FORCED LABOUR FOR NEW HELICOPTER FIELD ( IMNA & Kao-Wao )

FORCED LABOUR FOR NEW HELICOPTER FIELD

(Based on IMNA and Kao-Wao, January 9, 2003)

The Burmese Army forced local villagers to build a helicopter field at Kalakoke Island, southern Mon State.

The local villagers reported that the Burmese Army local battalions of IB No. 62 and 31 forced one person from each household on a daily basis to prepare a landing ground for army helicopters on the island, which is comprised of 3 Mon fishing villages.

The two battalions have forced villagers to work in the construction since the beginning of January 2002. More than 60 people have been forced to work without payment and food. They are ordered to start from 7:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M every day.

The helicopter pad is for the artillery regiment, which is equipped with five 81mm mortars that were built on the island two months ago. Villagers are forced to dig and build a hill creating an air ground for the helicopter landing and installation of the air force, reported a villager from Kalakoke. The field is being built on the hill near Sanik Ladoor (middle pier village) of the island.

It is reported that the purpose of deploying more troops including the building of a helicopter pad and artillery regiment is to protect the joint fishing business ventures between a Thai company and the SPDC.

According to the IMNA report, the plan was unveiled at the recent opening ceremony of Thai-Myanmar (Burma) Culture and Business Committee’s booklet. Since 1996, Thai business companies, especially trading firms, have been planning to build a highway crossing over the Thailand-Burma border, through Three Pagodas Pass, to the island, which is a gate way to the Andaman Sea from western Thailand. But the project was postponed due to the economic crisis in Thailand. Thai companies are aiming for an easy short cut access to South Asian countries and Burma if the high way and the new seaport on this island can be built.