RCSS/SSA says villagers arrested by army were not conscripts

The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) says a group of villagers arrested last month by the Burma army in eastern Shan State were not troops who had been forcibly recruited by the group. The denial came in response to a statement issued last month by the army.

Villagers who were accused by the army of being from RCSSSSA

Speaking at a press conference held at Wan Hwai village group in Mong Kung Township on June 2nd, Major Sai Han, who is responsible for the RCSS/SSA in Mong Kung Eastern Area No 7, explained to local residents and the media that the announcement released by the Burma Army on May 23 was not accurate.

“We don’t have any policy on recruitment since we signed the NCA [Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement]. No order [to recruit] has come from the upper-level. The news release from the Burma Army on 23 May is not concerned with us,” said Major Sai Han.

“We went to Loi Tai Leng headquarters because a representative from each village was sent to observe agriculture and rural area development acclivities and there was also a Resistance Day ceremony at the headquarters. The 33 people arrested by the Burma Army are not new recruits. They are normal civilians,” explained Sai Mai, a member of Ham Ngai village group of Mong Kung Township.“Our group encountered the Burma Army’s military column on the 18th (18 May). The Burma Army took us to the military [camp] with a vehicle. We were divided into groups of four and interrogated. They told us to say that the RCSS has been recruiting new soldiers. We were interrogated from 6 pm to 3:30 am. We had to stay there for ten days and nine nights. Among our group, a man called Sai Nyunt was taken with a hood [on his head] and he still hasn’t been released yet,” said Hla Kwe, one of 32 people arrested by the Burma Army last month.

The Burma Army also arrested eight residents of Pan Sone Village in Theinni Township at the end of May accusing them of being soldiers with the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).

According to relatives of the detained villagers from Theinni Townshp, they have been charged with Section 17-1 of the Unlawful Association Act.

http://english.panglong.org/?p=14408

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Killing, beheading and disappearance of villagers instill fear of return among Kokang refugees

According to recent interviews by SHRF, Kokang refugees sheltering in China remain fearful of return, due to killing, beheading and disappearance of villagers caught returning home.

There are still tens of thousands of refugees sheltering along the length of the China-Kokang border, in formal camps set up by the Chinese authorities, as well as in unofficial makeshift camps.  Refugees interviewed by SHRF were among about 15,000 refugees staying along a 10-km section of the border directly north of Laogai.  They have fled from dozens of mountain villages where fighting continues between the Burma Army and the Kokang resistance army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

Thousands of these refugees had since mid-February been staying in a large camp straddling the border at Maitihe, but on April 15, government authorities from Laogai arrived at the camp and told the IDPs on the Kokang side of the border that they were not allowed to stay there. They were ordered to return to IDP shelters set up in schools in Laogai and Konkyan, and were threatened that if they did not return within three days, they would be assumed to be MNDAA supporters, and would be killed. However, the IDPs were too afraid to return, and most moved to other nearby refugee settlements in China.

Only a few days after the order for the IDPs to return, the Burma Army launched a large-scale offensive against the MNDAA at Nan Tien Men mountain, using heavy artillery. Shells landing on the Chinese side of the border caused over 700 refugees sheltering at Chin Cai Go (the border crossing directly north of Nan Tien Men) to evacuate deeper into China.

Ongoing shelling in the Nan Tien Men area since early May is continuing to instill fear in the refugees. Most are too afraid to even cross back and make brief visits to their homes, due to cases of killing and disappearance of villagers returning across the border.  Refugees said that most villages in their area are now completely deserted.

Refugees gave testimony about the following cases of civilian death or disappearance in their villages since conflict broke out in the Kokang area on February 9, 2015:

No.	Date	Location	Case summary
1	Feb 12, 2015	Xi Mi Cun village	An elderly villager shot dead in his home by Burma Army
2	Feb 14, 2015	Xi Mi Cun village	An elderly blind villager found burned to death in his home
3	Feb15-16, 2015	Lao Dong Go village	An elderly villager killed by Burma Army shell in his home
4	Mid-March, 2015	Xi Mi Cun village	Four refugees returned to their village: two dead bodies were found in the village, one beheaded; two have disappeared
5	April 14, 2015	Nr. Son Shan village	Four returning refugees shot at by Burma Army;  three have disappeared

It is clearly unsafe for these refugees to return home while fighting continues and the Burma Army continues to commit abuses against civilians with impunity. The Burmese military authorities must therefore immediately stop pressuring displaced civilians to return to the Kokang area under the current conditions.

