A regular New Mandala reader has drawn our attention to this shocking Los Angeles Times report from behind the army perimeter in Burma, inside the Irrawaddy Delta. As the reader states:
The article seems credible, the reporter pretty thorough, the LA Times fairly reputable. If the same content were on a rebellious blog site, it would be almost unbelievable, incomprehensible, but my opinion is that this reporter is working hard to report what is actually going on.
And another reader has referred us to this story:
I came across an article regarding a broadcast on the Australian television channel SBS about aid deliveries to the Irrawaddy Delta by members of the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army - Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) in cooperation with the Chiang Mai-based Asian Tribal Ministries. Some of the video is available online and includes footage of Major-General Htain Maung, his wife and Pastor Timothy Laklem of the KNU/KNLA-PC. A spokesperson for the group states that they got special permission from the SPDC to film the whole thing. Also, the group is filmed giving out USaid relief packages. One of the reports is available here.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Go Read the LA Times Article on Burma’s Continuing Catastrophe… « deathpower // May 30, 2008 at 2:27 am
[...] Article on Burma’s Continuing Catastrophe… 29 05 2008 I was alerted to it by New Mandala, which in turn was made aware of it by a reader of theirs. That reader summed up the article [...]
2 boom // Aug 7, 2008 at 5:24 am
Editor’s Note (Nicholas Farrelly): I have allowed the following comment to appear for the information of New Mandala readers. There is no name attached to it and, like with other anonymous contributions, it should be treated with considered caution. I cannot vouch for its origins. Nonetheless some readers may find it useful or interesting. Best wishes to all, NSF.
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RESPONSE TO ASIAVIEWS RE: CHILD SOLDIER ISSUE
Regional News and Special Report.
AsiaViews Edition 1st January 2008.
As I am one of the policy-makers in the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, I cannot speak for the other ethnic armed groups and the Burmese army listed, it may be true in some cases with them. It is obvious that the UN reporters are reporting only from what they hear not what they see. As for the KNU/KNLA Peace Council I know what is truth and what is not.
One of our main aims for pursuing peace is to stop the human rights abuses, forced labour, forced relocation and other crimes that are against humanity. We disagree with the former KNU group in Mae Sot, who extort money from their own people and murder their own innocent Karen, also forcing families to surrender their sons to become child soldiers.
Since we have achieved peace in the 7th Brigade area, we stopped the extortation of money from the former KNU, KNLA, and DKBA; even the KNU/KNLA Peace Council are no exception.
After 58 years of war, seeing all kinds of bad leadership within the former KNU, we took our stand against all corruption and atrocities and came out from under them.
Asiaviews article claiming that the UN reports the KNU/KNLA Peace Council are involved in the crime of recruiting children to be soldiers is totally untrue.
We abhor these practices that we have seen in the past with the KNU under the 58 year revolution, this is one of the main reasons we separated ourselves. It is very shameful that the KNU called themselves the saviour of the Karen but yet committed all these things against our own Karen people.
We have now separated ourselves from these corrupted, criminal leadership and strive to protect our people from all these crimes.
It is extremely irresponsible to report such accusations without proper evidence and investigation.
I can give you a reason why this accusation is not true. Since the KNU/KNLA Peace Council achieved a peace agreement with the Burmese. We have stopped all atrocities against the people in the 7th Brigade area. It is all for the people, not for the benefit of leaders either in the Karen or Burmese.
1. Since we have no war with the Burmese there is no reason to recruit any new soldiers by the KNU/KNLA Peace Council.
2. Recruiting of child soldiers by either the KNU/KNLA Peace Council Forces or anyone else – this is totally against our policies. Our policies are well recorded.
3. Any soldier who wants to join with the KNU/KNLA Peace Council from any army – we will not accept it. Even if the Burmese soldier wishes to defect and join with us – we forbid it.
4. Our goal is not to build military might and to be at war – our goal is to see the people to live in peace and freedom within the area that is under the KNU/KNLA Peace Council.
5. At our request the Burmese Army have moved out of our area, so who do we have fight?
6. We even sent a message to the Burmese army, that KNU/KNLA Peace Council Forces refuses to accept any order from the Burmese army to fight against our own Karen. In other words, we are not bound to the Burmese army as are the DKBA.
