Shan Herald Agency for News |
- Shan leader to Naypyitaw: No more excuse for breaking truce, please
- Shan MPs will call for prominent role in party
- Myanmar widened its doors to foreign tourists
- Myanmar tightened security measures for tourists
- “Druglord” denies he’s druglord
| Shan leader to Naypyitaw: No more excuse for breaking truce, please Posted: 01 Sep 2013 09:57 PM PDT His message was conveyed through Col Sai La, the RCSS/SSA representative who is in Naypyitaw to discuss the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement proposal by the government's Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC), chaired by the Vice President. The three vice chairmen:
The two sides have already fought more than 100 clashes since December 2011, when the state level ceasefire agreement was signed.  Vice President Sai Mawk Kham and Lt-Gen. Yawdserk at Yadanartheinkha Hotel in Naypyitaw for dinner, on 10 June 2013 (Photo: Facebook/Jastin Minn) President Thein Sein, in response to the question posed by BBC on 18 July, why there were so many clashes despite the ceasefire, had replied that the reason was the resistance movements were collecting taxes from the people. Yawdserk says he has nothing against a nationwide ceasefire agreement, to be witnessed by international celebrities such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. "But prior informed consent must be obtained through informal discussions before it is signed," he said. The two sides should also stop claiming territories and use it as a excuse to violate the ceasefire. "If the Tatmadaw keeps on insisting its right to control every Union territory while the SSA goes on saying it has the right to defend the Shan State and its people and neither is budging an inch from its position, then we have no way out but to resume fighting," he said. "We should therefore seek a middle course, where each side gives up some of its claims. Only then we can move on toward a political dialogue." Concerning the question of taxation by the resistance, he said the two sides need to discuss the matter before an acceptable solution is reached. "There was no discussion on the matter during the previous meetings," he added. The transitional arrangements proposed by the Working Group for Ethnic Coordination (WGEC), set up in 2012 by the armed resistance movements, have called for their access to resources through either tax collection, business activities, aid from government or international donors, or revenue sharing from mega projects in their territories. The ethnic delegation participating in today's meeting with the UPWC is reportedly made up of representatives from Chin National Front (CNF), Karen National Union (KNU) and the RCSS. |
| Shan MPs will call for prominent role in party Posted: 01 Sep 2013 09:59 PM PDT Nang Kham Aye, Shan State Assembly member for Namtu township and CEC member of the State's second largest winning Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), says the party's MPs will be meeting soon to discuss more active party role.  Nang Kham Aye, Shan State Assembly (Photo: SHAN) The SNDP is run by a 25 member Central Executive Committee (CEC). There has also been complaints about the immense power the widely popular chairman Sai Ai Pao seems to be wielding. "We had in January set up a 5 men committee to liaise with the Tiger Head (logo for the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy)," said another MP. "But it was dissolved by the chairman without consulting the members." The SNDP MPs will be meeting before the latest session of the Shan State Assembly opens on Monday, 9 September.  "Summit meeting" of Harn Yawnghwe (EBO), Sai Ai Pao (SNDP), Yawdserk (RCSS), Hkun Hun Oo (SNLD) and Hsoten (SSPP), 12 June 2012 (Photo: SNLD) The SNDP (known as the White Tiger Party) was set up after the SNLD refused to enter the 2010 elections, citing their leaders including Chairman Hkun Htun Oo and General Secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin were still imprisoned. (They were released in January 2012.) It won 57 seats nationwide including 31 seats statewide. The two parties' feud centers around two main policy differences:
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| Myanmar widened its doors to foreign tourists Posted: 01 Sep 2013 09:58 PM PDT Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai (29.08.2013) According to the latest news of Bangkok Post, Myanmar has allowed foreigners holding its visas to freely choose to travel to the country via any of its six entry channels. The channels cover the three land border crossings in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district, Tak's Mae Sot district and Ranong's Muang district and three air entry ports through Myanmar's airports in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. A ceremony was held to launch the new arrangement at a border crossing between Mae Sai district and Myanmar's Tachileik on Wednesday. The event was presided over by Shan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Col Aung Thu and attended by several Thai officials, including Mae Sai district chief Boontham Tipprasong and Col Yongyuth Laoketkarn, deputy commander of Pha Muang Force's 3rd special unit. Col Aung Thu said the change is aimed at boosting relations between Thailand and Myanmar, and spurring tourism. In 2012, Myanmar has already reached some 1 million tourists to visit its attractions such as the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Golden Rock at Kyaikhtiyo in Mon State, Old Royal Capital of Bagan, Mahamuni Buddha in Mandalay or Inlay Lake in Shan State. |
| Myanmar tightened security measures for tourists Posted: 01 Sep 2013 09:58 PM PDT Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai (29.08.2013) According to media news from Myanmar, police has tightened security measures to prevent terrorist attacks on foreign tourists visiting the country especially at popular sites. Recent rumours of possible terrorist attacks and recent religious riots have required Myanmar's police force to beef up security measures for foreign visitors. "Our force still doesn't cover the whole country, but effective security measures have been taken in areas where most tourists visit. The Tourist Police Department are now working together with local police forces in implementing these measures. As our force is still young, we have requirements to get better in our services. So we're trying hard to improve," said Police Colonel Myo Min Oo, from the Tourist Police Department. Local police departments across the country are also leading activities, such as engaging in public talks to ensure tourist security. "Many tourists visit our area. So our police force patrols the area every day. We have also taken necessary preventive measures in the area. A day before, we had persuaded a foreign couple to get to a nearby hotel as they said they would stay by the roadside for the night. We give help as much as we can," said a senior police officer from Nyaung Shwe Township Police Department in Shan State. |
| “Druglord” denies he’s druglord Posted: 01 Sep 2013 09:59 PM PDT Lahu militia leader Yishay, wanted in Thailand on drug charges, recently denied charges by Thai drug enforcement against him, according to interviews conducted by SHAN.  Yishay "Burmese authorities however say to catch Yishay is not a problem," a Thai officer told SHAN. "The problem is that they need sufficient evidence against him." Yishay, 67, defacto leader of the Nampong (Hot Springs) People's Militia Force (PMF), insists he is innocent. "All my businesses are legal," he challenges. "You can come and see for yourself."  Wilson Moe (Photo: tachileik.net) Asked whether he was concerned about his safety living in Tachilek, just across from Maesai, he replied in the negative. "My only worry is that the Shans, or the Wa, eager to gain credit with the Thais, will abduct me and deliver me to them." Both the Shan State Army (SSA) South and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) have established offices in Tachilek. Thai media reports have pointed fingers at him for most of this year's drug seizures made in Thailand. "The Wa are happy," said a Shan businessman. "Because the focus, unlike in the past, is moving away from them." |
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