We also urge foreign diplomats, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to publicly raise concerns with the Naypyidaw government about the protection of displaced persons in the Kokang area.

Update by Shan Human Rights Foundation

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War in Kokang must stop, if ongoing peace process is to be preserved and nurtured

Quite a lot has happen, in the aftermath of the fifth Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) draft completion or accomplishment, ready for signing or ratification, if the Union Peace-making Central Committee (UPCC) and Ethnic Armed Organizations’ (EOAs) leadership could agree on the draft text as it is now formulated. To put it differently, if the EAOs would accept this tentative draft, without any alteration and agree to sign it, the deal will be done. As for the government’s highest negotiation organ UPCC, the draft is fully acceptable and is ready to ink, anytime the EAOs’ leaders opt for it. The fifth NCA draft was finalized on 31st March 2015.

President Thein Sein had called for a meeting among 48 invited personages, covering a wide-range of political spectrum, to which 44 attended, at Naypyidaw, a few weeks back, prior to the six-party talks, which the parliament has endorsed, but refused by the President until recently, indicating that it was not inclusive enough.

The 44 personages meet was said to be nothing new, without any substance, just like the last meeting a few months ago. It was viewed as a public relation undertaking to prop up Thein Sein’s reform posture and just a talk shop, according to those attending the meeting.

The following six-party talks, between U Thein Sein, Aung San Suu Kyi, Thura U Shwe Mann and Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Upper House Speaker U Khin Aung Myint and an ethnic representative, U Aye Maung, took place in Naypyidaw, on 10 April, touched on the issues of constitutional amendment, ongoing peace negotiation with the EAOs and the forth-coming national election.

According to The Wall Street Journal, on the same day, Minister of Information Ye Htut, in a news conference after the roughly two hours of talks, described the conversation as “friendly, as though it was between brothers and sisters.” He labeled the talks a success and said steps toward guaranteeing a free and fair election and a change to the constitution were discussed, without giving specifics.

But Aye Maung, the ethnic representative at the talks, said no specifics on a timeline for amending the constitution were raised, nor was there any agreement on what should be changed. The specific clause that prevents Ms. Suu Kyi from becoming president—clause 59f—was also not discussed, the ethnic representative said.

Meanwhile, in an interview conducted by VOA, on 13 April, with a Kokang citizen Mr. Ye Lauk E said, the Burma Army (BA) offensive or better, military onslaught in Kokang area, against Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), goes on, employing some 15,000 troopers, with heavy artillery.

According to various medias like VOA, RFA and DVB, it was said to be very heavy, with causalities from the government side as high as 700 deaths and wounded, and MNDAA enduring some 60 to 70, within the few days of fighting, starting the 8th of April, coinciding with the approval of fifth NCA draft, President’s sponsored and headed 44 personages – from broad political spectrum – meeting, and the parliament endorsed six-party talks.

Tun Myat Linn, MNDAA general secretary and spokesman, when asked why the causality figures could be so different replied to the medias, on several occasions, that as the nature of war, the defending party always have an edge over the attacking group. And this explains the high causality figure from the side of BA.

Tun Myat Linn told DVB, on 14 April, that violence has spiked since 8 April in the Tong San area of Shan State, southeast of the regional capital Laogai.

“I think that there were about 700 dead and injured from the Tatmadaw [Burmese army] over the five days from 8 to 12 April. On our side, there were about 60 casualties,” Tun Myat Linn said.

On 16 April DVB report, Tun Myat Linn again said he believes his force has inflicted 1,800 Burmese army casualties since the conflict started on 9 February, despite just 70 casualties among MNDAA troops.

Surprisingly, the State-owned media, after quite a few weeks of break, again publicized causality figures, that 16 Burma army soldiers were killed and 110 injured in an ultimately successful assault on Hill Post 1584 on 15 April. The report cited the government use of airstrikes against the MNDAA, as well as tanks and heavy weaponary in the action.

However MNDAA spokesperson Tun Myat Linn rejected the reports, telling DVB that no fighting took place on Wednesday.

“We haven’t lost any posts in the fighting. We retreated from some small posts in the Kho Thang area, in accordance with our strategy, but there was no post lost in the fighting” , according to DVB report of 16 April.

