Backfiring
Source : Nga Khin Nyo,The New Light of Myanmar(Via Burmanet) (MARCH 10)
Sarram was his name for those close to him.
He was a counter-intelligence officer of the Thai special intelligence unit with the rank of major. But I do not know whether he is still alive or not, or still in his job or not, or still in the same post, or better or worse. I lost contact with him for more than ten years.
With fair complexion he was handsome. Maybe that was the reason why he attracted women. He took three wives. In the Thai military one can take wives more than three; there is no problem; if one can take the number of wives who can be formed a section if one can afford. Recently, I have read a news report about how Thai men took more than one wife. Patriotism of the Thai men is like that.
The first wife of Sarram was a very rich widow with two children. She loved Sarram very much. She bought him a posh car. That first wife had a business of her own in Bangkok. The second wife was a Laotian. She was a big boss at the night club of Wantao Hotel in Maesai opposite Tachilek on the next bank. The third wife with whom he lived was a Myanmar (Shan) national named Nan Kya Nyo. There is much difference between his age and hers. He fondly called her "Nok" in Thai language.
As I know about him to that extent it is needless to say how I had been intimate with him. Still, I will have to say. We frequented his house to enjoy ourselves. One thing I noticed was that in one album I saw him as a monk. When I studied the date of his monkhood I learned that he was ordained after joining the military service. It was unlikely that he was ordained as a temporary monk during his leave. Because according to the dates mentioned he had been a monk for a long period.
Then I asked him why he entered monkhood. I learned that he did so under an assignment. He said he had been a monk for one year and nine months. The photographs were taken in Tachilek, Kengtung, Taunggyi, Inlay, Pindaya and Sagaing in the background. There were also background scenes in Laos. Then I realized the motive. He disguised himself as a monk and visited our country at the time when we were following the close-door policy, and Laos. In fact, in spy work such disguises were not unusual.
Out of the three strategies of the old imperialism, taking the cover of missionary work is one and it continues to be practised in the periods that follow. For, there have been some advantages for it compared with other strategies. So, there have been many instances in which spies have taken the cover and protection of missionary work.
Especially, taking the protection of missionary work is better than other covers in carrying out intelligence work involving infiltration and penetration for political or military purposes. It is easier to overcome the checks and obstructions placed for security reasons. It will be even better if one disguises oneself as a Buddhist monk. With their respectful tradition to the monks, the security bodies in our country are inclined to relax their procedures in checking the monks. For these reasons, once the communist insurgents underground (White and Red communists) branded by the people as impediments endangering the teachings of Buddha, their subversives, bombers and spies disguised themselves as monks to approach and pass through the towns, villages and military camps. Then I found out that the personnel of the Thai special intelligence also aped the evil practices of the communists known as impediments endangering the teachings of Buddhism.
A news report telecast by the Thai TV at 7 pm on 22 February 2001 said that security units comprising the Thai intelligence were combing the monasteries in northern Thailand and Chiangmai. It added that it was done so for fear that spies from Myanmar disguising themselves as monks might be active there. It is natural for a thief not to trust anyone. The Thai military intelligence and police who have colluded with the expatriates, fugitives, thieves and robbers from Myanmar are ready to carry out intelligence work by disguising themselves as monks; they have no respect for the religion or the monks.
Our security personnel have respectfully followed the procedures and requested monks, who illegally entered the country in questionable situations after passing through the insurgent areas, to enter the country with the use of official passport.
I would like to cite an incident. We have reasons to suspect a Thai monk found in Pyinmana on 3 October 2000. His layman's name was Alonkun Kalankato. He was 43 years old, a law graduate and ex-army personnel. He used the Pompakyin-Mongton-Monghsat route to enter the country.
He took up residence at a village in Namgsam Township for nearly three years and befriended the local people. Once he was well-known in the area he secured a identity card with the name U Obhasa from the Laikha Township Immigration and Manpower Department with the help of the townselders. On security grounds this is most questionable.
I am thinking why he did not use the official passport and for what reasons he had deceitfully secured the identity card issued to monks; this card is equivalent to the national citizenship scrutiny card issued to Myanmar citizens. In submitting the application to the authorities to obtain the identity card, bogus names were stated when he referred to the name of the Myanmar presiding monk at the ordination ceremony, the order of the Sangha and its address. His address was also a fake one. All had been premeditated. His actual address was No 43/79, 5th Lane, Sanompennom Street, Sunniwei No 2 block, Bangkatsao in Angphe District, Thailand. Myanmar authorities entertained no suspicions but recognized him as a monk. But they supplicated to him that he himself was a law graduate and he knew that it was illegal. They requested him to return to his country and come back with an official passport if he truly wanted to discharge missionary duties in the country. Proper arrangements were made for the monk to return to Thailand.
At present, a large number of Thai monks, sojourning the length and breadth of Myanmar, are studying Pariyatti and practising Patipatti. Because of the tense atmosphere at Myanmar-Thai border, any security organizations have not questioned or disturbed Thai monks. Four prerequisites are still being donated to them.
The security organizations of Thailand are taking desperate measures in their country. Come to think of it, I will tell a despicable act of Thai police. It happened on 28 March 1998. As those from Maesai who wished to offer soon invited Sayadaw Bhaddanta Dhamma Nanda of Myitta Dekkhina Aungdawmu Monastery in Tachilek, the Sayadaw went to Maesai. Thai police from Maesai Police Outpost arrested, interrogated and beat the Sayadaw. They behaved despicably to that extent. Seething at the unjust and barbaric act of Thai police, the people of Tachilek planned to retaliate against Thai police with the help of local people of Maesai. However, authorities took tactful measures, and anything important did not occur. If they had been allowed to do what they liked, the police from Maesai would have felt as if suffering alive in hell.
The authorities, on their part, did not make public the barbaric and insulting act of Thai police, and took measures through the Regional Border Committee meeting of the two nations by informing Thai authorities of the incident and asking them to inquire into the matter. It is an instance which shows that Myanmar people do not easily fly into a rage or harbour any grudge or do anything in the spirit of revenge, and that they exercise forbearance and usually act with discipline and dignity.
With regard to the fact that Thai people wearing robes entered Myanmar through illegal routes, it is not that there has been just an above-mentioned incident. There have been many similar occasions. However, Myanmar authorities have never insulted any monks, but paid respects to them and acted in accord with rules and regulations.
A state of emergency has not yet been declared officially at the border cities and towns of Thailand on the ground of the tense atmosphere at Myanmar-Thai border. However, in the real situation, it looks as if an ogre was going on the rampage in Wesali. Due to personnel of Thai security organizations who are getting agitated and panic-stricken and behaving like a monkey whose tail is catching fire, the situation is in a state of confusion to such an extent that, let alone the common people, even monasteries cannot be in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. I have got from my Thai friends some news that Thai soldiers have forcibly entered the monasteries in northern Thailand and in the surrounding areas of Chiangmai and have searched for Myanmar monks. I don't know whether the security measures taken by Thai security units are effective or not. On the morning of 27 February 2001, in the centre of Maesai patrolled by vast multitudes of motorcycles, cars, tanks and armoured vehicles ! somewhat like a well-attended Chinese funeral procession making its way in the town, three gunmen in Thai army uniform shot to death a Thai entrepreneur (who has contracts to undertake road construction projects in Myanmar). I wonder whether it is backfiring.