Conflict Kachin Lead Story News
Tatmadaw launching attacks on Kachin positions, says KIA
Government forces have reportedly launched assaults on its positions across Kachin State, including artillery shelling near the Kachin headquarters of Laiza.
Conflict Kachin Lead Story News
Government forces have reportedly launched assaults on its positions across Kachin State, including artillery shelling near the Kachin headquarters of Laiza.
Gen. Gun Maw of the Kachin Independence Army posted a copy of Suu Kyi’s letter, dated 22 December, on his Facebook page.
Myanmar National Human Rights Commission says it is powerless to intervene in the case involving two Reuters journalists who were arrested on December 12.
Lead Story News Peace Process Politics
“Grassroots groups know what is happening in their area. Often the authorities do not,” said Ashin Awe Bar Tha.
Analysis Ethnic issues Lead Story Peace Process
Insofar as the Union government’s agenda for ethnic reconciliation is concerned, there is little doubt that the north, where the most powerful rebel armies operate, holds the key to a permanent negotiated settlement.
Negotiators from the government, military and a bloc of Burma’s non-state armed groups have agreed to convene the third session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference in January 2018.
Military representatives apparently wish the term federal union to be replaced by nation of democratic and federal union.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Politics
The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), Burma’s main ethnic Shan political party, has strongly criticised the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) for what it says is the latter’s neglect of the concerns and political representatives of ethnic minorities.
“Once UNFC is on the NCA path and is negotiating with the other parties involved, it can amend the things they do not want. There is nothing to be concerned about.”
A court in Sittwe Township has sentenced Khaing Myo Htun, a deputy information officer for the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), to 18 months’ imprisonment for remarks his organisation made last year that were critical of the Burma Army.
The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) must one day unite under the same banner, according to the leader of the former, who said that such a merger was ultimately necessary given Burma’s current political situation.
Min Htay, a central committee member of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) who was charged under the colonial-era Unlawful Associations Act, was acquitted by the Momeik Township Court in Shan State on Friday.
Former political prisoners are still locked in a battle against depression and anxiety – the aftermath of decades of imprisonment and isolation.
Aung Kyi, the head of the Peace Commission, told DVB that they hoped the ethnic rebel alliance would be “involved in the peace process very soon”.
Arakan Lead Story News Rohingya
Buddhists in Arakan protest against aid organisations they accuse of giving support to Muslim Rohingya militants.
The third hearing in the case of a trio of detained journalists and three civilians on charges of “unlawful association” was held on Friday, with two of the prosecution’s witnesses failing to appear before the court despite being scheduled to do so.
Arakan Lead Story News Rohingya
The United Nations has warned aid workers in western Burma of rising hostility and imminent protests from troubled Arakan State’s majority Buddhists, some of whom say humanitarian agencies are giving support to Rohingya Muslim militants.
Karen Lead Story News Refugees
Although the cessation of international aid had been projected 18 months ago, the KNU has appealed for international groups to continue funding until peace prevails in the region.
Following the recent resignation of the KIO and other members, the UNFC now consists of just five groups: the NMSP, SSPP, KNPP, LDU and ANC.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The dwindling alliance of ethnic armed groups joined under the United Nationalities Federal Council banner convenes a conference in Thailand chaired by a leader of one of its former members, the influential Kachin Independence Army.
Karen Lead Story News Refugees
The concerns of ethnic Karen refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) were raised on Tuesday, World Refugee Day, over the lack of a clear plan for the return and reintegration of those going back to their homelands.
Karen Lead Story News Peace Process
The KNU Concerned Group says the Union Accord fails to include all ethnic armed organisations and does not take into account the opinions of ethnic political parties.
Analysis Ethnic issues Lead Story Opinion Peace Process
The second session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference made substantial progress that offers a beacon of hope for sustainable peace in Burma, but key hurdles remain.
We do requests donations from local businesses, but never using force or threats,” the KIO responded.
Peace in Burma “is starting to take tangible form for the first time,” Aung San Suu Kyi said in upbeat closing remarks at the second iteration of the 21st Century Panglong Conference.
Conflict Ethnic issues Lead Story News Shan
A spokesman for the Ta’ang National Liberation Army says his people are ready to hold talks aimed at ending their ongoing conflict with the Restoration Council of Shan State.
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi will meet with seven allied ethnic armed groups that are not signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on the sidelines of the ongoing 21st Century Panglong Conference in the capital on Friday, a government official has confirmed.
Karen Lead Story News Refugees
IDPs at E Htu Hta camp are calling for the withdrawal of Burmese military forces from the area, as well as a campaign to clear landmines.
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi opened a second round of peace talks under her government here in the capital on Wednesday, predicting that the coming days would bring “intense discussions, exchanges of views, debates and difficult decisions.”
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi will open a new round of talks with some of Burma’s myriad ethnic groups on Wednesday, looking to revive a stuttering peace process.