Shan Herald Agency for News |
- White Tiger agrees to form FUP
- Myanmar unveiled its Tourism Master Plan
- SSA leader meets President
- Burma Army reinforce in Wa controlled areas
- Shan leader leaves for Rangoon to meet President
- Burma Army breaks ceasefire in Lashio township
| White Tiger agrees to form FUP Posted: 11 Jun 2013 03:07 AM PDT The Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) has agreed to form a Federal Union Party (FUP) to include all ethnic parties, according to news sources. At the 6th annual meeting of the SNDP, aka the White Tiger Party, Central Executive Committee (CEC), all the members have agreed to form a Federal Union Party (FUP). "Tomorrow we will proceed to discuss with other ethnic political parties to see if such a union should be established," said U Saw Than Myint, treasurer and member of CEC for SNDP.  SNDP logo Whether or not a Federal Union Party should be formed and if it will contest in the 2015 general elections, with the newly formed FUP, will be decided by the 15 ethnic political parties at a conference on 11-12 June in Taunggyi. The 6th annual meeting of the SNDP's Central Executive Committee was held at Taunggyi, the Shan State capital on the 8-9 June. Following the CEC meeting, the SNDP has released a 7-point statement, which says:
"Following the establishment of FUP, there will be more work and responsibilities for the SNDP. Therefore, the SNDP will not be able to work with the other 10 democratic friendship parties," said U Saw Than Myint. While in the meeting the SNDP received 2 letters of resignation from Sao Saimong, Panglong and Sai Pang, Mongkurng as CEC members and they have been granted accordingly. At the same time, the members of the Party agreed to fill the 2 positions with Sai Kyaw Zaw Than, the National Assembly member, and Sai Kyaw Myint, People Assembly from Mongnai, according to the SNDP news sources. |
| Myanmar unveiled its Tourism Master Plan Posted: 11 Jun 2013 12:06 AM PDT During this year's World Economic Forum in NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR on 5 June 2013, the quasi-civil Government of Myanmar, alongside the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Norway, unveiled a Tourism Master Plan, which outlines 38 development projects valued at nearly a half billion dollars that will help increase Myanmar's tourism competitiveness, protect environmentally important areas, and safeguard ethnic communities. According to U Htay Aung, Myanmar's Minister for Hotels and Tourism, this master plan outlines a path to welcoming more visitors to Myanmar without threatening its unique cultural heritage or endangering pristine environments. If Myanmar continues implementing economic, political, and social reforms, international visitor arrivals are forecast to rise as high as 7.5 million in 2020 – a seven-fold increase from current numbers – with corresponding tourism receipts worth $10.1 billion. Under a high growth scenario, the tourism industry could provide up to 1.4 million jobs by 2020. The master plan, funded by the Government of Norway, recommends building tourism-related human resources by strengthening the tourism education and training system, and identifies $44.5 million in new opportunities and partnerships aimed at training tourism workers. The master plan focuses on the 38 projects, such as expanding international air arrivals in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, undertaking improvements to the Bagan river pier to support more cruises, and building feeder roads in destinations like Ngapali Beach and Inle Lake. Myanmar's 1993 Tourism Law will be reviewed and updated to streamline licensing formalities for hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and tour guides, as well as to amend sections governing regulations around the gaming sub-sector, labor, and the establishment of outbound tour operations for Myanmar citizens. The master plan suggests establishing a Tourism Executive Coordination Board, chaired at the vice-president level, to draw the various tourism-related ministries, agencies, and federations together under a single umbrella. The plan also outlines the need for new tourist police divisions to be set up not only to safeguard tourists, but to prevent child trafficking and sex tourism. It suggests new tourism initiatives be introduced to ethnic communities using pilot community-based tourism projects that ensure local people are prepared to handle an influx of visitors, and maintain control over tourism in their communities. For further information, please contact GMS Media Travel Consultant Reinhard Hohler based in Chiang Mai/Thailand by e-mail: sara@cmnet.co.th |
| Posted: 11 Jun 2013 12:04 AM PDT "This morning, 10 June at 10.00 am, Lt-Gen Yawdserk will meet President Thein Sein and the discussion will be based on the 17 points that were counselled with the Civil Society Organizations a week ago in Chiang Mai," one of the Shan delegates told SHAN.  RCSS/SSA leader and his wife arriving Naypyitaw (Photo: SSA) A 20-member Shan delegation, led by Lt-Gen Yawdserk, left for Naypyitaw from Tachileik yesterday. Following their arrival in Naypyitaw, U Aung Min, Vice-Chairman of the Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC), welcomed the Shan delegates with dinner, according to reports. Following their meeting with the President, the Shan delegates will meet with foreign diplomats, representatives and leaders of CSO organizations. |
