en en en my en en en en en my my en en en en en en en en my en my en en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313Thu, 17 Sep 2015 07:53:31 +0000KnowledgeNewsSongsKarenVideo
Ministry to get tough against Unregistered illegals and their Employers
MigranteCcondemns Crackdown on Migrants, Refugees in Malaysia
တိုင္းရင္းသားဒုကၡသည္ ကူညီေရး ထိေရာက္စြာ ေဆာင္ရြက္ဖို႔ ကုလတိုက္တြန္း
Gross Attacks on Migrants & Refugees for Failures by the State
<b>PRESS STATEMENT</b><br />22nd February 2012<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The recent status report given by the Home Ministry together with the new deadline for April 10 2012 reveals that out of the 1.3 million undocumented workers registered into the biometric system, 1 million or more still remain as undocumented workers with no work permits or permits rejected by the Immigration department.&nbsp; It is indeed a clear sign of a program doomed to fail.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The 6P program is hailed by the government as an effective means to resolve the problem of&nbsp; ‘illegal migrants and workers’ in Malaysia. There are two problematic premises here: : Firstly, it places the burden of proof of her legality of stay in Malaysia on the migrant and refugee, who in actual fact has no control over existing legislation and labour practices that render him/her undocumented., Secondly, it reinforces the inhumane notion that any person without adequate administrative documents is not worthy of existing (<i>illegal</i>), and should be treated with the harshest of punishments, including torture (whipping), restriction of fundamental freedoms (detention) and forced return.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The reality, however, is that in the case of migrant workers, through a system that facilitates corruption by agents and employers, institutionalized labour trafficking through the practice of outsourcing, and widespread cheating by recruitment agents, 80% of migrants <i>become </i>undocumented in Malaysia. The power to renew the work permit also lies with the employer or the agent, not the migrant, but the current enforcement and legal framework’ holds the migrant accountable when employers shirk their responsibilities.<br />In the case of refugees, an absence of a legal framework to recognize and protect refugees renders them ‘undocumented’. Almost 100, 000 refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while tens of thousands more wait in line to seek asylum. Without any legislation or comprehensive policies to protect the rights of refugees, genuine asylum-seekers who have yet to be registered with UNHCR are treated as criminals who have breached Immigration laws; while in the case of registered refugees, enforcement officers arbitrarily either acknowledge or reject their UNHCR-issued documents.&nbsp; In both instances, refugees in Malaysia are subjected to arrest, detention, even whipping and deportation (a violation of the international principle of <i>non-refoulement). </i>The State renders the refugee ‘undocumented’ – the State therefore must be held accountable, not the refugee. The Malaysian government is overdue in rectifying this institutionalized breach of human rights.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />In addition to these notoriously unjust premises of the 6P, the implementation of the programme has thus far been chaotic and lacking in transparency and accountability. The Home Minister has also been bullish and bloating in a force of power; he’s that stated 4 million enforcement personnel, including 2.8 million civilians clothed as RELA are waiting to pounce on migrants (a threat also on the refugee community).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The fear and terror is intense in the migrant and refugee community. On 11th February 2012 (four days before the then deadline of 15th February), between 100 to 200 migrants (including refugees) were arrested near Pasar Seni (Central Market), Kuala Lumpur. Eyewitnesses state that immigration officers placed ‘yellow tags’ on the migrants and refugees, before carting them away into 4 Immigration trucks. Despite contacting the Immigration Department for more information, Tenaganita (but more importantly, the migrants &amp; refugees) do not know the reasons for their arrest; there is no transparency in the numbers of migrants and refugees arrested, nor do we know where they are detained.<br />Tan Sri Mahmood Adam, Secretary-General of the Home Ministry in a press statement issued on 14th February 2012 stated that 94, 856 migrants have been deported since the 6P programme began. No further information was provided about these migrants; what are their nationalities? Why were they deported? Are they persons of concern / asylum seekers? We’ve received unconfirmed reports that there may be detainees from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Kashmir currently in the KLIA Depot – are they potential asylum seekers waiting to be deported? These questions are even more urgent in the context of Malaysia flagrantly endangering the lives of asylum seekers, as clearly seen in the rapid deportation of Hamza Kashgari, the Saudi Arabian asylum seeker (2012) and in the deportation of 11 Uighur refugees back to China (2011). The guise of a ‘migration management programme’ to deport persons of concern to the international community cannot continue, and the Malaysian government must meet the demands of transparency and accountability, as its actions have detrimental consequences to the lives of people.<br />The lack of transparency, clarity and goodwill throughout the 6P programme has not only created anxiety among migrants, refugees and even employers, but it has also swung the doors for corruption wide open. As of December 2011, 2.6 million migrants came forward to register under the 6P, half of whom were undocumented migrants. Despite the uncertainties, migrants have demonstrated a clear willingness to ‘regularize’ their status in Malaysia. Many migrants have paid the initial RM300 to agents for registration under the biometric system (an amount sanctioned by the Malaysian government, before it was reduced to RM35 amidst criticism) and then between RM3000 to RM4000 for work permits (also to agents).