Introduction
This situation update is about the situation in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District from August 4th 2020 to October 9th 2020. The main issues are related to the 2020 election, Tatmadaw activities, livelihood difficulties, COVID-19 and education.
2020 general election
There are five parties running in the 2020 elections in Mu Traw District. They are:
1) USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party)[4] led by U[5] Soe Myint Oo (600 members)
2) NLD (National League for Democracy)[6]
3) UDP (Hnin Si Party) led by U Myint Kyaw or Za Kone Zon Sung
4) UDP (Union Democratic Party) led by U Ra Shwe Mahn
5) KNDP (Karen National Democratic Party)
The parties mentioned above have been visiting the local areas and doing campaigning. UDP (Hnin Si) party told the local villagers that if they win the election, they will work for the local villagers to have a better situation [development, economy, stability] than in Singapore [which was previously less developed than Myanmar, but is now doing better than Myanmar]. KNDP said that they will help the Karen people know [their culture and history] and understand themselves [build understanding amongst themselves], and [will ensure that] Karen people [are able to] decide their own destiny. Those parties campaigned in Hsaw Klee Loh, Hker Hkoh, Pweh Pah and places near Hpapun Road.
Livelihood difficulties
In August 2020, some farmers had not finished growing [and harvesting] their paddy plants yet. Those who had finished were not happy because their paddy plants died due to drought, even though the paddy [initially] sprouted well. The plants did not have enough water to grow after they sprouted. There was some water left in the farms and irrigation channel, but the water in the irrigation channel was at the bottom [was very low], and could not reach the farms. By September, the paddy plants' leaves were turning sallow. Certain places in the following village tracts[7] did not get enough rain: Htee Th'Daw Hta, Meh Pree, Kyaw Pah, Day Wah village tracts in Bu Tho Township and Lay Moh Hta, K'Ter Tee, Htee Th'Bluh Hta, Ma Htaw, Nah Koe Hkee, Hkoo Thoo Hta, Waw Muh, Meh Thuh Hta village tracts in Dwe Lo Township. The local villagers are now worried that they will face a rice shortage.
Tatmadaw activities
In August 2020, a Tatmadaw battalion under Military Operations Command (MOC) #8,[8] which is based in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District, did not follow the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) Code of Conduct[9] and trespassed into restricted areas.[10] As a result, fighting broke out on August 28th 2020 between this Tatmadaw battalion from K'Ser Ther Pler army camp, led by Captain Thu Rain Aung, and Karen National Liberal Army (KNLA)[11] Brigade #5, Battalion #102, Company #3. The fighting happened at the foot of K'Ser Ther Pler Mountain in the local villagers' farms. The local villagers worry that they will face travel and livelihood difficulties if the fighting continues to break out.
COVID-19 situation
On March 17th 2020, healthcare workers from the Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW)[12] from Mu Traw District provided awareness training to the local villagers on how to protect themselves and [instructed them] to wash their hands at least 4 times a day and for at least 20 seconds per time. Restrictions were placed on gatherings and meetings, and participants must stay 3 feet [0.9 metres] away from each other. The quarterly meeting of the district administrators was held from December 16th to 18th 2020, and although it normally lasts four days, this time it wrapped up within two and a half days. The discussion focused on the Salween Peace Park.
Villagers were instructed to return to their township by March 18th 2020 because travel restrictions and the banning of public gatherings had started to take place. Screening checkpoints were also established to check for COVID-19. Before the screening checkpoints were established, the district administrator, leaders and healthcare workers made an announcement to let the villagers know. They told the villagers to be prepared and make sure they have enough food supplies to last three months. Some villagers have experienced food problems [shortages] so the leaders have allowed them access to [buying] food two days a week, on Mondays and Fridays only.
