Shan Herald Agency for News |
| To Hopeland and Back: The 20th trip Posted: 29 May 2016 11:23 PM PDT The latest visit was the result of the invitation from the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA) who were scheduled to hold talks with several stakeholders. As usual, what I was able to give was much less than what I got — information for readers to utilize in the struggle for peace. Many of the meetings I attended however were off-the-record ones. Names of many of the venues and participants understandably will be kept undisclosed. I therefore hope while the readers will gain from the contents in my report, those who were present at these gatherings are in no way compromised. Day One. Monday, 23 May 2016 Names can name no lasting name. Tao Te Ching (The Book of The Way and its Derivative), Chapter One Our plane is late today. It used to land in Mingladon at noon, more or less sharp. But by the time I reach a taxi outside the terminal, it is already near 13:00. So instead of directing him to the hotel, I name the place where the meeting is going to take place. It is already in full swing when I get there. The presenter is giving us a power point presentation of official documents published during the immediate post-Independence days as evidence that "Rohingya" is not a new word, but one which must be at least as old as the country's Independence. Among them are old encyclopedias in Burmese and a public announcement that the government broadcasting service's ethnic language program which included Rohingya. Among his audience, unnoticed by me until then, is an Arakanese scholar, who quietly sits and listens to him. His comments, I think, are worth considering:
The following are comments by other attendees:
We then have a separate meeting to exchange notes on current situation. During the 2-hour long exchange, the lights go on and off, prompting one to quip: "Before the new government came, we used to complain that the lights were frequently out. But these days, we say it differently, that the lights are frequently on." The following are what I have noted from their discussions:
The parliamentary vote appointing her State Counselor may be legal and democratic. The constitution also doesn't have anything to say about such clever maneuvers. Only she had found an imaginative way to circumvent the charter altogether. And they may not like being outsmarted like that.
(Article 22 (a): "Representatives from the government, Hluttaw and the Tamadaw, representatives from Ethnic Armed Organizations, representatives from registered political parties, ethnic representatives and other relevant representatives shall participate in political dialogue that is based on an all inclusive principle.)
"The NCA is the only legal bond between the military and the EAOs," U Aung Min, the former chief negotiator, told one EAO leader. "We need to hold on to it for dear life." After checking in at the hotel, I get a phone call from a young friend from Taunggyi. "Happy Birthday!" she says. "Do you know we share the same birthday?" "Now, how would I know," I reply. "Since you don't look old like me." "No, I'm not. I was born in 1993." We then exchange happy birthday to each other. I'm 68 today. |
| SNLD MP: Burma Army should stop troop reinforcements in ethnic regions Posted: 29 May 2016 08:21 PM PDT Sai Wan Leng Kham, an upper house member of parliament for the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), visited a refugee camp in Lashio Township last week. The visit to displaced families affected by the conflict in Shan State led the MP to call for Burma's military to stop reinforcing troops in ethnic regions.  Reached for comment by SHAN, Sai Wan Leng Kham, said that the ongoing civil war is an obstacle for development. He noted that because of the conflict children have become malnourished and are unable attend school."In ethnic areas, the education system is very poor," he explained. "And even worse, it is because the government's military launched their offensive in these areas and as a result children can't access education. Again, this time is the time for villagers to grow their crops but they have to face this. I want the government's military to stop their offensive," he added. Sai Wan Leng Kham went on to explain that because of the fighting, the plan for development in ethnic areas could not be completed. "While the country is developing, the people in ethnic areas are facing difficulties. Because of the fighting, they are left behind," he said. "There has been ongoing conflict for over 60 years. Every day people are fleeing their homes. If this situation keeps going on, I have no hope for our country to be developed," Sai Wan Leng Kham added. He believes now is the time to bring peace to the country. As the new government just came to office, this kind of conflict not should be happening "The Burma Army should call for a nationwide ceasefire and work on the peace process immediately," he said. Due to the Burma military's offensive against the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), over 1,500 people have become internally displaced persons (IDPs). They are now staying in refugee camps, temples and with their relatives in Lashio and Hsipaw Townships. BY SAI AW / Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) |
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