7. The UN report of boys being recruited by KNU/KNLA Peace Council from Mae La is totally untrue. It is a fabricated story.
Mae La camp is not under the influence of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, nor is it under the UN either. Mae La camp is totally controlled by Mansha and his terrorist group, and is influenced by the KNU in Mae Sot. Johnny’s brother is the head of security in Mae La camp. In the past, since last April until now, all the terrorist activities towards the Karen innocent along the border, has come out of Mae La, influenced by Johnny and his brother-in-law. Many Karen innocent people have been terrorized by them when stating their wishes to return to live peacefully in their homeland. Some have been mercilessly killed by Johnny and his militant group. The 4 young boys who are reportedly missing were cold-bloodedly killed by Johnny himself. We received this report last June.
Due to the fact that Mansha is a communist, he is very skilled in propaganda and has used the media to discredit the KNU/KNLA Peace Council in any way possible to shift the blame from himself and his group.
All these atrocities that have happened, we asked repeatedly for the UN to investigate all these atrocities and corruption. But no one has sent any investigation team. They all fall into the manipulation of the KNU EC in Mae Sot, Mansha and his militant group led by Johnny; and they do not venture to seek the truth.
We invite the UN representative in Mae Sot, Elizabeth Kirton to come and see for herself the truth of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council – to come into the Karen Peace Area. For example, last year after the first attack on Gen. Ler Mu in April, Mansha is using the Irrawaddy Magazine to propaganda that Gen. Htay Maung will come and burn the Mae La refugee camps. It is sad, that many of the UN and NGOs believed this. In the end, I called to Elizabeth and told her that these fabricated stories are not true and let her speak in person to Gen. Htay Maung. After talking to him, she believed the truth.
The Irrawaddy Magazine and other Burmese news media that report these fabricated stories are irresponsible.
Last week, Mansha was at his old tricks again, when he reported in the news that Gen. Htay Maung would retaliate the death of his son-in-law, Gen. Ler Mu by attacking the Mae La camp. This is all lies, yet even the Thai forces believe him.
We will hunt down the terrorists who dare do harm to the innocent. We are not of such low mentality as to think to burn down the refugee camp or harm innocent people. We will take out a warrant on these terrorists, whether they be in Mae Sot or any other area. If we do not take action against these terrorists, more innocent lives will be at risk and harmed. Justice must be served for the sake of the innocent.
Everyone seems to turn a blind eye, and let them go, allowing them to continue to kill the innocent. We cannot allow them to get away with cold-blooded murder to the innocent. This is a serious crime against humanity.
I want to challenge the UN and any media, to get their hands in on the truth of matter and not just go by what they hear. The UN need to be serious and set up an investigation team, together with myself, get into the camps and interview the people. The people will only speak the truth if they are assured of their safety from Mansha and Johnny, they will speak the truth if they know they can be whisked away to a safe place. Also, come with me to the KNU/KNLA Peace Council area, I will guarantee the UN team’s safety and conduct interviews with the people there. Then you will know the truth.
3 Hla Oo // Aug 7, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Karens fighting Karens, bloodshed among brothers, the same as in the Delta 30 years ago. History is repeating again. Why? Or just a sad story of Burma!
4 Karen History and Culture Preservation Society // Aug 8, 2008 at 3:00 pm
In reference to the posting by Boon regarding response to ‘asiaviews’ the society also has the same document and it has been signed ‘Dr Timothy’ with ‘Pastor Timothy’ printed below the signature.
5 Charles F. // Aug 8, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Thank you for pointing that out. I tried to, but my post was deleted. I stated that it was written by Timothy Laklem. It was part of an email I received from him.
The man of God threatening death to those whom he disagrees with.
6 Charles F. // Aug 8, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I just came across this web site that belongs to the British government. On it, they’re discussing the assassination of Pado Manh Sha, and the possible involvement of Timothy Laklem in his murder. Your readers may find it of interest.
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080609/text/80609w0001.htm
7 jud // Aug 9, 2008 at 6:45 am
KNLA are Junta dogs and this guy is a liar
8 Charles F. // Aug 9, 2008 at 8:56 am
Thank you, Jud, for that well thought out response. I’m sure that NM readers will be able to read between the lines and quickly ascertain exactly what you mean.
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