligence keeps a list of names of those who had relations with Rev. Ajjae and is searching for the people in the photos taken by Ajjjae. That s how the SPDC finds us then they try to ban all cultural events which are not even related to politics. Most of the time we are just organizing our social activities on religion and culture, he added. In the statement, the OMCC demanded that Rev. Ajjae be immediately released and that the military regime allow the opposition groups to plan and organize for the 2010 election campaign. The OMCC also urges the international community to pressure the military government to allow the full representation of all political parties sponsored for the election in ************************************************ 2010 Election: Buddhist Monk and Youth Arrested, Tortured Kaowao: January 14, 2010 Efforts by the Burmese authorities to suppress and clampdown on dissent are in full force after a young Buddhist monk in Mon State came under immediate suspicion for owning a laptop. He

6 was subsequently targeted for allegedly taking part in an anti-2010 election campaign and was arrested on January 7 and subjected to brutal torture which sent him to the hospital for emergency treatment, a Mon monk who recently arrived at the border area said. His computer was targeted for having important information such as digital images and is now in the hands of the SPDC s security intelligence, the young monk said who requested anonymity for fear of arrest. I just heard he was disrobed and taken to Rangoon from Moulmein (the capital of Mon state) for further investigation, he added. Another source reported a young man, Kyaik Soi from Mutdon Village of Chaung Zon Township in Biluu Kyun, was also arrested by local police on January 11, 2010 followed by the forced investigation of the monk. Nai Ajjae, 28, was on the way to the funeral service of Krein Kreik of Zopbu (Thanbyuzayat in Burmese) Township, Mon State, when he was arrested by the military s security intelligence and hauled into their office with his computer and camera in hand for questioning. He was planning to take photographs of the Buddhist Monk funeral ceremony, the most famous ceremony to be held in a long time in the township. The military intelligence later returned to Nai Ajjae s temple in Mudone Township where they searched his personal belongings and confiscated more computer equipment, the source said. Nobody knows what kind of information is stored in his computer, but images of the local people were on the memory card. After being subjected to torture, he was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment after losing consciousness, the source explained. His family is traumatized and is confused as to why he was arrested and tortured. Following the 2007 Saffron Revolution that saw tens of thousands of Buddhist monks acting in solidarity to protest against the military ruled government, Buddhist monks came under intense scrutiny and harassment by the authorities. Several hundred monks and civilians were killed and brutally tortured with hundreds ending up in prison with lengthy prison sentences with many, three years on, being put on trail while others managed to flee the country. Buddhist monks pose a very real threat to the military ruled government, the Sangha (community of Buddhist monks), are highly respected in Burma and their struggle for democracy and freedom is a major force of moral authority. Rev. Ajjae (Zaw Latt), was a teacher for his temple, a source from Mon State said, adding: He is a socially conscious and committed young monk. In Burma it is a struggle and very difficult to organize political activities, but some young Mon Buddhist monks in Mon State have been planning to launch a campaign against the SPDC s sponsored 2010 election. There are few Buddhist monks in Mon State who own a laptop since the country has limited access to the Internet and anyone owning technical equipment risks monitoring, just as owning a pen and paper in Burma will draw suspicions from the spies and police. The SPDC s police and

7 intelligence forces have alerted their troops to be aware of any suspicious behavior especially those who own computers and cameras, which led to the monk s arrest. Meanwhile, suspicion and fear are running high among the security forces intent on clamping down on any who threaten and criticize the ruling military government in Mon State. Zopbu recently was hooked up to the Internet in the past year, but the Burmese government regularly monitors, censors, and launches cyber attacks against the social networking sites to detect incriminating images and political content. ************************************************ Mon National Day Billboard Censored By Lawi Weng, Irrawaddy: January 7, 2010 Burmese authorities have ordered that the Burmese language text be removed from billboards in Mon State commemorating the 63rd anniversary of Mon National Day, according to Mon sources. A senior member of the Mon National Day Committee (MNDC) in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday, We have been told by the authorities to erase the [Burmese] text because it could cause national unity. They told us the order came from the southeast military command in Moulmein. The billboards included the same text in both the Mon and Burmese languages. The Burmese text that the authorities ordered removed read: In Southeast Asia [the area] from Thaton to the Malay peninsula was [originally] included in Suwanabumi [old Mon kingdom]. After the kingdom was occupied, heritage sites were lost. But pagodas still stand in Thaton Township in Mon State. MNDC sources said the authorities informed them on Dec. 29 that they could only use the Mon language on the billboards. If we write only in Mon, there are only a few people who can understand it, said the Mon source. This is why we used two languages, so everyone could read the message. There are more than 2 million Mon in Burma, he said, but many Mon can't read the Mon language. He said the authorities also censored the statement on the billboards and a leaflet about the anniversary of Mon National Day. The Mon fought alongside the Burmese in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule, but they have never achieved autonomy under the Burmese military government.