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to the Home Ministry, however, only 379, 020 undocumented migrants working for 33, 053 employers have been legalized. More than 70% remain undocumented – not only is this a colossal waste of money for the 1 million migrants who registered under the programme, it also raises serious questions as to where (or to whom) this money has been channeled to. This also leaves these 1 million migrants in a state of terrifying limbo, as the marching drums of 4 million enforcement officers coming their way grow louder.<br />Some agents (approved by the Home Ministry) have also expressed frustration with this 6P programme. The applications for work permits (for migrant workers) have been rejected because the factories are either operating illegally or are built on land designated for agriculture. Illegal factories are not the fault of the workers, but this rejection of applications will undoubtedly affect migrants who will be the target of arrest and detention. It is the responsibility of the government to address the issue of illegal factories, which is a national phenomena and a consequence of corruption. Migrants should not be targeted for this failure of the State to practice good governance.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before any of these problems are addressed, our sources inform us that new recruitment of migrant workers from Bangladesh will begin in June 2012, especially for placements in FELDA schemes. Why is there a need for new recruitment when more than a million migrants are registered and waiting to be ‘regularised’?&nbsp; Will the failure of this amnesty program called 6P be the rationale for the government to approve new recruitment of migrant workers? And will the recruitment of migrants be used again as a means for political financing as revealed in the graft trial of the Director-General of Immigration in 2007? Understanding that lists of names and fingerprints do not rectify the structural flaws in our migration system, the 6P begs the question if there is a greater incentive to maintaining the status quo.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Home Minister seems to be in a state of self-inflicted paralysis when it comes to accountability and addressing the embedded corruption in our migration system. The &nbsp;government appears intent in continuing this oppressive and corrupt system that continuously profits from the poor and vulnerable. Through this, there is continued disrespect&nbsp; for fundamental human rights of people especially migrants and refugees.<br />Tenaganita therefore calls for:<br /><ol><li>The immediate halt to the crackdown on migrants and refugees</li><li>The release of detainees, and an end to forced deportations of migrants and refugees</li><li>A systematic plan to address the structural flaws in our migration system, including enacting legalisation to recognize refugees and a comprehensive rights-based policy for the recruitment, placement and employment of migrants and refugees in Malaysia.</li></ol>We also firmly call for an immediate end to the attacks on migrants and refugees for the failures of the State.<br /><i>End. </i><br /><br /><b>MEDIA CONTACT:</b><br /><b>Dr. Irene Fernandez</b><br /><b>Executive Director</b><br /><b>Tenaganita</b><br /><br /><b>Email: irene.f[at]tenaganita.net</b><br /><b>Phone: +6-03-7770 3691/3671</b><br /><b>Cell phone: +6-012-316 3011</b><b> </b> http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/gross-attacks-on-migrants-refugees-for.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-6655613709416018643Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:18:00 +00002012-02-23T22:18:10.713-08:00
Refugees Fear Mass Deportation
Refugees and asylum seekers have been allegedly sacked by their bosses with the introduction of the 6P amnesty programme, and they fear an impending crackdown.         Myanmarese asylum seeker Patrick Sang claimed that local employers didn’t want to go through the trouble of registering this group with the Immigration Department.        “Since the news of the major crackdowns and accompanying measures, many of the refugees and asylum seekers and their families have been fired by their bosses.”        “They lost their jobs…because employers didn’t register them under the 6P programme,” he told reporters today at Tenaganita’s office.           Sang was referring to the government’s 6P amnesty programme which started last June to legalise illegal foreign workers. Thus far, only 379,020 illegal foreign workers have been legalised by the Immigration Department.        One million undocumented individuals, however, have either no work permits or have seen them rejected thus far. A total of 94,856 migrants have been deported to their home countries since the programme’s inception.                                       Refugees and asylum seekers at risk    Some have speculated that the programme, which has been extended to April 10, will see a crackdown on migrant workers who have not yet been legalised by the government. Refugees and asylum seekers are especially at risk, as they are not recognised as such in Malaysia. Instead, they are classified by the government as undocumented individuals. They are especially concerned with the federal government boasting a four-million-enforcement-agent deployment against illegals after programme’s deadline. This, according to Sang, was a very real fear for asylum seekers like him who face detention and deportation. “It seem like there’s going to be huge crackdown (after April 10). Why don’t they just postpone the crackdown? If they want to exercise it, do it after all the refugees and asylum seekers are recognised.” “If the registration for the refugee does not take place before April 10, all the refugees and asylum seekers are going to be in big trouble.” “It heightens our fear. (If they register us) we don’t have to live with this fear daily,” he said. Even a registration in March for nearly 100,000 refugees would be too late, Sang added. He said that it would take two or three months to fully register and legalise an individual. Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez called for an immediate halt on the impending crackdown on migrants and refugees. She also asked for migrant and refugee detainees to be released, as well as the government to stop deporting them. Criticising the 6P programme, Fernandez said that a systematic plan was needed to address the “structural flaws” in the country’s migration system. http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/refugees-fear-mass-deportation.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-8258547656390698235Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:18:00 +00002012-02-23T05:19:29.820-08:00News
