Ethnic issues Lead Story News Politics
The launch of a Karen rights organisation’s report has been blocked in Chiang Mai, Thailand, after authorities pressured a local university to cancel the event.
The Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee releases a statement reiterating the ethnic armed coalition’s intention to join the upcoming third iteration of the government-led 21st Century Panglong Conference, if the bloc is officially invited to do so.
Joining a rising chorus of voices objecting to the encroachment of Burma Army troops into territory in Karen State, hundreds of villagers in the state’s Hpapun Township staged a protest on Monday, calling on the military to withdraw its forces.
Lead Story News Peace Process Rakhine
“He told his wife that he had been coerced during interrogation. I am very worried that it has had an impact on his health.”
Conflict Ethnic issues Lead Story News
Fighting between the Restoration Council of Shan State and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army flared once again this week in Kyaukme Township, Shan State, with a shelling from the clashes landing in a local village and killing two civilians.
The Mon army spokesman confirmed that dialogue focused on measures to resolve the territory conflict, and to prevent clashes from recurring.
A member of the government’s Peace Commission says the United Wa State Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army, the latter also known as the “Mongla group,” accept the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, an accord that the two influential ethnic armed groups had previously spurned.
The 324 villagers are now being sheltered at a Buddhist monastery in Man San village near Namtu town.
Conflict Ethnic issues Lead Story News
Clashes between the New Mon State Party and the Karen National Union, two Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signatories, erupted on Sunday morning in Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region.
Burma’s bicameral parliament today unanimously approved a bill to establish “a Union based on the principles of democracy and federalism”.
Four civilians including an ex-political prisoner and a former administrator were detained in Rakhine State on Sunday, reportedly on counter-terrorism charges, a day after three bombs rocked the state capital Sittwe.
Conflict Ethnic issues Lead Story News
A clash between soldiers from the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Battalion 16 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) reportedly erupted over the weekend near Mahn Aung village in Ye Township, Mon State. The skirmish flared eight miles away from the village.
The ALP report accused the Burmese army of extrajudicial killings of captured enemy combatants, as well as forcing civilians to serve as porters.
Muskets and melodies kicked off celebrations for the 70th Chin National Day in Mindat, Chin State, on Monday, commemorating the remote region’s long struggle for democracy and self-determination.
The New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on Tuesday, fulfilling a pledge that the two ethnic armed groups made last month to accede to an accord initially inked by eight non-state armies more than two years ago.
Ethnic issues Lead Story Photos Shan
During the 71st Shan State National Day commemoration at the headquarters of the Restoration Council of Shan State’s Loi Tai Leng headquarters, European ambassadors and UN representatives rubbed shoulders with ethnic armed group leaders.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union will sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement on 13 February, with their accession to the accord marking one of the most substantive breakthroughs in Burma’s peace process since the National League for Democracy took power nearly two years ago.
“Despite the fact that intense hostilities are continuing between the two sides, I believe that this informal meeting could pave the way for a shift from armed conflict to political dialogues,” Naw Bo told DVB.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The New Mon State Party will sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, marking the first time that an ethnic armed organisation has acceded to the accord since eight initial non-state signatories joined the previous government and military in formally agreeing to its terms over two years ago.
Plans to hold the next iteration of the government’s self-styled “21st Century Panglong Conference” have been pushed back. Instead of convening late this month, the third round of the high-level summit will not take place until February.
Ethnic bloc says “Nation of a Federal Democratic Union”; Tatmadaw insists on “Nation of Democratic and Federal Union”.
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.
Ethnic issues Kachin Lead Story News
The Kachin Independence Organisation holds a ceremony in Laiza, Kachin State, to mark the retirement of its now former chairman and appointment of his successor.
The government extended an invitation to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang to join next month’s Union Peace Conference.
Karenni Lead Story Military News
“The Burmese army handed over the ashes of the soldiers to the KNPP on 21 December 2017.”
Gen. Gun Maw of the Kachin Independence Army posted a copy of Suu Kyi’s letter, dated 22 December, on his Facebook page.
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.
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.