8 The authorities have long discouraged overt displays of Mon nationalism, because they are afraid it will encourage anti-regime sentiments. The Mon have celebrated their national day for 63 years despite attempts by the military government to eliminate it. The regime changed the name of the Mon National Museum to National Museum and replaced the Mon script. The Mon will celebrate Mon National Day on Jan. 30 in Moulmein, Mudon, Thanbyuzayat and Ye townships. National Day commemorates the day when the first Mon kingdom, Hongsawadee, was established in 1116 of the Buddhist Era, or 573 CE. ************************************************************** Statement Joint-Statement of the Overseas Mon Organizations on the 63rd Anniversary of the Mon National Day January 30, 2010 Today marks the 63rd anniversary of the Mon National Day which will be held in several locations around the world. The Mon people observe this auspicious day by saluting the Mon national flag and remembering the thousands who have sacrificed and dedicated their lives in the past and those who continue to do so for the Mon national cause. The Mon National day was founded to commemorate the last Mon Kingdom, Hongsawatoi (Bago/Pegu) which was founded by two Mon brothers, Samala and Vimala in 572 A.D. However, the kingdom was occupied and destroyed by the Burman king, Alaung Paya in 1757 A.D. Since the invasion of our land and the mass murder of our people in 1757, the Mons lost their independence and become a people without a country. Although Burma gained independence from the British in 1948, our human rights are denied and our freedoms to govern and educate our own people are ignored. The political situation in Burma is a classic David and Goliath struggle. The Burmese government continues to divide the country by rejecting the rights of the ethnic nationalities and is one of the most repressive regimes in the world. They treat the ethnic nationalities with no humanity and are intolerant to opposition and remove any who question its authority by locking them up in prison and torturing them. The Mons from around the world came together to form the Mon Affaires Union (MAU) in 2007 followed by the 5th Mon National Conference in They passed a number of resolutions to address the political and social problems in Monland in Lower Burma. One of the resolutions is to boycott the Burmese military regime s sponsored election in Therefore, we urge all Mons to respect and implement these resolutions and to strongly oppose the general election. While the ethnic nationalities and Burmese democratic forces repeatedly demand the establishment of a federal union, the Burmese military regime (SPDC) persists to enforce its rule with the deceptively seven steps road map to democracy, which many believe is a sham

9 election. The fifth step of the road map is the general election to be held later this year in 2010, the sixth is the convening of the elected representatives, and the seventh is the building of the country into a democratic nation. Although the regime claims that the election will be free and fair and conducted through a democratic process, the current political situation in Burma proves otherwise in which people have faced hostility and violence. Those who question the election are arbitrarily arrested and beaten up by the regime s thugs. Earlier this month, the regime arrested a Mon monk, Ven. Ajjea, in Mon State accusing him for taking part in an anti-election campaign. He was inhumanly tortured, hospitalized, and portrayed as a traitor. Moreover, the regime s sponsored constitution is written to serve the interests and legitimize the military s rule in Burma. Therefore, we urge all Mon to join hands with the other ethnic nationalities and the Burmese democratic forces to protest against the election. Although the regime has been advocating for the building of a democratic and modern Burma, it continues to practice its bloodied divide and rule policy in order to disunite the ethnic nationalities. It also continues to repress our cultural celebrations such as Kachin Manau Festival and the Mon National Day s celebrations. Recently, the regime ordered a Burmese historical text which had chronicled our history of the Mon Kingdom, Suvannabhumi (Thatôn), to be removed from Mon National Day s signboards and posters. It is very important for our people to make the right decision on the upcoming election. Wars have occurred between the Mon and the Burmese in the centuries past, however, today we hold firmly to peace and endeavor to fight the aggressive policies which are imposed on us. We lost our sovereign Kingdom and became a people without a country. If we support the regime s election and constitution, we will be enslaved by Burmese military regime forever. Therefore, we urge: 1. All Mon people from around the world to stand firm by coming together to unite and struggle for our inalienable rights and freedoms. 2. All people of Burma must protest by boycotting 2010 election. 3. The international community must not recognize or support the 2010 election unless the Burmese military regime is willing to reform the political situation in more inclusive terms, with more of a focus on the response and the political involvement of the ethnic nationalities, review the constitution so that it is representative of the people, and release all political prisoners prior to the elections, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The statement is jointly issued by: 1. Australia Mon Association (AMA) 2. Euro Mon Community 3. Mon Canadian Society 4. Monland Restoration Council (USA) 5. Mon Women's Association of America 6. Mon Women s Organization of Canada