Myammar Women Refugees Band Together To Help Each Other
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>MYAMMAR refugee Tanda Htun is no stranger to hardship. It has been six years since the 30-year-old Myammar woman fled the military regime back in her home country, and still she continues to live with fear and uncertainty. In Malaysia, Tanda has worked in restaurants and polished cars at a car wash, and she constantly worries about being arrested by the police again.<br /><br />“I was a social worker in Myammar, promoting Mon culture. But the government doesn’t allow this, they don’t want you to practise your culture,” says Tanda.<br /><br />Although Tanda lives with five other families in a small flat here, and is unsure of what her future holds, she says life here is still better than in Myammar.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr style="background-color: white;"><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5CsX1xik64/T0Y7uN8PCJI/AAAAAAAAAGc/fUtcYop7C_E/s1600/f_10myanmar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5CsX1xik64/T0Y7uN8PCJI/AAAAAAAAAGc/fUtcYop7C_E/s400/f_10myanmar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="background-color: white; color: magenta;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="caption">Lighter and happier: Apar working the weaving loom with her six-month-old daughter.<a name='more'></a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;Tanda is one of the 28,500 registered women refugees from Myammar who fled to Malaysia to escape persecution under the military rule. They are hoping to be repatriated to a third country which will grant them permanent residence. However, there is no telling when and if they will eventually be repatriated. In the meantime, they live here and try to eke out a living.<br /><br />Malaysia is not a signatory of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which recognises the rights of refugees and accords them protection. Under Malaysian law, there is no distinction between a refugee and an illegal immigrant. Even if they have registered with the United Nations Refugee Centre (UNHCR) in Malaysia, they have no access to legal employement or formal education. They can be detained, locked up and deported even if they hold a UNHCR card.<br /><br />“Many of the women are depressed or show signs of depression,” says Elodie Voisin, Volunteer Coordinator at Tanma Federation, a union of three Myammar women refugee groups based in Kuala Lumpur. “They cannot eat, they cannot sleep, they feel hopeless and live in fear every day.”<br /><br /><div style="color: purple; text-align: center;"><b>Tanma Federeration</b></div><br />There are about 98,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia. About 88,500 are Myammar nationals, and they are usually divided according to their ethnic groups. There is a support network within these communities, and they have initiatives to help their countrymen cope with life here. This includes setting up schools for the children, and income-generating projects for the women. One of these organisations is Tanma Federation, whose mission is to create a safe place for Myammar women to earn an income, protect their rights and empower them through skills learning programmes.<br /><br />Tanma means “strength” in the Myammar language. Since its inception in 2010, the organisation has managed to unite and empower some 200 Myammar refugee women in Malaysia.<br /><br />Tanda is now concentrated on making soap and massage oil based on traditional Mon recipes at Kaoprise, one of the three livelihood projects in the Tanma Federation.<br /><br />Many Mon people are farmers who live far away from modern healthcare facilities, they are well-versed in the art of self-remedy. All Kaoprise products are organic and made from plant-based ingredients such as lemon grass, coconut oil and vanilla.<br /><br />“The coconut oil is what my mother used on me when I was young. It is good for the skin and the hair,” says Tanda.<br /><br />The other two groups in Tanma are Mang Tha (run by the Alliance of Chin Refugees) and the Chin Women’s Organisation (CWO). Mang Tha makes sewn and woven products such as soft bags, pouches, baby slings, passport holders and bibs – they can basically make anything that people bring to them.<br /><br />Their best-selling item is the baby ring sling which is already being sold in certain baby shops in the Klang Valley. You will recognise it by the unique Chin fabric it is made of. All Mang Tha products are made from this unique fabric which is woven in the centre itself. Apar who heads Mang Tha, with her baby in her arms, shows how a woman winds yarn with a machine made from a bicycle wheel. “Then they do the weaving in there,” she says, pointing to a large wooden contraption that takes up an entire room. http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/myammar-women-refugees-band-together-to.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-7061230746732521683Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:59:00 +00002012-02-23T04:59:16.647-08:00Songs
Father Along - 3 Charming Sisters
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/father-along-3-charming-sisters.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-2636227668643715176Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:56:00 +00002012-02-23T04:56:58.293-08:00Songs
ေနာ္ဘူေဘာ .... သံေတာင္ၾကီး
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/blog-post_23.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-7896064601972808254Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:55:00 +00002012-02-23T04:55:22.388-08:00Knowledge