Earlier he also refuted the BA’s territorial gains, by saying: “ They always report in their media that they have seized our mountain posts. If they could seize our posts, there wouldn’t be any more battles. They have been reporting this since we began fighting with them,” according to the report of The Irrawaddy, on 10 April.

As the BA military onslaught goes on unabated, the Ethnic Leaders’ Summit preparation scheduled to be held, on 1-3 May 2015, at the Pangsang headquarters of the United Wa State Army, is underway. According to SHAN report, the summit will be co-hosted by the Kachin Independence Army, the National Democratic Alliance Army and the United Wa State Army.

NCCT members such as the Wa National Organization (WNO), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Arakan National Council (ANC), Chin National Front (CNF), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), and Karen Peace Council (KPC) were excluded from the invitation list.

According to a source close to NCCT, there are only 12 ethnic armed organizations on the invitation list, namely the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Karen National Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), United Wa State Army (UWSA), Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Ta’ang National Liberation Front (TNLF), Arakan Army (AA), and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

Adding cacophony to this perplexed situation, RFA, Burmese Section, on 14 April, reported that in spite of government’s urging to drop the invitation, the UWSA has invited MNDAA, TNLF and AA to the ethnic leaders meeting, due to be held in first week of May, in Pangsang. U Aung Min headed party was also said to be in Pangsang, the Wa capital, during this period.

U Aung Myint, UWSA spokesman reportedly said that the invitation were already sent out even before the arrival of the government delegation. He said that the ethnic leaders were reviewing the government’s dissatisfaction and as well, how all-inclusive participation of various ethnic groups could be entertained.

Likewise, DVB on 16 April reported that Military Security Officer Headquarters Office, stationed in Lashio, cannot accept that Kokang attending the Ethnic Leaders’ Summit, according to U Aung Myint.

He said: “It is not forbidding, but not happy – with UWSA – inviting the Kokang for the government doesn’t accept the group.”

The dilemma for the government is that it badly wants the EAOs to endorsed the tentative NCA draft so that it could be ratified as soon as possible, but cannot swallow the fact that MNDAA will sit as negotiation partner and will also sign the document, without having teach a due lesson or cow the group to Tatmadaw’s satisfaction.

In the face of such perplex development, Lt-Gen N’ Ban La, head of the UNFC released an open letter addressed to President Thein Sein to intervene and stop the BA offensive against MNDAA, in Kokang area. The letter, dated 13 April said that he is concerned of the armed conflict taking place in Kokang region and worried that it would become a hindrance to the signing of NCA. He further pointed out that Kokang people are one of the ethnic nationalities and MNDAA is a member of NCCT and as well, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). He urged the President to use his power and capacity, as leader of the peace process, to achieve speedy ceasefire through dialogue and negotiation, with all organizations concerned, including the Kokang force.

Recently, RFA, Burmese Section, reported, on 13 April, that BA’s bombardment with heavy artillery fell on Chinese side again. The artillery is said to hit part of the road within China, which is about 7 to 8 miles distance from Nansan, opposite Laogai.

Tun Myat Linn said almost twenty percent of the whole BA light infantry divisions (LID), with the exception of LID 22 are involved, in the offensive, in a tiny enclave of Kokang, according to DVB 14 April report.

He said that the BA heavy offensive, which has intensified starting 8 April and is still ongoing, using more heavy weaponry and mortars, supported by armed cars and tanks.

Given such circumstances, it seems, the BA is not going to withdraw anytime soon, which in turn means that the “total annihilation” policy will still be implemented, even if NCA is ratified or not. This would again means the UPCC or government will employ two track-policy approach of “offensive on one front, while employing peace-making with the others”.

No one knows for sure, why the BA is wasting so much materials and human lives just to dislodge the MNDAA, when it has repeatedly made known that it is ready to negotiate peacefully, within the mould of NCA, with the government, together with the other EAOs. If the BA is doing all these just to safe face for its heavy causalities on the war front, seeking revenge for its wounded dignity, or just sheer knee-jerk reaction out of hatred and anger, this undertaking is going to ruin all the hard work, hard-won trust-building and understanding on NCA draft achieved so far. And given that the UNFC and EAOs are for all-inclusive signing of the NCA and cessation of armed conflict on the ground prior to the ratification of ceasefire, the BA’s all-out “total annihilation” military onslaught, employed in Kokang region is only going to have a tremendous negative impact, even derailing and ending the ongoing peace process altogether.

