Thursday, April 3, 2014

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

All roads lead to Rangoon

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 04:39 AM PDT

Representatives of the armed resistance movements' Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) as well as non-NCCT groups are heading for Rangoon where they are scheduled to hold the first meeting of the Joint Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement Drafting Committee (JNDC) at the Myanmar Peace Center the day after tomorrow, according to sources.
mpc-ncct-rg
Meeting between the NCCT and UPWC on 9-10 March 2014. (Photo: NCCT)

"The 8-men party led by Nai Hong Sar (NCCT leader and Deputy JNDC leader) is on the way (from Chiangmai) to Tachilek, where they will be met and escorted by U Nyo Ohn Myint (MPC official) to Rangoon," said Hkun Okker, JNDC member. "Myself and the rest will be flying in."

The 6th meeting between the NCCT and the government's Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) on 9-10 March had agreed to form the JNDC with 9 representatives from each side plus 5 non-NCCT organization that have signed initial ceasefire agreements, namely:
  • All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF)
  • National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), better known as Mongla
  • National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)
  • Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA)
  • United Wa State Party / United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA)
The NDAA has dispatched a 7-men delegation, while the UWSP/UWSA is on the way to Rangoon with 18 of its members, according to an MPC official.

Meanwhile, the 3 men RCSS/SSA team will be led by Col Sai La. It is also due to fly to Rangoon from Tachilek today.

The main topic of the meeting is expected to be to draft a single text document for the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

The planned signing is to be followed by negotiations for Framework (FW) for Political Dialogue and Political Dialogue (PD).

Shan rights groups call for Burmese government to halt dam projects

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 04:38 AM PDT

CHIANG MAI- April 2. Dozens of Shan civil society organizations are calling for the Burmese government to halt dam projects on the Salween and Nam Ma rivers in Shan State. The groups expressed  concern that the dam projects are likely to have negative impacts for local people.

According to the joint statement released by the Shan civil society organizations on April 1 of 2014, representatives of Burma's Ministry of Electricity, International Group of Entrepreneurs Co., Ltd. and Hydrochina Corporation held a public meeting with villagers in Tarngyan township on March 17, to promote plans to build the Nawng Pha dam on the Salween river and the Mann Toung dam on the Nam Ma river, a Salween tributary.
Sai Khur Hseng told reporters about the dam projects at the press conference. (Photo: SHAN)

The statement said:  "We are very concerned at the likely negative impacts on the environment and on the communities that live along the length of the river. We therefore strongly urge the Burmese government to immediately halt the dam projects on Salween and Nam Ma Rivers in Shan State."

The statement also said: "The Salween and Nam Ma rivers have sustained the livelihood of Shan State people for generations. They are a precious resource which should not be sold off to China by the Burmese government."

According to the statement Hydrochina Corporation has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Electricity for a 40-year concession for the hydropower projects. 90% of the electricity will be exported to China and 10% will be used in Burma.
The map showing location of Nawng Pha and Mann Toung dams 

Additionally, the statement said: "About 100 people from 10 villages situated about 30-40 miles from the dam projects were invited to attend the meeting, but villages which are very close to the projects and likely to suffer the most negative impacts from the dam projects were not invited to participate."

The statement said: "There has been no transparent impacts assessment for the dams, and no free, prior informed consent of local people, who remain in fear of the Burma Army."
Sai Khur Hseng said, "Every battle in Shan State is related to conflict of interest and dam projects."

The joint statement of concern was issued by Shan civil society organizations, including the grouping of Shan Community Based-organizations, Tai Youth Network,  Shan State Youth Network Committee, Shan Students Union-Thailand and thousands of individual signatories from 15 townships in Shan State and Mandalay.

Process of Myanmar Migrant worker who will complete 4 years stay permit visa and would like to extend their visa and work in Thailand

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 04:36 AM PDT

(Unofficial translation)
Process of Myanmar Migrant worker who will complete 4 years stay permit visa and would like to extend their visa and work in Thailand

In order for the Myanmar Migrant worker who will complete 4 years stay permit visa and would like to extend their visa and work in Thailand, their related company and employer must prepare the following documents and submit to the Myanmar Embassy through Thai employment office at least 6 months in advance.
  • Demand letter of Myanmar workers
  • Name list of the worker
  • Employment contract between the worker and the employer
  • Power of attorney
  • Job application form
  • Copy of the work permit (page include Thai employer's name)
  • Copy of the worker's temporary passport
  • Documents related to identification of the citizenship
  • Police Information Division form
  • Immigration and national registration form  
The Myanmar embassy will forward the filled-up Police Information Division form and Immigration and national registration forms to the Police Information Division and Immigration and National Registration Department in order to verify the nationality. Once the nationality is confirmed, the information will be send back to the embassy for issuing the ordinary passport. After the worker received the confirmation letter, they can proceed to Myanmar embassy, ordinary passport issue department together with their original ID and household registration document to collect the passport.

The confirmation list will also be sent to Thai employment department in order to inform the employer and their workers to go to the one –stop – service center at either Mae Sai, Mae Sot and Ranong. The worker must bring inform letter from employment office and demand letter together with them. Once they arrive at the center the employer and worker to sign the employment agreement contract and the worker will receive the Myanmar overseas worker ID card.  Then, proceed to apply and obtain stay visa permission from Thai immigration department and temporary work permit. After they received stay permit visa from the border center, they must apply for the work permit at their district employment office where they work.

For those temporary passports still valid for more than 2 years, the Myanmar worker must fill the form and send to ordinary passport issue department, Myanmar embassy for verification of their nationality. However, they can extend their stay permit visa at the OSCC without waiting for confirmation of the nationality. The worker must bring the letter from Thai employment department and demand letter to one of the OCSS at Mae Sai, Mae Sot and Ranong they has chosen.  Once they arrive at the center the employer and worker to sign the employment agreement contract and will receive the Myanmar overseas worker ID card.  Then, proceed to apply and obtain stay visa permission from Thai immigration department and temporary work permit. After they received stay permit visa from the border center, they must apply for the work permit at their district employment office where they work.

The expenses for the process from Myanmar side will be 1,600 baht (note – the replacement fee for lost or damaged of ordinary passport is 900 baht. The fine to be 3 time of the passport fee 2,700 baht. The service fee is 700 baht. Total 4,300 baht will be collected).

The fee for those temporary passport validity remain more than 2 years but do not change the passport to the ordinary passport is 700 baht.

Please be informed that by using brokers service could be cheated and fill up different or incorrect information will not be able to get the passport.

For more information, please contact Myanmar Labour Attach̩ (phone Р0066 8677 468 25) and migrant labour department in Myanmar (phone 067 Р430183 or 067 Р430185).
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Welfare
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