ကရင့္ရာဇ၀င္သမိုင္း
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/blog-post.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-865674958634559271Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +00002012-02-22T22:18:02.867-08:00Knowledge
The "Four-Foot Colonel" Gen Saw Smith Dun ( 1906 - 1979 )
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kSnJ47p-EeA/Tzp1R91K-1I/AAAAAAAAAF8/nt0b7VxeIOA/s1600/Gen+saw+smith+don.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kSnJ47p-EeA/Tzp1R91K-1I/AAAAAAAAAF8/nt0b7VxeIOA/s400/Gen+saw+smith+don.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The "Four-Foot Colonel" Gen. Smith Dun ( 1906 - 1979 )</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">In 1946, during the World War II victory parade in London, Field Marshal William Slim and Col Smith Dun were having a conversation. Slim, the commander of the British-Indian forces that had recaptured Burma from the Japanese, turned to nearby reporters and jokingly introduced his companion: “This is Colonel Dun who is o¬nly four-feet tall,” he said. Ever since, Smith Dun has been known as the “Four-foot Colonel.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The diminutive colonel—an ethnic Karen—received his training at the Indian Military Academy, where he won the first Sword of Honor (given to the best cadet in each year’s intake), and later helmed a contingent of Karen guerrilla forces from the Irrawaddy delta during World War II.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smith Dun played a key role in the early years of Burma’s independence. He was appointed head of Burma’s armed forces and promoted to the rank of general in a move agreed to by ethnic parties and Burmese nationalists to foster confidence in a future Burmese union that would include all ethnic minority groups.<br /><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That confidence was shaken in 1949 when the Karen began their war for independence from Burma. Smith Dun was sacked, along with his fellow Karen troops, and replaced by a man who would later have a dramatic and lingering impact o¬n the nation: Gen Ne Win.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite a strong sense of his Karen ethnicity, Smith Dun had always been a loyal and professional leader of the Burmese army. As its commander, he kept his Karen soldiers sharp and disciplined. Suspicion of his ethnic roots, however, lingered even after his dismissal. The government kept him under surveillance until his death in 1979.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smith Dun spent his final years in Kalaw, Shan State, where he devoted most of his time to gardening, reading and writing. His book, <span style="color: red;">“Memoirs of the Four-Foot Colonel,” </span>was completed shortly before his death and published a year later by Cornell University’s Southeast Asia Program.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGiDttuJ3SM/Tzp1Nit2brI/AAAAAAAAAF0/tELInf38Xzk/s1600/6883-SmithDun.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGiDttuJ3SM/Tzp1Nit2brI/AAAAAAAAAF0/tELInf38Xzk/s320/6883-SmithDun.gif" width="232" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gen. Smith Dun</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rWA5vMtH384/Tzp1WZ2XAXI/AAAAAAAAAGM/TmI5saAftu8/s1600/Gen+Smith+Don+%2526+karen+leaders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rWA5vMtH384/Tzp1WZ2XAXI/AAAAAAAAAGM/TmI5saAftu8/s320/Gen+Smith+Don+%2526+karen+leaders.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gen.Smith Dun and Karen Leaders</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUvHArr7tvo/Tzp1T1fdROI/AAAAAAAAAGE/9JzscCKyiNI/s1600/Gen+Smith+Don+%2526+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUvHArr7tvo/Tzp1T1fdROI/AAAAAAAAAGE/9JzscCKyiNI/s320/Gen+Smith+Don+%2526+Family.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="color: black;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mahn Dun father of Smith Dun's Family.photo-1955 old&nbsp;&nbsp;hospital of<br /><div>Kyo Pyaw beside the&nbsp; Daga river.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYXJ6qHjcDM/TcKT9iV6dOI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/0i9To-YxkDw/s1600/6883-SmithDun.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<span style="color: red;"> </span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4PfPDQMxps/TcKUNs81rrI/AAAAAAAAAGU/PLcEQRJUlho/s1600/DSC01910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: red;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_9wKEzzEPI/TcKUR_GfMaI/AAAAAAAAAGY/lc7eE73uRCI/s1600/72132_104386692959714_100001651514906_29863_6172065_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div> http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/four-foot-colonel-gen-saw-smith-dugn.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-3250698312316388888Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:44:00 +00002012-02-14T06:44:57.049-08:00Knowledge
Mahn Win Maung, President of Burma in 1957
Mahn Win Maung was an ethnic Karen born on 17 April 1916 in the Irrawaddy delta, son of Daw Tharya and U Shwe Yin. He graduated with a B.A. from Yangon University's Judson College in 1937. Between 1947 and 1956 he was variously Minister of Ministry of Mining and Labour, Minister of the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication and Minister of the Ministry of Water, Air and Costal Ship. He was imprisoned between 1962 to 1967. Mahn Win Maung died in 1989, 4july when he was 73 years old.                         http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/mahn-win-maung-president-of-burma-in.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-3728592632269931875Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:33:00 +00002012-02-14T06:33:18.163-08:00Knowledge
Karen Costumes
