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Geschrieben am 03.01.2013 von we040919

The Palaung people in Burma The Palaung have a 40-year history of armed resistance through the Palaung State Liberation Army - the military wing of their political liberation organization. Even though a cease-fire has been in effect for the past 12 years, the Palaung State Liberation Front has been associated with other ethnic minority-led armed resistance movements in Thailand. They are currently trying to secure three-way peace talks between Myanmar's military rulers, the pan ethnic armed resistance movements and the (currently interned) national pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The Palaung people live in mountainous areas because they can grow the tae in the mountains that make them for survival. They are famous for the high quality tea they grow there. Palaung tea is famous in Burma. The Palaung is one of the indigenous ethnics in Burma. Mostly they are living in Northern Shan State and some are in the South. Palaung people, they call themselves “Ta-ang” as the Palaung language. In Burmese or else, they are called “Palaung”. They are about over one million populations living in Burma (estimated). They live in different place. The Palaung are descended from Mon-Khmer from Mongolia passing China to Burma. The Palaung people have along history and a strong sense of their unique identities. They have their own language and literature, a distinctive traditional culture, their own territory and self-sufficient economy. Most Palaung work in agriculture, farming, tea planting and logging work. Many communities make most of their income from the growing of tea in their villages, which are usually located on steep hillsides amongst evergreen forests. They also grow once a year paddy in their farms. Most of them are farmers. Most of Palaung people are Buddhists. Most of their villages have a temple, and the monks who live there depend on the offerings of the followers to provide for their daily needs. The villagers, in turn, depend on the monks for spiritual guidance. Each village also looks to layman who directs the offering-making ceremonies and practices divination. Buddhists, they believe one thing that if you do the right thing, you’ll get the right thing and if you do the wrong thing, you’ll get the wrong thing. Like all Buddhists, the Palaung believe they should try to do good works, to gain merit for their next life. They believe that fate predetermines the events in their lives. This results in them having little concern to change their ways, and long-deadened consciences in regard to sin. Their Buddhist practices are also mixed with animistic beliefs. Animists believe in the spirit-realm, and are careful not to upset them in case the vengeful demons extract retribution on them. Shamans - or witch doctors - are powerful figures in Palaung society. The shamans are the link between the community and the spirit-world. No important event like a wedding, funeral, or long journey is undertaken without first consulting the local shaman, who enters into a trance and announces whether or not the event should happen, and when is the most auspicious date and time. There are some Palaung people in Northern Thailand about 5000. The Palaung are the most recent ethnic group to arrive in Thailand. They have come here from neighboring Myanmar (Burma), where they are one of that country's most ancient indigenous peoples. They have fled in the past 20 years from Shan State and Kachin State to escape persecution and oppression at the hands of Myanmar's military rulers. Many of the Palaung in Thailand are refugees living in refugee camps. There are also Palaung people in Southern China about 15, 500. The Palaung live scattered across the Yunnan Province of southwestern China. The Palaung are the smallest registered minority in China, due largely to a high infant mortality rate. Fortunately, China's medical care has greatly improved since the 1950's, and their population growth rate has seen a steady increase. Most of the Palaung live in mountainous areas that are also inhabited by the Lisu, and Wa peoples. A small number of Palaung also live in flatland villages among the Dai. Because they generally share villages with other minority groups, most of the Palaung are bilingual. Although most of the Palaung are farmers or lumberjacks, many earn their incomes by growing and selling opium.