In September 2020, one person from K'Ma Maung Town tested positive for COVID-19; three other households found nothing [were tested but the results were negative]. The Myanmar Police Force (MPF) is monitoring them because they are not allowed to go to public areas or crowded areas. Because of this local COVID-19 case, the screening checkpoints started to get more restrictive on September 20th 2020. Nevertheless, no new screening checkpoints have been set up.
The screening checkpoint at Nya Bweh Day village, Htee Th'Blu Hta village tract was moved to a location between Htee Th'Blu Hta village and the top of K'Pee Road. The T'Dwee Hkoh screening checkpoint is still in Ma Htaw village. Anyone who comes back from outside of Mu Traw district has to go into quarantine for 21 days. There are two quarantine sites; one is next to T'Dwee Hkoh clinic in Ma Htaw village tract and the other is next to Wah Tho Klah clinic in Htee Th'Blut Hta village tract.
The KDHW and local district healthcare workers set up a screening checkpoint for COVID-19 but the Myanmar government does not approve of it and they do whatever they want [government officials and soldiers are refusing to have their temperature checked when they pass through]. Although one person tested positive in September 2020, there is no other sign of the virus spreading. Three families are in quarantine and are being watched by the MPF so that they do not circulate in public. The local villagers are afraid that the virus will spread and that there will be a [full] ban on travelling, which will cause them to starve.
Education
No. |
No. |
Village tracts |
Village tracts |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
No. |
1. |
Village tracts |
K'Ter Ti |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Noh Lah, Htee Theh Lay, Pah Loh Hpoh, Poh Mah Heh, Htee K'Saw Meh, Hpah Loh Doh |
No. |
2. |
Village tracts |
Lay Hpoh Hta |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Lay Hpoh Hta, Moh Loh Pah, Meh Hsee Hkee, Kyoh Day, Lay Hpoh Hta, Nee Kay, Noh Kheh HTa, T'Raw Poo, Poh Gah |
No. |
3. |
Village tracts |
Ma Htaw |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Ta Huh Loh, Thwa Hkoh Loh, Tha Ma Kyoo Loh, Hkaw Klah, T'Dwee Hkoh, Poh Baw Hkoh, Klaw Klee Loh |
No. |
4. |
Village tracts |
Htee Th'Blut Hta |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Htee Law Thee Hta, Noh Gaw, Baw Thoh Hta, Wah Thoo Klah, K'Pee Hkee, Htee Th'Blut Hta, Htoh Meh Hta, Poh Hkay, Bler Per, Pway Htaw Roo, Pway Htaw Roo |
No. |
5. |
Village tracts |
T'Nay |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
T'Nay, Meh Poo Hkee, Kwee T'Mah, Meh Poo Hta, Kwee Day Law, Waw Way Lay |
No. |
6. |
Village tracts |
Mah Lay Ler |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Mah Lay Ler, Thay Kyoh, Kay Kaw, Pway Pwa, Hpaw Hta, Meh Toh Hkee |
No. |
7. |
Village tracts |
Waw Muh |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Waw Muh, Nya Hsah Gaw Hta, Hpoh Kheh Hta, Wah Thoh Klah, Meh Poh |
No. |
8. |
Village tracts |
Hkoo Thoo Hta |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Meh T'Roo Hkee, Khaw Htee Hkoh, Baw Naw Hee, Htee Nah Day, Poh Loh Hta |
No. |
9. |
Village tracts |