And as such, the war in Kokang and armed conflict going on elsewhere within the country, have to be stopped, the sooner the better.

http://english.panglong.org/war-in-kokang-must-stop-if-ongoing-peace-process-is-to-be-preserved-and-nurtured/

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AA, PSLF/TNLA, MNDAA's Statement on Severe Fighting in Northern Shan State

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SNDP MPs’ resignation not likely to impact party

The Chairman of the Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP), Sai Aik Pao, has commented that the resignation of SNDP MPs will have no impact on the party.

Sai Thurein Oo, MP of Nam Zarng

The MPs are Sai Thurein Oo, MP of Nam Zarng, and Sai Kyaw Zeya, MP of Laikha, who announced on Tuesday that they had quit SNDP, colloquially known as “White Tiger” to join the Shan National League for Democracy or Tiger Head party.

Sai Thurein Oo, the MP of Nam Zarng said: “I have decided to quit as an MP of SNDP due to the wishes of the committee team and members of the party in Nam Zarng. Therefore, I submitted a resignation letter to the party.”

Sai Kyaw Zeya, MP of Laikha

“Many SNDP members in Nam Zarng Township have quit the party and switched to SNLD,” he said.

It has been reported that many MPs and members of SNDP in Mong Kurng and Kesi townships, along with Mong Su, Kyawkme, Lashio, Panglong, and Sisang townships, have switched to the SNLD party.

“We have over 300,000 members in SNDP which include every nationality. Therefore, the resignation of the MPs does not have any effect on the party. They made the decision to resign from the party because their names were not on the MP candidate list for the 2015 general election. We also cannot force them to stay. The election is also scheduled to be held soon,” SNDP leader Sai Aik Pao said.

The SNDP party won 57 seats in the Parliament in the 2010 general elections, and one more seat in the by-elections in 2012.

Pressure has been mounting for the two Shan political parties to merge. Due to differences between the policies of each party, and negotiations have not been able to lead to an agreement, and the two parties will not be merged before the 2015 general election.

http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5996:sndp-mps-resignation-not-likely-to-impact-party&catid=85:politics&Itemid=266

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Two Shan political parties in northern Shan State release joint statement opposing changing state names

Two Shan political parties, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) in Namkham township, northern Shan State, jointly released a statement on 21st November objecting to the suggestion to the parliament by U Aung Thaung from Myanmar’s ruling party (USDP), to change the names of Burma’s states from ethnic-based names to city-based names.

The statement also mentioned the two parties’ surprise that such a proposal could be made by a member of parliament while the country is working to achieve national reconciliation and establish a democratic society. The statement also urged all the ethnic nationalities in Shan State and other states to object to any kind of attempt to change the name of the states.

The SNDP secretary of Nam Kham, Sai Tun Hla, said that this kind of proposal should not be made. He commented to SHAN, “We are already trying to make sure that the local names of the villages, townships, and cities in our states can be preserved. So, as a representative of the two Shan political parties in Nam Kham and also as a citizen, I strongly object to this proposal to change the name of the states.”

This proposal to change the names of the states could create major problems for the ethnic nationalities, said one of the Shan politicians who wanted to remain anonymous.

Sai Tun Hla also suggested that all citizens and the people of Shan State should study the 2008 constitution, so that they could better understand how to handle problems related to the constitution.

http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5991:two-shan-political-parties-in-northern-shan-state-release-joint-statement-opposing-changing-state-names&catid=85:politics&Itemid=266

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Over 100 villagers flee Burma Army abuses amid mounting tension in central Shan State

CHIANG MAI. Over one hundred villagers fled to Wan Wap Temple, Kehsi Township on July 6, 2014, due to mounting tension between the Burma Army and Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).

Hundred of villagers, mostly children got humanitarian aid by local MPs at Wan Wap temple. (Photo: Sai Harn)

The Burma Army hascontinuously reinforced its troops closer to areas under the control SSPP/SSA in Mongsu and Kehsi townships since the two sides exchanged fire in mid- June, causing the SSA to lose a camp in Mongsu.
“After the Burma Army started deploying their troops closer to us, they have been patrolling around Wan Wap village, trampling on villagers’ crops, breaking farmers’ fences, and building bunkers”, said an SSA officer.
A villager said: “We were told by the Burma Army that we must stay in our houses, must not visit each other, and must not take rice out of the village. If we want to eat, we must eat at home”.

