Palaung women’s group marks decade of service

Thursday, 14 October 2010 23:47 Ko Wild Interview

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Palaung (Ta-aung) Women’s Organisation (PWO) celebrated 10 years serving as an advocacy for the Palaung women of northern and southern Shan State yesterday. It is one of the 12 members groups of the Women’s League of Burma (WLB).

Mizzima spoke to general secretary Lway Moe Kham, who has served the PWO for almost all of that decade.

What have you achieved for Palaung women in the past 10 years?

Our work for them is just a part of our objectives. We’ve focussed on capacity-building for young women and have conducted training in human rights and women rights. We’ve documented rights violations, assisted victims of violence and conducted health education projects. But we could not give them training in agriculture and animal husbandry and were unable to provide them with capital. They weave traditional Palaung outfits and we sell them in Thailand for them. We’ve organised meetings to build self-confidence and encourage them to go beyond their communities to look for work.

What are the major livelihoods for Palaung women?

Our major livelihood and product is tea. Most of our women pick tea and work in the plantations. The rest of the time they spend on housework.

In the 2008 constitution, Namsan and Manton in northern Shan State are designated Palaung self-administered areas. What is the PWO’s attitude to that?

We never wanted this. Our Palaung people live in 13 townships but in some, they do not inhabit the entire town. All of these townships are in northern Shan State, namely: Namsan, Manton, Lashio, Kyaukme, Namtu, Namkham, Kutkai, Mogok and Sipaw. Most of the Palaung people are living in Manton, Namkham and Namsan. Yes, Palaung people are mixed with ethnic Shan people in these townships but the Palaung villages are separate villages.

We know that the PWO rejects the 2010 general election. But what do you think the Hluttaw (parliament) should do for Palaung women first?

We don’t believe in this Hluttaw. Even now, the small parties are not allowed to conduct their election campaign freely. They have no role and no space in this Hluttaw. All have to dance to the tune of the military clique. So I don’t think they can do anything for us.

So what areas of reform are the most important for Palaung women?

In our regions, the economic, education and health conditions for women are extremely poor, much worse than those for our male counterparts. Our living standards are too low. Human rights violations are rampant.

How have your human rights been violated?

Forced labour, forced seizures of land and tea plantations for building roads, have happened in Manton and Nam San. When landslides have happened during monsoon season, the women are forced to repair the roads.

What are the major opium-growing areas in Palaung regions? How does opium cultivation affect the women?

Growing opium is rampant in Manton and Namkham. The opium-growing acreage is expanding. Most men are opium addicts and domestic violence is also rampant. They beat the women. Only women have to work alone on farmlands and tea plantations. The men sell the family belongings. Some even sold their own daughters. In all villages, there are drug addicts – there are no villages without them. In some villages, up to 60-70 per cent of village populations are addicts. Some boys have been addicted to opium since they were just 13 or 14 years old. We arrived at these figures through our own field surveys, conducted among our people.

Do Palaung people migrate for work?

Many boys and girls have migrated for work. Most are in Musay and China and some are in Thailand, Malaysia, or Phakant and Mai Shu. Many boys migrated to Phakant. There are no boys left in some villages. More people migrate as they are facing more difficulty maintaining their livelihoods. Previously, Palaung people were not often found in Thailand or Malaysia, but many live and work there now.

Do you believe the Ta-aung (Palaung) National Party will serve the Palaung people after the upcoming general election?

We don’t believe they can do much for us as they will not have much authority. The members of this party are former members of the Palaung State Liberation Army (PSLA).

What is your relationship with the non-ceasefire ethnic armed group, the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF)?

We have co-operated with them in some ways but we are an independent women’s organisation.

There is an attitude that demands at least 30 per cent women’s representation in every decision-making process. What is the PWO’s stance on this issue?

We agree with this. More than 50 per cent of the population of our country comprises women so less representation of women in decision-making would lead to less development in our country as women know more about women’s issues. We are striving everywhere for expansion of women’s representation, at every stage.

What priorities has the PWO set in the next 10 years?

If and when we can work freely among our people, our priority works for the next 10 years will be the reduction of domestic violence and human-trafficking in our areas as they are rampant now. We shall conduct public awareness campaigns on these issues … and we plan to give assistance to the victims of human-trafficking.