Lay Hkaw Htee |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Deh Hta, Naw Wee Hta, Pwa Weh Hta, Htee Baw Loh |
No. |
10. |
Village tracts |
Meh Way |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Toh Meh Hkee, Wah Thoo Loh, Kloh Hkee, Ler Wah Hkoh, Plaw Hkee, Wah Thoo Hkoh |
No. |
11. |
Village tracts |
Nah Koh Hkee |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
K'Wah Hkee, Nah Koh Hkee, T'Nay Hpoh Klah, Nah Koh Hta, Htee Gaw hta, Auh Ray Hkee, Auh Ray Hta |
No. |
12. |
Village tracts |
Meh Thuh |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
Meh Kaw Loh, Ma Aee Hkoh, Meh Kyee Hta, Khaw Wah, Wah Tay, Noh T'Maw. Daw Koo Hta |
No. |
Village tracts |
Names of the villages which have schools that are still open in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District |
1. |
K'Ter Ti |
Noh Lah, Htee Theh Lay, Pah Loh Hpoh, Poh Mah Heh, Htee K'Saw Meh, Hpah Loh Doh |
2. |
Lay Hpoh Hta |
Lay Hpoh Hta, Moh Loh Pah, Meh Hsee Hkee, Kyoh Day, Lay Hpoh Hta, Nee Kay, Noh Kheh HTa, T'Raw Poo, Poh Gah |
3. |
Ma Htaw |
Ta Huh Loh, Thwa Hkoh Loh, Tha Ma Kyoo Loh, Hkaw Klah, T'Dwee Hkoh, Poh Baw Hkoh, Klaw Klee Loh |
4. |
Htee Th'Blut Hta |
Htee Law Thee Hta, Noh Gaw, Baw Thoh Hta, Wah Thoo Klah, K'Pee Hkee, Htee Th'Blut Hta, Htoh Meh Hta, Poh Hkay, Bler Per, Pway Htaw Roo, Pway Htaw Roo |
5. |
T'Nay |
T'Nay, Meh Poo Hkee, Kwee T'Mah, Meh Poo Hta, Kwee Day Law, Waw Way Lay |
6. |
Mah Lay Ler |
Mah Lay Ler, Thay Kyoh, Kay Kaw, Pway Pwa, Hpaw Hta, Meh Toh Hkee |
7. |
Waw Muh |
Waw Muh, Nya Hsah Gaw Hta, Hpoh Kheh Hta, Wah Thoh Klah, Meh Poh |
8. |
Hkoo Thoo Hta |
Meh T'Roo Hkee, Khaw Htee Hkoh, Baw Naw Hee, Htee Nah Day, Poh Loh Hta |
9. |
Lay Hkaw Htee |
Deh Hta, Naw Wee Hta, Pwa Weh Hta, Htee Baw Loh |
10. |
Meh Way |
Toh Meh Hkee, Wah Thoo Loh, Kloh Hkee, Ler Wah Hkoh, Plaw Hkee, Wah Thoo Hkoh |
11. |
Nah Koh Hkee |
K'Wah Hkee, Nah Koh Hkee, T'Nay Hpoh Klah, Nah Koh Hta, Htee Gaw hta, Auh Ray Hkee, Auh Ray Hta |
12. |
Meh Thuh |
Meh Kaw Loh, Ma Aee Hkoh, Meh Kyee Hta, Khaw Wah, Wah Tay, Noh T'Maw. Daw Koo Hta |
The schools in the villages mentioned above are operating without any problems [without curriculum changes, but are following COVID-19 prevention measures].
Policies/decisions made by the KNU to curb the spread of COVID-19 (September 20th 2020)
1. People who come back from outside of Mu Traw District have to quarantine for 21 days.
2. Parents should not ask their children (students or those who have gone to work in other places [other districts or countries]) to come back from these other areas.
3. There will be a one-month travel restriction [ban] due to COVID-19.
4. Two more screening checkpoints will be set up in K'Pee Hkee and Htee Th'Blu Hta villages.
5. Meetings and schools can go on as usual. If the students are sick, get a fever or a cold, the guardians/teachers must contact the relevant leaders/responsible persons.
6. People who are working for NGOs [and CBOs/CSOs] have to follow the procedures/policies (do their work and go to their workplace directly). They should not stop or take extra time on their way in.
7. Every COVID-19 checkpoint has to carefully check travel letters. People who do not have a travel letter or a specific reason for travelling are not allowed to travel at all.
