CEASEFIRE GROUP EMULATES SLORC

CEASEFIRE GROUP EMULATES SLORC

Since April 1995, SLORC Infantry No.23 in Hsipaw township together with SSA 3rd Brigade cease-fire group have been building a road from the Hsipaw-Kyaukme main road uphill to Om Mu village, Nam Sim circle, 12 miles west of Hsipaw, where SSA 3rd Brigade soldiers and their families live and where the brigade commanding office is. The road under construction goes through the villages of Ho Maw, Nam Thard Daw, Pang Ki to Om Mu, about 25 miles altogether or about an 8-hour walk. 

This road is being constructed under the Border Area Development Program of the SLORC with six million kyat financial assistance from UN. SLORC chief in Hsipaw and SSA 3rd Brigade Commander Hsai Mo are responsible for building the road. 

Despite the UN aid, the SLORC-SSA are still forcing people to work without payment, using hand tools such as hoes, spades, etc. Victims of the forced labour are people from surrounding villages which include Tar Te circle, Pang Nur, Pang Long in the north of Hsipaw town; Sope Long, Ho Kho, Na Phai, Kung Sar, Nong Arng, Sen Pai, Pang Niu, Nawng Thock, Nam Yang, Kong Lang, and Nam Pen, in the east; Nong Urng, Terng Khe, Terng Zaem, Nock Kart and Kung Long in the south; Zarm Phurk, Wan Hai, Tong Khaw, Maw Kyo, Nam Sim, na Peng, Sone Oi and Terng Kham in the west.

East person from every household has to bring his/her own food and tools and work in shifts of five days. They have to work all day and sleep in makeshift tents beside the road. Forced labour imposed by SSA is even more frequent than by the SLORC. On the worksite SLORC-SSA soldiers stand guard while, under their supervision, people have to cut trees, clear bushes, dig the ground, split rocks, carry and lay stones, etc. with only a medium size truck and two old road rollers which frequently break down. The road is now 2/3 finished. Who knows what most of the six million kyat has been spent on.