Friday, May 13, 2016

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

SNLD and SSPP donate aid to Namkham residents whose villages were burnt down

Posted: 13 May 2016 02:35 AM PDT

The local charter of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in Namkham Township and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) have provided aid to local residents who have suffered from war and fire in Namkham Township, northern Shan State.

Sai Non, an SNLD's youth leader said the SNLD and the SSPP/SSA donated 5 million Kyats together on May 8th for 300 residents of Hopang Village whose homes were set on fire on May 6.
"We went to provide our assistance together with the SSPP/SSA's No 9 township authority. We inquired about the incident and the situation. We received some information. This can aid in the peace process," Sai Non said.
Namkham Township's SNLD donated 3 million kyats and the SSPP/SSA donated 2 million kyats to the Hopang Shan Literature and Cultural Association.
"A truck full of food and supplies was sent on May 9th and another truck full of food and supplies was sent on May 10th" Sai Non said.
Members of an armed group entered Hopang village, which has over 60 households, and set fire to the houses, according to local residents.
Although the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and local residents have accused Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) of setting the village on fire, the TNLA denied the accusation and claimed that the fire broke out as a result of the battle between the RCSS/SSA and the TNLA.
Fighting broke out between the RCSS/SSA and the TNLA over territory disputes in late 2015. Since the clashes began thousands of local residents from Namkham, Marntong, and Kyaukme townships have fled from their homes.

SSPP and Burma Army reinforce troops after joint inspection agreement reached

Posted: 13 May 2016 02:22 AM PDT

After the two sides reached an agreement last month to hold joint field inspections in northern Shan State's Tangyan Township, both the Burma Army and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) made efforts to add troop reinforcements to their respective positions in the area, the SHAN has learned.
Both armies reached an agreement on April 30th that would allow joint inspections of camps located along the Loi Hsur-Loi Leng ridge. The ridge is located in the south of Tangyang town, east of Tangyan-Mong Hsu road and west of the Salween River.
"We have reached an agreement to hold the inspection on [May] the 12th. We are now discussing at
the headquarters who will lead from our side. We have learned that the Tangyan-based Tactical Operations Commander Colonel Wai Linn Aung will lead the Burma Army's side. In which form will they do the inspection? If it is an acceptable extent, it is okay for us," said an official based at the SSPP/SSA's headquarters.
An SSA commander stationed at the front expressed frustration at some of the army's demands. "They told us to fill up all the trenches and take down all the military camps because they don't want to see them when they come to make the inspection. What should we do? We are soldiers. This issue is unacceptable. It's an insult," the commander said.
A person close to the Burma Army's North Eastern Command office in Lashio told the SHAN that the Burma Army wants to establish a new military base between the SSPP/SSA's military base
and its military camps. It wants to establish the military base at a higher location than the SSPP/SSA's military base without having to engage in battles.
Last month the commander of the North Eastern Command instructed the SPP/SSA to clear its military camps along the Loi Hsur-Loi Leng ridge in Tangyan Township an April 22nd deadline. The SSPP/SSA disagreed with this idea. When the Burma Army initially requested to hold a joint inspection of the SPP/SSA's military camps on April 27th, the SPP/SSA did not agree.
The Burma Army used a similar strategy in the past, requesting to hold joint inspections of SSPP/SSA positions as it made preparations on the ground to take over Tar Phar Saung Bridge in 2014 and Tar Sarm Puu Kuu To Seik in 2015.
Although the SSPP/SSA has so far declined to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), during Thein Sein's time in office the group signed a bilateral ceasefire with the central government that officially remains in effect.

To Hopeland and Back (The 19th trip): The long wait

Posted: 12 May 2016 07:40 PM PDT

Victory is not won in miles but in inches.
Win a little now, hold your ground, and later win a little more.
The Walking Drum, by Louis L'Amour, on Compromise
On my way out to Mingladon, I call upon two friends, each of whom learns less from me than I from them. As usual.
U Aung Min, former chief negotiator
  • Political parties, elected or not, should be invited to participate in the political dialogue. It is in line with Daw Suu's Inclusiveness and national reconciliation policy.
  • Participation of CSOs, other than those officially registered, should also be considered
  • My success, modest though it may be, came from two things:
One, I took calculated risks.
Two, I didn't wait for my mandate.
In fact, I asked for it.
I hope Dr Tin Myo Win does the same.
Sai Nyunt Lwin, General Secretary, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy
  • The Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) (which the SNLD has taken over in March as its rotating chair), will be holding a 19-party meeting on 30-31 May under the title, "Whither Peace?" All parties active in Shan State, including the NLD and the USDP, will be invited. The likely venue is Taunggyi. (N.B. He later told News Eleven the choice is between Taunggyi and Lashio)
  • The peace process, under the leadership of the quasi-military government, was tough. But at least there was some give-and-take I hope it will be smoother under the new government. That there be no accusations like being anti-democracy or committing hostile acts to the state.
Well, making peace with others has never been an easy matter, I say to myself. There are questions of trust, funding, power etc, and of who gets more and who gets less involved.
As for myself, I'm just happy to be of help. My problem has never been with others, but only with myself. But I think I know the solution and I'm still struggling with it.
At 11:00, I'm at Mingladon.
At 14:30, I'm back in Chiangmai.
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