8. If people who come back from work or other places outside the district do not follow the local policies, the village leaders have to inform the security guards right away. The security guard leaders will take action immediately.
Composition of the [KNU] COVID-19 prevention committee in Htee Th'Blu Hta village
No. |
No. |
Names |
Names |
Position |
Position |
Committee Positions |
Committee Positions |
No. |
1. |
Names |
Saw[13] Kay Dah |
Position |
KNLA Brigade #5, Battalion #102, Company #3, Thu Hkoh Yaw |
Committee Positions |
Committee Chairperson |
No. |
2. |
Names |
Saw La Tay |
Position |
Htee Tha'Blut Hta village tract judge |
Committee Positions |
Committee Secretary |
No. |
3. |
Names |
Saw Kway Nee |
Position |
Pway Htaw Roo village head |
Committee Positions |
Pwa Kweh Naw Ta [note taker] |
No. |
4. |
Names |
Saw Poe Nee |
Position |
Htee Th'Blut Hta village tract administrator |
Committee Positions |
Contact Person |
No. |
5. |
Names |
Saw Sah Thay |
Position |
Htee Th'Blut Hta security guard administrator |
Committee Positions |
In charge of taking action |
No. |
6. |
Names |
Saw Raw Ber Htoo |
Position |
Htee Th'Blut Hta village tract, member of local organisation |
Committee Positions |
In charge of checking people going in and out of the village tract |
No. |
7. |
Names |
Naw[14] Hay Blut Hser |
Position |
Htee Th'Blut Hta village tract, healthcare head |
Committee Positions |
Local healthcare department head[15] |
No. |
8. |
Names |
Saw Eh Say |
Position |
K'Pah/ K'Pee Hkee village head |
Committee Positions |
Committee member |
No. |
9. |
Names |
Saw Yway Nay |
Position |
Wah Thoo Klah village head |
Committee Positions |
Committee member |
No. |
Names |
Position |
Committee Positions |
1. |
Saw[13] Kay Dah |
KNLA Brigade #5, Battalion #102, Company #3, Thu Hkoh Yaw |
Committee Chairperson |
2. |
Saw La Tay |
Htee Tha'Blut Hta village tract judge |
Committee Secretary |
3. |
Saw Kway Nee |
Pway Htaw Roo village head |
Pwa Kweh Naw Ta [note taker] |
4. |
Saw Poe Nee |
Htee Th'Blut Hta village tract administrator |
Contact Person |
5. |
Saw Sah Thay |
Htee Th'Blut Hta security guard administrator |
In charge of taking action |
6. |
Saw Raw Ber Htoo |
Htee Th'Blut Hta village tract, member of local organisation |
In charge of checking people going in and out of the village tract |
7. |
Naw[14] Hay Blut Hser |
Htee Th'Blut Hta village tract, healthcare head |
Local healthcare department head[15] |
8. |
Saw Eh Say |
K'Pah/ K'Pee Hkee village head |
Committee member |
9. |
Saw Yway Nay |
Wah Thoo Klah village head |
Committee member |
Two Quarantine Sites
Htee Th'Blut Hta village tract, near Wah Tho Klah clinic.
Ma Htaw village tract, near T'Dwee Hkoh clinic.
There is no [COVID-19] committee in Ma Htaw village itself [because the quarantine site is in the larger village tract].
Conclusion
In the previous situation update (from May to July 2020), the virus had not yet reached K'Ma Maung Town. But it has now reached areas in Mu Traw District so the healthcare workers and the district leaders are taking more restrictive actions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The local villagers are also afraid that this virus will spread around them and that there will be increased restrictions on their travel, along with school closures that will create delays for the students.
Again, in looking at the previous reporting period, there were no problems with the paddy plants. Now the paddy plants and the leaves are becoming sallow and dying.
There have also been issues with Tatmadaw soldiers not following the terms of the NCA. The local villagers worry that if conflict increases, they will face many problems.