There are a lot of Karen dresses for Karen women. People weave white, green, blue, red, yellow, black long and short dresses with many different colors.  Karen people have many different types of traditions regarding dress. Costume is very important for us. Our costume is very pretty, they have dignity and many other ethnic nationalities like to wear it. All the costumes have different meanings. Our ancestors wanted other people to recognize us and they made a sign when they were weaving.  A long time ago there were no factories, people planted cotton, made the cotton to become thread and they always hand weaved it. Now there are many machines to produce clothes so many people have sadly, forgotten how to weave.     White dress (Say Moe Wah) These kinds of dress people weave all of it white, with no flowering. Usually people wear this dress are eastern mountain Karen. This dress is woven very long and white. People wear it beginning when they are children until they are teenagers. Eastern mountain women who wear this are single or unmarried, If people get married they do not wear it anymore.   Flowers Sewn dress (Say Sa Paw) People weave this kind of dress with all black thread. People sew flowers on this dress with different colors. The hem is decorated by lacing thread. Most People wear this dress in plains areas and who believe in animist traditions. They wear it for a wedding ceremony, Karen New Year, or to recall spirits.   Black dress (Say Moe Thu) Is woven with black thread, the hem of the neck and arms they lace the thread and set it. Some people cut the clothes like a pagoda and head cock. They also wear it in wedding ceremony, Karen New Year, and to recall spirits.   Green dress (Say La) Before weaving, the thread is dyed green. They sew the hem of the neck and the arms with red lacing thread. Under the neck and the arms they sew rice. This dress is mostly worn in Western Mountain areas. People often wear this dress from childhood until they become old.   Decorated dress (Say Sa Kee) This kind of dress is simple. You can choose any colors, as you like. People decorate it with flowers. The flowers are like mountains, ocean waves, barns, fish bones, and chicken foot marks.  Say P'lo  Karen men wear white and red clothes. People wear red clothes mostly in the Delta and the plains. Eastern mountain Karen people also wear red 'Say p'lo' they pull out the long threads which hangs from the side.  Say Bwe  Is woven strand of red and one strand of white. In the half of the middle they weave strand and they make flowers. They do not pull the thread out. The hem of the neck and the arms they lace the thread and sew it.   Say P' Kue The whole costume is white. The hem of the arms and the middle they make with strands then the lower part they sew flowers. This dress also does not have thread outside. The hem of the neck and the arms they take round flowers seeds and lace. Then they sew it. http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/karen-costumes.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-7393354353763551181Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:29:00 +00002012-02-14T06:29:53.618-08:00Knowledge
Karen Culture Wrist Tying Ceremony
<b>(Contributed by Mahn Kyaw Swe) </b><br />"Before Buddhism or Christianity was introduced to the Karen people, our ancient ancestors and great grandmothers and grandfathers, lived in fear of different spirits. Therefore, our parents and grandparents used white thread, which they tied on the wrists of children after calling back their spirits. It meant that the person and one's spirit would stay together and could live free from fear," one of the participants explained in English to the visitors.<br /><br />People who attend the wrist tying ceremony must wear full traditional costume. The ceremony could only be sponsored by an elderly couple who had lived together as husband and wife for their entire married life. This senior couple called upon the spirits of the children to come back from the place of darkness and to stay with parents, grandparents and relatives. The senior couple then prayed that the young children would behave themselves well, and act with good discipline and preserve our culture. There are seven materials are used for wrist tying ceremony: <br /><br />1. A glass of cold water<br />2. Three white threads<br />3. Seven rice balls<br />4. Seven triangular-shaped lumps of sticky rice in the packages<br />5. Seven boiled bananas<br />6. Seven (Paw Woung) branches of flowers<br />7. Seven pieces of sugarcane<br /><a name='more'></a> <br />The glass of cold water means to regain peace of mind and strength, cleansing the body and mind. Water is one of the main sources of life that people and animals depend upon. As human beings, we frequently make mistakes both physically and mentally in our lives. These mistakes will be cleansed from us in the same way as we take a bath with clean water. <br /><br />The white threads represent protection of the person from misfortune and evil spirits.<br />The rice balls stand for being united. If rice stays separated in pieces, it would decay within short period. If the rice is holds together in balls, it will not decay so easily and will last for a long time. <br /><br />The triangular shaped steamed sticky rice in packages represents solidarity and sharpness. The nature of sticky rice is already stick together. When sticky rice is made as triangle shaped in the banana leaf, it is stickier and sharper like a weapon. That's the way the elderly couple want their children to be united, sharp and smar t.<br />Bananas represent good discipline and loyalty. Bananas grow up in a serial, orderly, and gradual way. When the banana plant produces its fruit, it starts from a single branch. Then, the fruits appear serially and in order from the main branch. A banana tree only come to fruit once in a lifetime. If it is cut from top to bottom, small plants will come out naturally and grow increasingly. <br /><br />The branch of flowers (Paw Wee) signifies our ability to settle and grow anyplace. Other types of flowers usually dry and dies, when the season is over or weather condition are bad. However, the Paw Wee branch of flowers can grow anywhere and in any season as long as can put down roots somewhere. It can grow quickly and doesn't need much water. Sugar cane presents the quality of good ethics, moral values, and racial progress. Its original quality of sweetness never disappears no matter how the weather changes. When sugar cane plant is cut into pieces, new plants grow out from the middle link and able to grow well on any ground. <br /><br />"In the past, when Karens began to get married to people from other ethnic backgrounds, they got away from traditions like this in order to avoid upsetting their spouses. And some of the spouses from different backgrounds didn't encourage their Karen spouses to join in traditional events either. Today, not only people of Karen ethnic nationality, but also their spouses and family members from other ethnic backgrounds such as the Burman, Chinese, Malay, Mon, Shan, and Chin join their Karen spouses and show their support for preserving this lovely Karen traditional wrist tying ceremony", Mahn Shishaw said.