Friday, January 10, 2014

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News


Shan resistance annual meet expects to re-assess unfinished peace process

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 02:30 AM PST

The 3-day annual meeting of the Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) which began yesterday at its Loi Taileng HQ in Mongpan township, opposite Maehongson's Pang Mapha district, is expected to discuss several topics including the ongoing peace talks with Naypyitaw, according to RCSS sources.
rcss-ssa-annual-meeting-13
Annual meeting of the RCSS/SSA, 16-19 January 2013 (Photo: SHAN)

Sources SHAN had talked to were convinced a resolution to see the process through would be the inevitable outcome, despite persistent problems, such as:

•    Some 150 clashes since the ceasefire was signed on 2 December 2011 (the latest one on 6 January in Kyaukme district)
•    Business concessions that have yet to become realities
•    Joint crop substitution project signed on 28 October 2012 that is yet to kick off

"The resolution is a foregone conclusion," said an RCSS adviser as he left for Maehongson. (SHAN editor had also been invited to attend, but, unable to wriggle out of his other commitments, could not take up the invitation.)

The meeting is also expected to discuss how the group could cooperate with the UN sponsored census taking in late March. U Khin Yi, Minister for Immigration and Population (MIP), has urged every armed opposition group to participate in the project.

2014 also means that elections for the new Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the RCSS/SSA (popularly known as SSA South), including it chairman, is due.

The first CEC, with a 5 year tenure of office, was elected in 1999. Lt Gen Yawdserk is expected to be re-elected.

Its sister organization Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), popular known as SSA North, had already held its annual meeting, 23-31 December, at its Wanhai HQ in Kehsi township. Shan Nationalities Party (SNDP), led by Sai Ai Pao, meanwhile, wound up its 3-day annual meeting in Muse yesterday.

Media release of Tai Youth Conference

Posted: 10 Jan 2014 02:28 AM PST

December 29, 2013

The first national Tai Youth Conference was held in Mandalay from 27 to 29 December 2013, and altogether about 250 youth- both Tai women and men from 49 townships of Burma attended the conference.

The conference  was opened with the key note speeches of the Shan State Member of Parliament Nang Kham Aye, the Chairperson of Shan Literature and Culture Association (Universities of Upper Burma) Dr. Sai Naw Khur, and the Chairperson of Mandalay Shan Literature and Culture Association Khun Tun Sarm.

The purpose of the conference was to start the process of forming a coordination team of Tai youth across Burma in time of current political development in Burma so that both Tai women and men youth will be able to increase their voices and concerns in various issues at different levels including current peace process. Moreover, it also aimed at enabling Tai youth to fully enjoy their rights.

During the three days' conference, Tai youth discussed the issues of capacity building (formal and non-formal education), literature and culture, drug and migrant issue, and youth political participation.  Tai youth also pointed out that there is limited space and support for youth in the leadership role and decision-making processes.

In addition, Tai youth discussed the problems and challenges particularly faced by the youth in the area they are living in. The following reflects the reality of Tai youth situation in Burma.
 
While the Tai population has long been experiencing from forced migration, and loss of in historical and cultural heritage due to the political instability and ongoing armed conflict, Tai youth have very limited access to education, that resulting in and limited opportunity to decent job and face unemployment

They also have the issue of drug use, which has led to low quality of living standard, deteriorating of health including HIV/ AIDS
Tai young women have been faced with limited access to basic information and services of reproductive health, and they are vulnerable to human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Apart from these, Tai people have been suffering from land grabbing, environmental degradation, forced migration and chemical poisoning, due to some mega-development and mining projects.

Obviously, the political instability and armed conflict have serious impact on the Tai youth. Therefore, all the participants at the Tai Youth Conference have called all stakeholders  for genuine and lasting peace in Burma, laid-down of education and health policies in comply with international standard and the rights to freely preserve the Tai's literature and culture, and the safe return and resettlement of Tai migrant workers outside Burma other countries 
Therefore, Tai youth attending the conference have unanimously agreed that in order to solve the problems and challenges, there is a need for a coordinating network of Tai Youth Network, which will coordinate and communicate to effectively tackle the youth affairs.

For details, please contact:
Sai Hseng Mong: 09 526 2936
Sai Hsai Leng: 09 4315 9639
Sai Wan Leng Kham:  - 09 4451 08 235

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