Hundred of villagers, mostly women and children got humanitarian aid by local MPs at Wan Wap temple. (Photo: Sai Harn)

According to the villagers, the Wan Wap school has been closed, affecting 125 students, because the Burma Army has set up the camp there.
Local MPs from the Shan Nationalities Development Party (SNDP) and Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) have provided 10 sacks of rice, salt, oil and water to the villagers.
An SSPP/SSA officer said: “We told the villagers they can take refuge in our headquarters or in big towns and warned them not to flee into the jungle, because the Burma Army can shoot them on sight”.
The Burma Armytroops which have recently been deployed to SSA areas were under Battalion 516 in Namjarng, Battalion 287andBattalion 9 in Mongnawng, Battalion 297 in Mongpan, Battalion 12 in Loilem, and Battalion 249 at Tahsang.

http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5867:over-100-villagers-flee-burma-army-abuses-amid-mounting-tension-in-central-shan-state&catid=87:human-rights&Itemid=285 

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Shan CBOs reject Naypyitaw’s peace conditions

The 8 point guideline set by President Thein Sein’s Union Peacemaking Central Committee (UPCC) in May was spurned by a two-day meeting on the Thai-Burmese border of Shan Community-based organizations (CBOs) in exile that ended yesterday.
The 8 points are:

• To remain forever in the Union
• To accept the Three National Causes i.e. Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of National Sovereignty and Perpetuation of National Sovereignty
• To cooperate in economic and development tasks legally
• To cooperate in the elimination of narcotic drugs
• To set up political parties and enter elections
• To accept the (2008) constitution and to make necessary amendments in the parliament by majority consent
• To fully enter the legal fold for permanent peace and live, move, work and consume in accord with the constitution
• To coordinate existence of only a single armed forces in accord with the constitution

Earlier, Hkun Htun Oo, leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), had informed the president and his key negotiator U Aung Min that while there should be no problems with points 1-4, points 5-8 would be unacceptable. To which U Aung Min reportedly replied that the said guideline was not carved in stone.

The meeting also resolved to lend the much needed support to the 7 point peace plan adopted by the Working Group for Ethnic Coordination (WGEC) made up of armed movements from the 7 non-Burman states:

• Talks outside each side’s “sphere of influence”
• An international body of observers
• A preliminary dialogue between the government and all armed movements, both ceasefire and non-ceasefire
• A convention among ethnic movements, both armed and non-armed
• A broad-based national convention made up delegates from the ethnic forces, democratic forces and the government
• Decisions reached at the said national convention to be implemented by all concerned
• Completion of the process “before the general elections in 2015”

The resolution read out at the meeting also suggested that for the peace process to move smoothly, not only an international body of observers would be needed but also the presence of the media, both home and international, would be most necessary.
No further details are available.
On 12 June, the Shan CBOs had also made a 4 point call to all stakeholders in the peace process:

• Structural political reform, principally, the amendment of the 2008 constitution
• Withdrawal of Burmese troops from conflict areas
• Strict neutrality by foreign governments and donor organizations
• Suspension of large-scale resource extraction projects until “after there is a genuine political settlement of the conflict, and proper safeguard policies for local communities are in place”

Similar meetings are reportedly being planned in other states, according to the WGEC.

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Elected Shan leader calls for more power to the states

Hkun Htoon Oo, leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) that won statewide in the 1990 elections, yesterday called for more decentralization by the central government for the states and regions, according to reports from Rangoon.
“Power is still very much concentrated in the central government,” he said. “The state governments should be empowered more so they get used to handling their own affairs by themselves in the future.”

Guests and members attending opening ceremony of SNLD head office on 15 August 2012 (Photo: SNLD)

President Thein Sein, a few days after his inauguration by the end of March 2011, spoke of “reduction of centralization.”
The Shan State was a self-supporting state during the pre-independence days. The 1947 Panglong Agreement that cemented Burma, Chin, Kachin and Shan together into a union also promised administrative autonomy, democracy, human rights and “financial autonomy.”
On the ongoing peace process launched by President Thein Sein last year, he said, “What all the ethnic nationalities aspire is neither ownership of lands nor business concessions, but to resolve existing political issues by political means. We should draw lessons from our past experiences and apply them.”
On the question of sanctions, he said. “Some of them have already been withdrawn, but not all. To remove them, human rights violations should end, the people and the government should work together to shape a more open society.”
He was speaking to more than 250 representatives from over 20 political parties and CBOs at the official opening of the SNLD head office at his home in Mayangone township, Rangoon Region.
The party held a meeting on the same day to elect an 11 member central executive committee:
Hkun Htoon Oo                             Chairman
Sai Saw Aung                               Vice Chairman
Sai Nood aka Sai Nyunt Lwin         General Secretary
Sai Lake                                       Joint Secretary and Spokesperson
Sai Fa                                          Public Relations
Nang Htwe Mon                            Treasurer
Sai Lern Myat                               Auditor
4 others represent Shan State (North, South and East) and Outside Shan State.
................
 http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4872:elected-shan-leader-calls-for-more-power-to-the-states&catid=85:politics&Itemid=266

