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DKBA opening gambling operations in Mon State; residents worrying about consequences
Tue 17 Mar 2009,
Lyeh Mon, IMNA
Local residents are worrying about effects on their communities as an armed Karen cease-fire group steps up gambling operations in northern Mon State, where gaming had previously been mostly prohibited.
Over the last 2 months, gambling operations operated by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) have been opened in at least 9 villages in Mudon and Thanbyuzayat Townships. The DKBA has been loosely allied with Burma’s military government since splitting from another armed Karen insurgent group in 1994.
“They open gambling in one village, and then go to the next village. In my village they started 2 weeks ago. Kakhapone village started nearly 2 months ago,” said a resident of Nyan Gone village, Mudon Township.
Villages with confirmed DKBA games include Kamarwet, Doe Mar, Nyang Gone, Kwan Hlar, Naing Hlone, Kyone Paik, Kwan Ka Bue and Kawkhapone in Mudon Township and Wakhayu in Thanbyuzayat Township. A group of Mon businessmen have also opened games in Paung Sein village, while local residents in Abhit have begun organized games as well.
The games are being run in areas where gambling had previously not been allowed, say residents. Gambling operations are typically prohibited in Mon State, though temporary permission is often granted for organized games during festivals.
“Around our village area there was no gambling before because the village headman would not permit it. Now in this area the gambling started over one month ago,” said a resident of Kamarwet village.
“DKBA opens gambling in village after village by getting permission from the authorities,” added another resident of Mudon Township. “They do it to increase their fund raising.”
Though the DKBA games only began in the last few months, villagers say they are already worried about negative effects on the local community. “One woman was robbed in Wakhayu village,” said another resident. “They got one gold necklace and 20,000 kyat last week. After they robbed her, one vehicle arrived and they ran away.”
Though IMNA could not confirm the burgeoning crime-wave feared by some, other residents complained that residents are now gambling instead of trying to work. Mudon and Thanbyuzayat have been hit hard by declining rubber prices, which are at just a fraction of past years. “Most of the villagers spend their time gambling. They are lazy instead of working,” complained a woman from Nyang Gone village.
“I am worried the people’s morals will be corrupted from long-term gambling,” added Dr. Min Gyi Win, Vice General Secretary of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF). The MNDF is a widely respected Mon political party, which won 5 seats in Burma’s 1990 parliamentary elections. “It is not good because people only think about gambling and the do not go to their jobs,” added Dr. Min Gyi Win. “Especially because it seems they are opening gambling in Mon areas.”
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