A well-placed New Mandala reader has made this important guest contribution:
On Wednesday, May 28th 2008, the Australian television station SBS broadcast an interview on Dateline with Karenna Laklem, spokesperson for the Chiang Mai-based Christian organisation Asian Tribal Ministries (ATM). The interview included video footage of a recent trip to the Irrawaddy Delta by members of ATM and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) in which they personally delivered aid supplies to affected villagers. In the accompanying footage KNU/KNLA-PC founding members Major-General Htain Maung and Pastor Timothy Laklem as well as Htain Maung’s wife are visible. Htain Maung and his wife are shown on screen handing out cash to affected villagers. Also shown are what Dateline’s host calls “happy snaps with members of the military junta.“
As many New Mandala readers are aware, Htain Maung was previously a Brigadier-General and the Commander of the KNLA’s 7th Brigade, which covers Pa’an District of central Karen State. On January 30th 2007, Htain Maung was dismissed from the Karen National Union for entering into negotiations with the SPDC without the approval of the KNU Central Executive Committee. The following day, Htain Maung and his supporters, including his son-in-law, Ler Moo (who was subsequently killed in a bomb attack in January 2008), Colonel Saw Htawt Lay and Pastor Timothy Laklem formed a breakaway faction which they named the KNU/KNLA-PC with Htain Maung as Chairman. Shortly afterwards there were reports that the KNU/KNLA-PC had recruited children as soldiers in order to boost their numbers. Timothy Laklem is also the co-founder of ATM. The aid supplies which the groups are handing out in the video are marked USAID. Karenna Laklem, Timothy’s daughter, explains in the interview that ATM and KNU/KNLA-PC were able to access heavily restricted parts of the delta and openly film their trip due to their “connections with the authorities. with the generals themselves.” The USAID supplies which they handed out were, according to Karenna, “the packages that the US cargo planes have sent in [and] taken by the military trucks to these port towns.”
The question then is whether KNU/KNLA-PC’s and ATM’s access to restricted parts of the Irrawaddy Delta is part of the ‘peace dividend’ from its January 2007 agreement with the SPDC; whether the trip was specifically set up for propaganda purposes for the benefit of both the SPDC and KNU/KNLA-PC; neither of these; or both.
The transcript and video of the interview can be viewed here. A second video available on the same web page entitled “Burma Rebuilds” also includes footage of the trip.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Brian M // Jun 1, 2008 at 6:46 pm
This is the KNU/KNLA Peace Council’s own press release on their assistance:
KNU/KNLA Peace Council top leaders on helping hand trip.
Starting from the last week of May 2008, a group of leader from KNU/KNLA Peace Council, lead by Gen. Htay Maung, chairman of the KNU/KNLA Peace Council, and some top leaders have been making a helping hand trip to the delta region, recently hit by the cyclone Nargis. Despite of having some daily –need shortages in its own area in the Karen state the KNU/KNLA Peace Council has decided to share what we have in hand toward those who are desperately in need. After traveling some worse area in delta region such as BoGa Lay, Bessin(Pa Thien) and some islands, Gen. Htay Maung has decided, on the 23rd May to move two tractors from the Hto Kaw Koo Base to Myaung Mya and help people there for paddy cultivation in time. The group is also organizing some tons of paddy seed for the area to cover up possible great rice shortages next year. However, we have to admit that our helping hand is quite limited as we ourselves have been struggling in new unfamiliar condition. Despite his followers worrying for his health, the 80 year old Gen. Htay Maung show no sign of stepping back in helping people in delta region where he was born. A short presentation about the trip has been broadcasted on an Australian TV, on the 23rd of May at 20.00hr. local time.
2 Charles F. // Jun 2, 2008 at 4:35 am
Derek Melton, the pastor of a church in Pryor, Oklahoma, has placed a link on his church website ( http://www.pryorcreekcommunitychurch.org ) to a video about Timothy Laklem and his efforts to aid the people in the Irrawaddy delta.
As some here might know, Melton has thrown in his lot with Laklem, and would like the KNLA to quit resisting the atrocities visited upon the Karen people by the SPDC.
At one time, Melton, the assistant chief of police in Pryor, was delivering military supplies to the KNLA, but he has since seen “the light” (New Light of Myanmar???) and has decided that the Karen people need to submit to authority, no matter how evil and corrupt.
I would remind Melton and Laklem of these words:
WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW, RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY.
3 aiontay // Jun 2, 2008 at 7:36 am
The good folks of Pryor saw the light about one hundred years ago; that’s why they’re there at Pryor.
4 Kin Nywo Paw // Mar 27, 2009 at 10:25 pm
The KNU/KNLA PC helped to raise awareness of the situation and condition of the people who were affected by the cyclone Nargis when at that time much of the international community were greatly distressed and had given up on even trying to help the people and didn’t really know anything about what was going on. In response to the interview there was increased aid sent to Burma which, through the efforts of many local churches and organisations, have reached the people.
We must look at the results and fruit of the activities and actions. Peace, Aid, Support and Encouragement have been the result and have been received by the people themselves not the KNU/KNLA PC. I’m sure their intentions were not for their own but if their “connections” or whatever have allowed the people to receive help then they have done a lot better than many others who are in positions of leadership and who have “connections” , and they are actually using it for the right reasons.
Leave a Comment
Please note: New Mandala encourages vigorous debate. However, for the moment we will only be publishing high-quality comments that make original contributions to discussion. There will, of course, still be space for pithy, humorous, eccentric and cheeky input. Short and sweet will usually trump long and involved. Repetitive ranting, unimaginative point-scoring and idle abuse will not be entertained. Comments which carry a real name are also more likely to be approved. Thank you for your ongoing interest and contributions.