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Burma’s economic development hinges on ethnic conflict resolution

By: Sai Wansai
Tuesday, 07 August 2012

One couldn’t help but sympathize with President Thein Sein in his deliberation to push the country through democratic process, which the government termed as “Discipline-flourishing Democracy”.

Sai Wansai

After a little more than a year in power, the President’s plate is full and it seems to be piling up even more, before he could reduce or tackle his pressing workload, in a workable, practical sense.
Issues that need urgent Presidential attention could be listed roughly as armed ethnic conflicts, sectarian unrest, press freedom, student activism, farmers’ grievances and economic development.

Sectarian unrest

Recently, he is confronted with the Rohingya issue, which reached its height last weekend as the jailed Islamist cleric Abu Bakar Bashir threatened to wage war if Thein Sein government continues to harm Muslim Rohingyas, reported Bangkok Post, on 03 August. According to the report, the letter addressed to President Thein Sein was delivered to Burmese embassy in Jakarta last Monday, 30 July.

Apart from the threats from fundamentalist quarters, the international community is voicing concern over the ongoing violence in Arakan State and human rights abuses against Rohingya.

Meanwhile, President Thein Sein’s “solution” for sectarian unrest in Arakan State by deporting Rohingya to a third country or relocating them to refugee camps has been taken as a nonsense, non-starter or lack of pragmatic approach by the international community, including the UN.

According to the latest Altsean report of July 2012, the ongoing unrest displaces at least 104,000 people in Arakan State. The majority of IDPs live in challenging conditions in camps described as “open air prisons.” Armed ethnic conflicts

On the ethnic conflict front, the armed internal conflicts in Kachin and Shan States continue unabated. While the conflict in Kachin State goes on for the 13th straight month, the Burma army’s offensive against the Shan State Army (SSA) North and the Shan State Army (SSA) South are also in full swing.

According to SHAN reports, two recent clashes had taken place between the attacking Burma Army and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA). One on 30 July 2012 at Loi Ye, Namzang township, which is ongoing, and another on 31 July 2012 at Nawng Lerh, Mongpan township. The SSA was said to have sent a protest letter to U Aung Min, Naypyitaw’s chief negotiator, according to its leader Lt-Gen Yawdserk.

On 3 August 2012, sources coming from Namzang said the Burma army had brought in more than 100 reinforcement troops and heavy weapons to Loi Ye to chase the Shan State Army (SSA) out from the mountain range. 

On 1 August 2012, Lt-Gen Yawdserk, Chairman of Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), writes to President Thein Sein urging him to order implementation of the cooperation against drugs agreement reached at the 19 May Union level meeting. The Shan State Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) had reportedly told the RCSS coordinator Sai Harn in June that nothing could be done without the cooperation from the Burma Army.

Concerning the sent letter, RCSS/SSA spokesman, Major Lao Hseng said that if the Burma army offensive continues even after the formal compliant to the President, it could be taken as either the Burma Army  refuses to obey presidential directive to observe truce or the government, in collaboration with the military, is playing tricks against the SSA. If this is so, the signed truce will be just worth a piece of paper, he said.

It is a clear indication that the ceasefire is on the verge of collapsing.

The latest armed engagement counts, as of early August, between the Burma Army and ethnic armed groups that have signed ceasefire with the government are as follows:

Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA)       27 times
Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA)               24 times
Karen National Union (KNU)                                                               2 times
Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)                                       1 time

As for the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) that has yet to reach agreement, it has already fought 1,640 times since the 1994 ceasefire was violated by the Burma Army on 9 June 2011, reported Irrawaddy.