<br /><br />"By celebrating this traditional in local community event yearly, Karen people remember our culture and beautiful traditions, respect each other and forgive each other for the mistakes they may make in the past. Everybody makes mistakes in one's life. Forgiveness is one of the best solution in society", Saw Thaik Soe explained. <br />Karen wrist tying ceremony is one of the ancient traditions of Karen people. It is not a Karen Buddhist tradition that we maintain and celebrate, but rather a reminder to citizens of all nationalities of what we can live together in unity and strength not as Karen people but also with other ethnic nationals in a multicultural society. <br /><br />Traditionally the festival takes place at the time of the August full moon, when Karen tie white threads around the wrists to ward off illness and to contribute to the continuation of Karen culture. The festival has no religious significance. http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/karen-culture-wrist-tying-ceremony.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-1598493103389961613Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:20:00 +00002012-02-14T06:20:23.484-08:00Knowledge
The Myaungmya Massacres
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBrfheuDLV4/TzpsQ32FOQI/AAAAAAAAAE0/8h1UHvDqVGw/s1600/Japaneseinburma1942dec22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBrfheuDLV4/TzpsQ32FOQI/AAAAAAAAAE0/8h1UHvDqVGw/s320/Japaneseinburma1942dec22.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>After the British retreat and in the wake of the Japanese invasion Burman officials immediately took over administering the predominantly Karen area of Myaungmya. One of their first actions was to release all the convicts from the local jail and within days the convicts were rampaging through the locality looting and robbing from the local Karen, Chinese and Indian communities.<br /><br />The first BIA detachment, commanded by Bo Aung and Bo Myint, soon arrived in the area and, similar to BIA units in Papun, were primarily comprised of a number of young miscreants. Within days the unit had confiscated all weapons and had begun collecting money from the local villagers and government servants. In addition they also attempted to round up ex-British soldiers, mainly Karens, and under this pretext looted and stole as many possessions from the townspeople as they could. In a show of bravado the BIA arrested two Karens, supposedly on separate charges of rape and theft, and, outside the BIA Headquarters, bayoneted them to death before hacking the corpses to pieces.<br /><br />Such actions were hardly designed to produce trust in the local community and soon there was a state of open communal warfare as the BIA tore through the district burning down Karen villages and in response to such actions the Karens retaliated by destroying Burman villages. The victims - innocent villagers - found themselves scattered throughout the countryside living in small shelters and scavenging for food.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />A number of Karen leaders including Shwe Tun Gya (a Buddhist who was to become known as the Tiger of the Delta) and San Po Thin armed themselves with the intention of attacking the BIA headquarters in Myaungmya. On May 23rd, San Po Thin and 200 followers armed with 12 shotguns, five rifles, and an assortment of spears, crossbows and staves crossed into the district. San Po Thin had sent a letter to the Karen villagers asking for their support in the uprising and unfortunately the letter was intercepted by the BIA giving further impetus to any retaliatory action that would be later taken. On the morning of the 26th the attack, although well planned, failed miserably after the attackers expended what ammunition they had. While the Karen soldiers were able to retreat - the villagers in the area were not – BIA Units, panicked by the attack immediately stormed village after village in a bloodbath that would remain deeply entrenched in Karen minds today.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C3xC-1hJ44w/TzptIh54QcI/AAAAAAAAAE8/IMrJl3byE0w/s1600/In-this-1942-photo,-Burma-I.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C3xC-1hJ44w/TzptIh54QcI/AAAAAAAAAE8/IMrJl3byE0w/s320/In-this-1942-photo,-Burma-I.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />The BIA immediately went to the Roman Catholic mission and massacred 152 men, women and children - all Karen, Anglo-Burman, and Anglo-Indian refugees. The priest Fr. Blassius, who was sick in the clergy house, was burned alive with his two helpers when the BIA deliberately set his house on fire. After burning the church they moved on to the orphanage where another priest, Fr Pascal, begged them to leave stating that there were only girls in the building, he was shot in the stomach as the girls ran upstairs to hide. The soldiers entered and shot up through the ceiling before then entering the upper rooms and cutting down the girls and sisters with dabs (machetes) another priest, Fr Gasper, was killed when he was hit with an axe from behind, the youngest victim was said to be a six month old baby, with only half a dozen girls being able to escape the carnage.<br /><br /><br />The bloody rampage also continued unabated in the capital, in the Karen quarters in Shwedagon, another 52 Karen men, women and children were brutally slain including Saw Pe Tha, his English wife and three of their four children. Saw Pe Tha had been a former forestry minister, KNA leader, and colleague of Sidney Loo Nee and San C Po. Those Karens who had escaped the initial massacre soon found themselves rounded up and jailed. Two days later forty-seven Karen men were removed from jail and brutally bayoneted to death, not long after the same fate befell fifty Indians, who had long been the victims of Burman inspired communal violence, and with the emergence of the BIA found themselves fighting alongside the Karens – an act they paid dearly for.