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Mysterious leaflets found scattered in Karen State
Wed 19 Aug 2009,
IMNA,
Unmarked leaflets, that negatively portrayed the actions of two ethnic armed groups, were found spread throughout Karen state, according to local sources.
The leaflets primarily targeted Nai Hong Sar, the general secretary of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karen National Union (KNU). They were first found several days ago, scattered on the ground, in villages in Kawkareik township, such as Kaw Bein and Kaw Pauk.
“Nai Hong Sar left to go abroad to organize other opposition organizations, and associated with the KNU to gave a training for how to build bombs in the country,” recounted a resident who had read the leaflets. “It seems the leaflets focused on attacking Nai Hong Sar.”
According to the villagers there was no signature or stamp printed on the paper and provided no description about the groups that issued the statement. However residents that have read the leaflet believed that they were released by the Burmese government as a form of propaganda.
This theory appears to be true. IMNA recently learned from a village headman in Mon state, that the Townships Peace and Development Council (TPDC) in Mon state called the heads of villages to hold meeting last week. There, headmen received copies of statements identical to the leaflets found scattered though Karen state.
A few weeks ago the Burmese government authorities issued an official order to the headman of every village in Karen State, saying that they must watch for any ethnic armed group’s movement, and to write a report about the activity to the high officials.
Village headmen were also ordered to report any visits made my armed groups, and what reason they gave for visiting the village.
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