10 7. National League for Consolidating and Aiding (Mae Sot, Thailand) 8. Mon National Democratic Front (Liberated Area) 9. Mon Unity League (Thailand) 10. Mon Refugees Organization, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 11. Mon Youth Association (Malaysia) 12. Overseas Mon Women s Organization (Mae Sot, Thailand) ******************************************************* Feature Hunger for Education Report by Minn Punn Han, Kaowao: January 25, 2010 Today, Mi Kya Lun Htaw is a teacher with the Mon education department in Yay Chaung Phyar in the northern Yay River area, Mon State. She enjoys passing on the benefits of education to the Mon children and young people. But her own journey in becoming an educated person was cut short when the Burmese military government closed all its schools after the 1988 uprising, when students organized and participated in demonstrations against the regime. She was born and grew up in Taranar Village in Kyeik Mayaw Township, Mon State. At the time of the school closure, she was studying in the sixth grade (six standard) in a Mon national school, which was associated with the government's middle school. "When I realized that I could not continue my studies, I became depressed," Mi Kya Lun Htaw recalled. "I wanted to be an educated person. I wondered what my future would be like if I was not educated? Therefore, I begged my parents to allow me to continue my studies. That s when I went to Kyeik Ka Bin village to study," she said enthusiastically. In 1993, an education department under the New Mon State Party (NMSP) opened at the temple in Kyeik Ka Bin village, Kaw Ka Reik Township, Karen State. There were over 40 families in the village. But the Burmese Army and Mon ethnic armed groups often exchanged gunfire there. The village was very difficult to get to. It was a half day s journey by boat. "We were afraid during the journey because we had to look out for the Burmese Army," she said. To help us avoid them, a Mon armed group platoon escorted us. Before the Mon armed groups and the military regime signed a ceasefire agreement in 1995, the military authorities strictly banned the Mon from teaching their own literature in the Mon

11 schools opened by the NMSP's education department in Mon State. The military authorities tried to prevent students from being taught Mon literature by sometimes arresting and detaining teachers. She recalled that students and teachers had to hide school books and run away because the Burmese Army received information about students learning Mon literature in Kyeik Ka Bin village and then entered the village to investigate. "Even the cooks had to run away. We could not eat rice. I slept when I was hiding," she said. She faced a lot of difficulties in her studies because of the army's raids on the village and always had to be ready to run when army troops heard about their class. "When we heard the army entering the village, we had to stop eating or learning and had to hide separately in the village," Mi Kya Lun Htaw recalled. Even though she faced many difficult challenges as a Mon student, she successfully finished her studies for her bachelor s degree at a government university. The NMSP's central education department started to teach Mon literature in It established an education branch under the central education department in Now there are 142 primary schools, 12 middle schools, and 3 high schools functioning under the central education department. Mon national schools are now free which provides a good opportunity for poor students seeking an education. Up until now about fifteen thousand students have studied in Mon national schools. Over twenty thousand students have been studying in the schools associated with government schools and both teach Mon literature. There are 114 schools associated with the government schools teaching Mon literature. "In the associated schools teachers have to teach Mon literature before and after the normal school hours," Mi Kya Lun Htaw said. At the Mon national schools students have to learn not only Mon literature but other subjects that the government has approved for the school curriculum with the Mon language being taught at primary level. Mi Kya Lun Htaw said studying the Mon literature instills a sense of patriotism and cultural pride in the students. The Mon national schools inside Burma have not faced strong restrictions since the 1995 ceasefire. However, other ethnic groups cannot teach and learn their own language and literature in government schools Mi Kya Lun Htaw said. "I will never forget what I have faced in my school life. Like me, a Mon student studying in a Mon national school faced many difficulties, but I think the other ethnic students are facing the same difficulties in learning their own language and literature," she said. ******************************************************************************