In an interview with the BBC, on Monday 06 August, Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) Deputy Secretary Mr. La Nan said that the   armed engagement escalated following the departure of the UN special human rights envoy to Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana. He added that the President Thein Sein’s recent meeting with the 14 or so political parties, where he mentioned the importance of ending the armed ethnic conflicts, was just for international consumption and that it was totally different with what was happening on the ground. He said that the Burma Army has ordered its commanders to eliminate the KIA and those commanders, who refused to fight, were expelled or transferred.

RCSS/SSA noted that the reason the clashes that have taken place even after ceasefire agreements were signed, was because the Burma Army did not cease its military activities, especially “area clearing” and “area control” operations.

Meeting  the President

Meanwhile, according to Kawli Media website, on 04 August, Hkun Htoon Oo, Chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and Sai Nyunt Lwin, his secretary met with President Thein Sein, together with 13 other political parties in Naypyitaw on Saturday.

According to Sai Nyunt Lwin, the SNLD has touched on the issues of refugees, including their reintegration into the society through the planned population census; nation-wide ceasefire and reconciliation process; and the teaching of ethnic languages in concerned ethnic states.

The President said that while the exiled or refugees Shan population could be two to three hundred thousands, the count for the whole country is some three millions and that population census is the way to go for the development of the country.

Regarding his peace initiative, the President iterated only vaguely that the government will act according to the wish of sixty millions citizens and that with patience and trust peace could be achieved.

In an interview with RFA, on 04 August, Sai Nyunt Lwin also said that the President mentioned about a conference, similar to Panglong Conference of 1947, with Panglong spirit among all ethnic groups. However, no time frame was mentioned, according to Sai Nyunt Lwin.

Perhaps the most disheartening response on the issue of ethnic languages was that the rejection of teaching them in government-run schools. As an example, the President argued that Shan is not the only race residing within Shan State and that all races within the Shan State should work out among themselves first. The same goes with the Chin State, where even two villages don’t speak the same language. But, nevertheless, he said that teaching outside the schools would be allowed.

Press freedom, student activism and farmers’ grievances

To other pressing issues evolving around press freedom, student activism and farmers’ grievances are also social time-bombs, which have to be tackled carefully.

The government’s stepping up restrictions on press freedom, even though it promise to end all media censorship, is not doing good to its reform process.

The weekly news journals The Envoy and The Voice Weekly were suspended indefinitely, due to the publishing of a controversial interview given by USDP MP Aung Thein Lin to a Chinese newspaper and a story on a possible cabinet reshuffle and a satirical cartoon respectively.

In early July, the regime pre-empted the planned commemorations of the 50th anniversary of 7th July, 1962,  massacre of students in Rangoon, by  detaining more than two dozen ABFSU members in Rangoon, Mandalay, and several other locations across the country. Among those detained were several activists who were released from prison in January under a presidential amnesty, according to the Altsean, July report.

The report said that on 7 July, the regime released all the activists detained the previous day. Defying the regime’s intimidation and harassment, the ABFSU conducted ceremonies in Mandalay to commemorate the anniversary of the 1962 crackdown. In addition, about 300 people attended a commemorative event.

Meanwhile, the heightened awareness of their rights has prompted the restless farmers to step up protests over the confiscation of their land, during the era of two military regimes, the SLORC and SPDC.

Although the government continues to prosecute farmers on charges of encroaching on land that the authorities confiscated from them, the National Parliament approved a proposal introduced by USDP MP Tin Htut on 4 July to form a commission tasked with investigating land confiscation complaints.

Priority-setting crucial

As could be seen, President Thein Sein’s reform achievements are rather mixed. While freedom of expression and democratic rights are partially being allowed in Burma Proper, human rights abuses in ethnic armed conflict areas continue to be the order of the day.

Speaking in Naypyitaw on 03 July, at the first meeting of the Union-level Peace Committee, President Thein Sein addressed some top government officials that ending ethnic conflict is the key to rebuilding the nation, and economic development is only possible under such circumstance.

The Altsean report of July writes:

“From 26-29 June, Asia Development Bank (ADB) top official Stephen Groff visited Burma where he met with President Thein Sein and several regime ministers. Following the visit, Groff concluded that even if Burma’s economy grew at 5-6% a year, it would take 30 years for Burma to reach Thailand’s current level of economic development. On 1 July, in its ‘initial sector assessments’ of Burma, the ADB painted a grim picture of the country’s current state:

• About 25% of the population lives in poverty.
• About 75% of the population does not have access to electricity.
• In rural areas, 75% of children end their education during primary school.
• Road density is about two kilometers per 1,000 people, compared to an average across Southeast Asia of 11 kilometers per 1,000 people.
• Burma has an average of 18 vehicles per 1,000 people, compared to an average of 370 per 1,000 people in Thailand.
• Urban infrastructure is “below acceptable levels” without proper drainage, sewage, or adequate waste management.