| Burma Army reinforce in Wa controlled areas Posted: 11 Jun 2013 12:03 AM PDT Burma Army reinforce in Wa controlled areasThe situation between Wa Army and the Burma Army has been tense as both sides have reinforced their troops, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) controls areas in the southern region, on the east Salween, opposite Chiang Mai province, according to news sources. Reportedly, the Burma Army has ordered UWSA to withdraw their 171 bases from the southern region to their former strong hold, Panghsang, to the northern region with the deadline of 7 June. On 2 June, although an emergency meeting was held at UWSA southern command, however, no reports have mentioned if a decision on its troop's withdrawal has been made. "Burma border guard forces 1007 stationed at Pongpakhem have been kept on alert and are not allowed to move about. It is also reported that the army is well prepared for war. They are fearful that United Wa State Army (UWSA) would attack their base. But we have not seen Wa troop movement around there," said a local from Pongpakhem. In response, the Burma Army has reinforced with 14 armor vehicles, 10 military trucks fully loaded with soldiers from Tachileik, opposite Mae Sai, Thailand, towards Mongton, Monghsat, Mongtum, and Mongkang; they have been deployed where UWSA southern region command is located, according to local news sources.  UWSA southern region command (Photo: SHAN) However, according to some analysts, the tension between UWSA and the Burma Army is due to the 3 battalions the latter had seized at a rubber plantation belonging to W Army in the end of May. "The Burma Army with hundreds of strong soldiers forcefully intruded to occupy the rubber plantation belonging to Wa Army. As the Wa retreated, they [Burma army] seized the plantation without firing a gunshot. UWSA, in response, has alerted its troops to be in a ready position along Thai-Burma border," said some analysts. It has also been reported that while the Wa's rubber plantation was in the works, Namkhem stream has been redirected to use in the fields. Due to the plantations, people in Pongpakhem areas are facing a shortage of water, as they heavily rely on the same water resource for their daily living and agriculture, the case was reported to the Burmese authorities. "The Wa Army have guns, you people don't; so, let it be our responsibility," said a Burma Army officer. In response, the Burma Army operations commander based in Pongpakhem ordered reinforcement with several hundred troops in Mongkhit areas, according to local news sources. In February and March, UWSA has reportedly acquired helicopter gunships, tanks, and armor vehicles from China, according to Jane's Information Group's report on 29 April, ethnic sources have been quoted as saying. UWSA has also repeatedly demanded Naypyitaw to establish a separate Wa state from Shan State. |
| Shan leader leaves for Rangoon to meet President Posted: 10 Jun 2013 10:49 PM PDT  Lt-Gen Yawd Serk and President Thein Sein (Photo: SHAN/ President Office) It has also been reported that apart from meeting with the president, the Shan delegates have also schedules meetings with politicians, leaders of political parties including Aung San Suu Kyi, the holder of Nobel laureate, and Community Society Organization (CSO) leaders in Rangoon, the former capital. The Shan leader also plans to visit Mandalay and Shan capital Taunggyi, according to reports. Reportedly, there have been 4 major agreements signed so far between the RCSS/SSA and the government Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC). A preliminary agreement on 2 December 2011 in Taunggyi with 8 points; on 16 January 2012, the first union level agreement with 11 points; on 9 May 2012, the second union level agreement in Kengtung with 12 points; and lastly on 27 and 28 again in Kengtung, with a 9-point agreement on drug eradication program signed between RCSS/SSA and government delegates. In that latest meeting, delegates from United Nations (UN) were also present. Among the 40 points made between the RCSS/SSA and government delegates, there are only 2 points that have been implemented so far, according to the RCSS news sources. |
| Burma Army breaks ceasefire in Lashio township Posted: 10 Jun 2013 10:48 PM PDT It is reported that new clashes between Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and the Burma Army have ruthlessly erupted when the units of the Burma Army launched a new attack on the former temporary bases in the Lashio township, northern Shan State. "The units of the Burma Army that carried out the attacks this morning included a battalion from Lawkkai, Infantry Battalion (IB) 68, IB41 from Lashio and other battalions, totaling over 200-strong soldiers," said a villager from Hobeuk in Lashio township. The attack took place at SSPP/SSA Battalion 851 located on Loipek ranges north-east of Hobeuk tract in Lashio. The Burma Army reportedly broke the Tangyan Agreement and began attacks on SSA this Saturday morning, which lasted from 8.00 – 11.00 am. The casualties from the Burmese side are still unknown, but SSA suffered 3 injuries, said Maj Sai La, SSPP/SSA spokesperson. "Now our representatives from the Lahio liaison office are meeting with the Burma Army Lashio regional command. They responded by saying, we started the shooting. In fact the units of the Burma Army are intentionally advancing to carry out the attack. As they [the Burma Army] do not care for the terms of a truce, we are prepared and are alert all the time," Maj Sai La told SHAN. It has also been reported that Sai Kawng and Sai Sang Pao, who are the 2 representatives for the SSPP/SSA liaison office from Wan Pangkham, Mong Yen tract in Namtu township, have been arrested by the government army LIB501 since 5 June at noon. They were reportedly being beaten and at the time of reporting, they have not been released. There is no news about them; we have requested that the Lashio regional commander release them, said SSPP/SSA spokesperson. Yesterday morning from 9.00 until noon, a similar incident took place at SSPP/SSA on Loi Khe base region in Monghsu township. From a distance, the Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 515 under the control of Military Operations Command #2, was shelling with 60mm heavy guns. As none of the shells landed on the SSA base, no retaliation from our side occurred, said a Shan commander who oversees the units in the region. On 11 May 2013 it has been reported that government Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC) headed by the deputy president U Thein Zaw and the SSPP/SSA deputy president Maj-Gen Khurtai met in Tangyan. The Tangyan Agreement in which both sides have singed includes, adherence to the terms of the truce and that problems will not be resolved by military means, but by peace. |
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