12 Feature The Karen Flag: A Symbol of Unity Report by Winraw Saw Htel Nay Kaowao: January 25, 2010 The large crowd filling the chairs in front of the stage at the recent Karen New year celebrations, held on the grounds of the Mae Towe Clinic, in Mae Sot, rose to their feet in unison to focus their attention on the most venerated symbol of their shared hopes and aspirations for freedom. The Karen national flag has deep meaning to Karen people, because it has been a rallying point during their decades-long armed struggle against the Burmese military. Many in the audience wore clothing displaying the vivid colors Karen traditional dress has become famous for. But, nine year old Saw Zin Min beamed with pride as his mother helped him wrap his head in a scarf with red, white and blue stripes - the predominant colors in the Karen flag. I want to wear it because it s Karen new year. All Karen people respect their flag, he said. The young boy s sentiment was echoed by Master of Ceremonies, Mahn Shwe Hnin, Headmaster of CDC School in Mae Sot. You have to love your flag and be proud of it, he said. If not, maybe one day Karen people will disappear from the world. Karen people are proud of the fact that their flag is widely recognized. Dr. Tee Than Pyar founded The Karen National Association in 1881, becoming its first chairman. Afterwards, Dr. Tee Than Pyar, Sayar San Baw from Thararwaddy served as a chairman between 1930 and During this period, he and other Karen leaders petitioned parliament for the creation of a Karen flag and national anthem. That request was not ignored. It was discussed in parliament and voted upon in The public was invited to participate in a competition to design the new flag. More than one hundred designs were received. Eventually, three were selected for consideration. Among the three designs selected, Mann Ba Khin, (BA), won the first prize. He was also a writer in the Karen organization. In his flag design, there was a frog drum (called that because it is covered with frog skin). He said ancient Karen people used the frog drum during war and venerated it. Karen people believed that it's a living thing. The second winner, Sayar Moe from Taung Oo incorporated a rising sun symbol. He noted the rising sun gave the bright light to all Karen people in the world; and sunlight could erase fear. For instance, if a person in a particular family was sick, other family members were worried, being fearful at night especially. When the daylight came, it could erase the fear. As well,

13 sunlight gives life to all living things. All human beings need sunlight and doctors have even cured patients by exposing them to sunlight, as a medical treatment. The third winner, Dr. Ba Saw Dwe incorporated the image of a white elephant image in the Karen flag. There was an elephant image on the frog drum. According to his definition, the white elephant is a precious treasure. Mann Ba Khin, the secretary of the Karen National Association, led a group to incorporate all three elements into the final design, which he sent to the Karen National Association. In the final design, the color red was used to speak of heroism and perseverance, white for purity and clarity and blue for honesty and peace. Nine rays of light streaming from the rising sun indicated the nine regions from which the Karen people traced their origins. The frog drum symbolizes unity in traditional Karen culture. In 1936, Karen army leaders added two Dohs (rounded seeds) under the frog drum in the Karen flag. Before Burma gained independence in 1937, Karen people held a Karen New Year celebration in Rangoon. At the celebration, the Karen flag was successfully hoisted in the flag pole and Karen people bowed to it in unity. When the Karen armed revolution occurred on January 31, 1949, some people from the AFPLF government argued the Karen national flag was the flag of the rebels. After that, the government did not allow the flag to be used. However, some Karen leaders, who would not join the armed revolution, named Sayar Thar Hto and Sayar James Htun Aung and Saw Bel Lay, bravely used the Karen National flag during Karen New Year celebrations in Rangoon. In the different regions of Burma where the Karen live, and even abroad, Buddhist and Christian Karen people have used the Karen national flag during Wrist Tying ceremonies, cultural ceremonies, public meetings and especially during Karen New Year. I m very happy and proud to be Karen, young Zaw Sin Min said, his bright eyes peeking out from under the red, white and blue stripes he is so proud to wear. ********************************************** KAOWAO NEWS GROUP editor@kaowao.org, webmaster@kaowao.org, Phone: , (Thailand) Mailing address P.O. Box 2, Sangkhlaburi Kanchanaburi, 71240, Thailand

14 Kao Wao website: Kao Wao archive: Online Burma Library: ABOUT US Kaowao Newsgroup is committed to social justice, peace, and democracy in Burma. We hope to be able to provide an in-depth analysis that will help to promote lasting change and peace within Burma. Editors, reporters, writers, and overseas volunteers are dedicated members of the Mon activist community based in Thailand. Our motto is working together for change and lasting peace.