<br /><br /><br />The situation was finally resolved with the arrival of the Japanese on the 14th June, the Karen were released and were given speeches by both BIA leaders and Col. Suzuki asking that the Karen desist from causing further problems after which they were allowed to return home. It is not clear how many Karens suffered during the first months of the BIA/Japanese occupation although it is believed that in Myaungmya alone over 400 villages were destroyed and there were over 1800 deaths. http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/myaungmya-massacres.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-5545821774244399716Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:35:00 +00002012-02-14T05:35:14.149-08:00Video
Padoh Mahn Sha Lar Phan
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/padoh-mahn-sha-lar-phan.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-3904135362255670640Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:12:00 +00002012-02-14T05:14:14.032-08:00Knowledge
WAKE UP MALAYSIA by Cobem Ethnics
Tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers are at undue risk for arrest in the upcoming raids all over Malaysia. Saturday afternoon, February 11, at the beautiful Central Market in Kota Raya downtown Kuala Lumpur, while many tourists and locals shopped, more than 100 people (including illegal migrant workers, asylum seekers, and refugees) were arrested for illegally workin ...  g. Just twenty minutes after the arrests were finished, one looking at the market would never even have known that anything out of the ordinary had occurred. Onlookers must be unaware of the situation involving many of the arrested and the at risk individuals for arrest.              Approximately 40 of the arrested people are refugees and asylum seekers that came to Malaysia trying to escape the violations of their basic human rights by the Myanmar government. These refugees and asylum seekers didn’t come to Malaysia to work like many of the immigrants that the ministry recently asked to register under the Illegal Immigrant Comprehensive Settlement Programme (6P). The 6P doesn't pertain to the refugees or asylum seekers. The refugees and asylum seekers are simply waiting to be registered with UNHCR and then resettled. The refugees and asylum seekers are more than willing to register with the Malaysian Ministry too, which was stated (at least twice in The Star) would become available early January 2012. No such registration became available. This registration would have then provided proof of status and exclusion from arrest for these individuals and those at risk in the upcoming raids by Rela, Immigration, and the Malaysian Police. The “Big Sweep” starts this Thursday.             Without the means to support oneself or family, tens of thousands are left to wait. At this time, there is no way to register with UNHCR or the Malaysian government leaving the refugees without proof of status, not allowed to legally work, dormant in their quest for resettlement, and vulnerable to arrest possibly leading to detainment for up to 6 months for refugees (who are registered with UNHCR) and possibly longer for asylum seekers. All of the arrested are currently being detained at the KLIA Camp. Action must be taken to stop the wasting of more precious time, resources, and human energy on this undirected attack on innocent people.     http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/wake-up-malaysia-by-cobem-ethnics.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-9202796552361068382Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:59:00 +00002012-02-14T04:59:43.039-08:00Songs
Need to be Next to You
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/need-to-be-next-to-you.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-5795860487306257997Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:56:00 +00002012-02-13T07:57:44.667-08:00News
Dr Ramasamy sues The Star; seeks RM10mil for defamation
KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Deputy Chief  Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy  has filed a RM10mil suit against a journalist of The Star and  Star Publications (M) Bhd  over two articles published last year.  Ramasamy filed the suit through lawyer A. Sivanesan, who is also Perak DAP vice-chairman, at the High Court Registry here on Monday.  He named journalist Ian McIntyre and the newspaper publisher as first and second defendants.  The former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia professor claimed that on Dec 21, McIntyre interviewed him at his office in Komtar, Penang.  He said The Star had “in bad faith” published the article Distress in DAP Continues' on Dec 23, following the interview.  Dr Ramasamy said the article contained defamatory words which could mean that DAP leaders were corrupt, incompetent and that they abused their power and positions.  He said that on Dec 26, he held a press conference here denying the words allegedly uttered by him.     The claim further stated that The Star, through another article What Ramasamy said in the interview with The Star published on Dec 27, implied he was a hypocrite, immoral, dishonest and unfit for any position.  Dr Ramasamy said the articles were further uploaded onto the newspaper's online portal The Star Online.  He said the defendants could not be protected by any of the defence under the Defamation Act 1957 as the printing and publishing had been done in bad faith.  He also said on Dec 28 that his lawyers sent the second defendant a letter asking for an apology and also to stop publishing any defamatory words against him.  However, he claimed that the defendant had failed to do so.  Dr Ramasamy is seeking an interim injunction order preventing both defendants or their agents from printing any further libel against him.  He is seeking RM5mil in damages for libel from each defendant, exemplary and aggravated damages, costs and further relief. http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2012/02/dr-ramasamy-sues-star-seeks-rm10mil-for.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-7801036134512353771Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:39:00 +00002011-11-14T23:39:51.238-08:00Karen