And as such, the regime should prioritize the achieving of durable ceasefire nation-wide and managing the sectarian unrest in the first place

The SNLD, in its recent meeting with the President has offered to help to solve the problematic ceasefire agreement with the SSA; while U Aye Tha Aung of Rakhine League for Democracy pointed out that it is unacceptable that the Burma Army make peace with some ethnic groups and at the same time waging war at the others. He said nation-wide ceasefire should be the way to go.

No doubt, the President has the “political will” to do it, otherwise he must not have put out a directive to stop offensive against the KIA. The problem of the disobedient commanders in the field aside, he should earnestly explore other various means on how he could rein in on them, so that durable ceasefire could be observed. Otherwise, we all will have to endure a long wait for real reconciliation and economic development to happen.
The contributor is the General Secretary of Shan Democratic Union (SDU) - Editor
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 http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4856:burmas-economic-development-hinges-on-ethnic-conflict-resolution&catid=opinions&Itemid=308

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Shans offer olive branch to Wa kingpin

Lt-Gen Yawdserk, Chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), has called on Wei Xuegang, Commander of the United Wa State Army (UWSA)’s Thai border based 171st Military Region, for cooperation against drugs, according to Tai Freedom, the movement’s media organ.
Wei Xuegang, also written Wei Hsueh-gang, 66, is wanted in Thailand since 1990 and in the United States since 1998 on drug charges.

Lt-Gen Yawdserk

“President Thein Sein has declared the elimination of (illicit) drugs by 2014,” he said. “The UWSA also has an anti drug policy. It has also held several drug-burning ceremonies. If they are farsighted and, together with us, help the government to eliminate drugs, warrants issued by foreign governments against him and other senior leaders in the UWSA will gradually lose their efficacy.”

“This is the golden opportunity that will never come again,” he added, after SHAN asked for clarification.

Wei, together with 7 other leaders: Chairman Bao Youxiang, Bao Youri, Bao Youliang, Bao Youhua (deceased), Wei Xuelong, Wei Xueyun and Bao Huachiang, were indicted by the US Justice Department on 24 January 2005 on drug trafficking. It also has an “up to $ 2 million” offer for information leading to his arrest since 1998. In Thailand, he has been sentenced to death in absentia.

Yawdserk’s offer came in the wake of the detention of 14 SSA members (16 according to Li Aisu, Commander of the UWSA’s 468th Brigade) on 30 July in Mongton township. They were found setting up a military outpost at Pong Tawng, a location claimed by the UWSA as part of its territory. The SSA had explained that the camp was set up for the security of IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) who were starting an agricultural project to make up for the reduction of food assistance from the aid organizations.

Wei Xuegang

During the last week, the SSA twice dispatched officers to negotiate for their release. They returned empty-handed on both occasions.

Zhao Zhongdang, the day-to-day affairs officer for Bao Youxiang, later suggested the SSA should instead send senior officers as emissaries, to which the SSA replied that: •    The two officers acting as emissaries are Central Committee members
•    One is even a liaison officer dealing with the division-sized Burma Army’s Military Operations Command (MOC) 14 and district level administrative authority
•    The SSA had already sent several top level missions to Panghsang, the UWSA headquarters on the Sino-Burmese border, since 2009, to improve relations between the two sides

Sources close to UWSA say it is suspicious that the SSA might join forces with the Burma Army against it. The SSA said the suspicions are groundless because its declared policy is “development and political settlement before suppression”.

“We also don’t have any plans to drive the Wa (from the Thai-Burmese border areas),” said Yawdserk. “We consider them as fellow citizens of the same country. I’m therefore only thinking of how we can live together in harmony.”

The conflict between the two sides goes back to 1985, when Wei broke away from Khun Sa, leader of the Mong Tai Army (MTA), the SSA’s predecessor, to form the Wa National Council (WNC), which later merged with the UWSA. The two sides last fought at Loi Taileng, opposite Maehongson, in 2005. It ended after Bao Youxiang decided the war between them was in neither side’s interests.

“We don’t have any racial problem between us,” said Yawdserk. “Neither do we have any commercial market to grab away from each other.”

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