Myanmar Villagers Flee Into China to Escape New Fighting
More than 100 villagers fled their homes in Myanmar’s northern Shan state into China as fighting broke out between ethnic Shan rebels and government forces, sources said Wednesday. A military spokesman said the clash, which wounded one civilian, began Tuesday when government troops seized three truckloads of illegally logged timber, though a spokesman for the […]
Shan Political Parties Criticize Election Approach Amid COVID-19 Pandemic as ‘Unfair’
On July 1, the Union Election Commission (UEC) announced the date of the election as November 8. Burma’s COVID-19 control committee extended its COVID-19 guidelines on social gatherings until at least July 15. Groups of more than five people are prohibited from gathering according to these restrictions, creating difficulties regarding election planning and campaigning. […]
SNLD: Burma Army Should Prosecute Its Own Perpetrators of Violence, Not Protesters
The Burma Army’s True News Information Team reported on July 10 that the military would be charging organizers of a peaceful protest in Kyaukme, northern Shan State, with violating Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law and Article 18 of the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases Law. The protest had […]
Villagers Flee Fighting In Northern Shan State
Over 40 villagers took refuge in Kawng Nyaung Buddhist monastery in Loi Sawnt village-tract after fighting broke out between the Burma Army and Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) in the late morning of this Tuesday (July 14). Sai Sai says villagers saw the Tatmadaw military column the night before. The following […]
Government’s deception of Panglong Agreement prolongs ethnic armed conflict
The video clip of Saw Than Myint interview uploaded has been clicked for nearly a million at this writing. On 28 October 2013, the Burmese election commission approved the Federal Union Party’s application to enter federal politics in Myanmar. The party established by sixteen members of the Nationalities Brotherhood Forum, which contained most of […]
Burma Army Sends More Soldiers Into Kyaukme
Kyaukme resident Sai Htwe Han said that military columns entered into Nawng Peng village-tract on July 16 and that travel to the area is now blocked. “They interrogated travelers on the road. People are worried that clashes will occur again in the area,” he told SHAN. The Burma Army and the Restoration Council […]
SNDP Optimistic About 2020 Electoral Outcomes
Chairperson Sai Aik Pao spoke to SHAN after the party’s 17th central executive committee meeting in Taunggyi on July 16. In the meeting, they reportedly selected “90 percent” of their candidates. “We expect to form the Shan State government. We could not do it in 2015 general election,” Sai Aik Pao said. “I […]
Fearing More Clashes, Villagers Seek Refuge in Kyaukme Monastery
The Burma Army and the Restoration Council of Shan state (RCSS) have had frequent clashes in the township since June 25. With recent troop reinforcement by the Burma Army in the area, locals say they fear clashes will intensify. “The Burma Army is sending more troops into this area everyday. I don’t know […]
Don’t Compensate Us With Deforested Land, Say Hsihseng Farmers
The township’s council—part of the Pao-O Self-Administered Region—said they would give around 200 acres of land to Hsihseng farmers whose land was confiscated by the Burma Army. “The local authorities and the Hsihseng self-administered council are creating it. They said they would pay the highland farms as compensation to farmers. I heard that […]