Aww Hu Aww Haung
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2011/11/aww-hu-aww-haung.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-8527127067249379143Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:38:00 +00002011-11-14T23:38:32.860-08:00Karen
Welcome to Karen State
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2011/11/welcome-to-karen-state.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-5132655976771647081Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:37:00 +00002011-11-14T23:37:47.925-08:00Karen
Karen Song - Tomorrow
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2011/11/karen-song-tomorrow.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-6632358749793607726Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:35:00 +00002011-11-14T23:35:35.079-08:00Karen
Karen Song - LawThaHey
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2011/11/karen-song-lawthahey.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-4355763389679470688Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:33:00 +00002011-11-14T23:33:31.561-08:00Karen
Karen Songs
http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2011/11/karen-songs.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5952945185876517313.post-7746373625425827211Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:19:00 +00002011-11-14T23:22:04.769-08:00News
Over 15,000 Displaced People in Kachin State Await Cease-Fire News
<span class="bodyCopy">On 9 June 2011 fighting started between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burma Army. The fighting was started by a dispute between the two armies over control of the area surrounding the Chinese-run Taping hydropower projects. This ended the 17-year ceasefire between the two armies. For more information, go to: Fighting in Kachin State ends 17-year cease-fire.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s6UQmRL_dSo/TsIQrdImV-I/AAAAAAAAAEc/GYLZ2XPeGGM/s1600/map+kachin+state.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s6UQmRL_dSo/TsIQrdImV-I/AAAAAAAAAEc/GYLZ2XPeGGM/s400/map+kachin+state.gif" width="282" /></a></div><br /><br /><span class="bodyCopy">At least 15,668 people in Kachin State have fled their homes for safety along the China-Burma border, according to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). Most of these people fled because of KIO warnings that there may be fighting in the area. As of now, the Burma Army and KIO have only engaged in small attacks between camps while cease-fire negotiations continue. If the political talks fail, there may likely be more fighting which would cause more people to abandon their homes to seek safety on the border. The Burma Army has sent a total of 68 Battalions to all of Kachin State.&nbsp; </span><span class="bodyCopy"></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo_OjjIAK54/TsIQpzY_HUI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/wWv6_cjhwvY/s1600/IDPs+living+in+Laiza+city+hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo_OjjIAK54/TsIQpzY_HUI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/wWv6_cjhwvY/s400/IDPs+living+in+Laiza+city+hall.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="bodyCopy">IDPs living in Laiza City Hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FmkjY2PdfKs/TsIQqqzDPbI/AAAAAAAAAEY/zXuUPl3WuXY/s1600/Kachin+doctors+care+for+IDPs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FmkjY2PdfKs/TsIQqqzDPbI/AAAAAAAAAEY/zXuUPl3WuXY/s400/Kachin+doctors+care+for+IDPs.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="bodyCopy">Kachin doctors care for IDPs</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="bodyCopy">The KIO reported a breakdown of internally displaced persons (IDPs) as follows: Western Division, 2328 IDPs; Eastern Division, 6538; Dum Bung, 380 (very near fighting area); Maga Yang, 641; and in the KIO's capital Laiza, 5781 where there are still more people trickling in. There are four IDP locations in the Laiza area: the Laiza Cultural Center, 2013 IDPs; City Hall, 868 IDPs; an unused factory, 1884 IDPs; and an unused portion of the local market with an unknown number of IDPs. According to the KIO, it is providing most of the aid to these people; giving US$500 per location per day. However there are more displaced people that have crossed the border into China.&nbsp;</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60XxC431rrc/TsIQsNzkqmI/AAAAAAAAAEk/U2X5gbnBRF4/s1600/Temporary+IDP+location+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60XxC431rrc/TsIQsNzkqmI/AAAAAAAAAEk/U2X5gbnBRF4/s400/Temporary+IDP+location+.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="bodyCopy">Temporary IDP location</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Most of the people staying in IDP locations are women and children. Most of the men have gone back to their farms despite the dangers, because they won't have food for the next year if they don't continue farming. The displaced people are given rice and eat it with whatever they can find, usually salt and chilis. The KIO provides meat two times a week. There are small clinics at each camp, and the main clinic in Laiza can keep the clinics supplied with medicine. At each clinic there is one doctor and two or three nurses. The most common sicknesses are diarrhea and cough, and most of the patients are children. One child recently died from diarrhea. A major concern is the lack of safe drinking water, as currently people are drinking rain water and water from a nearby creek. The IDP children have been attending the local school, but they are split into morning and afternoon groups because there is not enough room. Even with these issues, conditions in the IDP sites are relatively stable.<br /><br />Thank you and God Bless You ALL!!!! http://irrawaddykaren.blogspot.com/2011/11/over-15000-displaced-people-in-kachin.html noreply@blogger.com (Kanyaw)0