Thursday, August 31, 2017

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

Commentary on “If Myanmar wants peace, genuine engagement is vital”

Posted: 31 Aug 2017 05:02 AM PDT

Genuine engagement is easily said than done. The reason being the hybrid, civilian-military structure of government.

As all know that the Military or Tatmadaw is vested with the power of administering the home, defense and border affairs ministries, apart from being allotted with appointed 25% seats within the parliament. And as such, the Military is more powerful than the elected National League for Democracy (NLD) regime in decision-making process on all crucial matters of the country.


Take the most important problematic issue of peace negotiation process, practically speaking it is being managed by the Tatmadaw.

It rejects the peace negotiation process by not agreeing, and even blocking, the NLD's desire of all-inclusivity of all Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), stubbornly demanding the exclusion of the Norther Alliance - Burma (NA-B), thereby torpedoing the whole peace process.

The management of Rohingya conflict in Arakan State is also exclusively within the hands of the Military, although it takes pain to portray that it has the endorsement of the President and consent of the NLD government, practically the ground-level operation and radicalized indoctrination of the population, as evident by the video clip on the Facebook, is done by itself. But of course no one could say for sure, if these undertakings on the ground are with or without the endorsement of the NLD regime.

As there is a saying that it takes two to tango, genuine engagement with all stakeholders, either it is the peace process or Arakan conflict, the Military and the NLD must be able to agree on the common policies and the way they are implemented on the ground. In other words, the government has to give its policy directive to the Military and not the other way around.

The editorial rightly pointed out by stating "the civilian government's lack of control over the activities of the Tatmadaw, whose actions appear to suggest it is intent on bringing an end to the civil war through force rather than negotiation."

And so long as the Military and NLD couldn't act in unison on policy matters, genuine engagement with the concerned stakeholders would never occur, much less finding solutions to the problematic issues.

Link to the story: If Myanmar wants peace, genuine engagement is vital

6,000 Shan refugees left in limbo as international funding ends

Posted: 31 Aug 2017 02:23 AM PDT

More than 6,000 Shan refugees, currently living in six camps along the Thai-Burmese border, are suddenly faced with the prospect of surviving without support from the international community.


Monthly rations and aid to each camp will be cut as from October 2017, according to a joint statement released by the Shan State Refugee Committee (Thai Border) and Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) yesterday.

The six camps affected are: Kong Moong Murng Camp, opposite Mok Cham Pae, Mae Hong Son province; Loi Tai Laeng IDP camp, opposite Bang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son province; Loi Lam IDP camp, opposite Wiang Haeng, Chiang Mai province; Koung Jor refugee camp, Wiang Haeng, Chiang Mai province; Loi Sam Sip IDP camp, opposite Fang, Chiang Mai province; and Loi Kaw Wan IDP camp, opposite Mae Fah Luang, Chiang Rai province.

Four of those makeshift villages are recognised as IDP camps, meaning they shelter internally displaced persons, or IDPs, because the camps reside on the Burmese side of the border.

"These camps have existed for up to 18 years," read the joint statement. "Most of the refugees fled the Burma Army's massive scorched earth campaign in central Shan State during 1996-1998, in which over 300,000 villagers were forced at gunpoint from their homes, and hundreds of villagers were tortured, raped and killed."

Despite the hardships refugees can expect to face once the funding runs out, few will be able to return to their homes in Shan State due to ongoing fighting between Burmese government forces and myriad ethnic armed groups. The current situation is exacerbated by the expansion of military operations by the Burmese army throughout Shan State; simultaneously, reports of human rights abuses have increased.

"Despite the fact that the NCA [Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement] has been signed, the fighting is still going on. It's impossible to go back home at this time," said Loong Sai Leng, the leader of Koung Jor refugee camp, which is not recognized as an official refugee camp by United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).  Koung Jor was set up on the Thai-Border in Chiang Mai province in 2002.

"Also there are landmines around our villages [now occupied by Burmese troops]," he added.

Sai Peing, one of the leading members of the Loi Tai Leng camp, situated on Thai soil since 1999, explained that refugees have long been dependent on aid because they have no land for cultivation. He said that a lack of humanitarian aid will most impact children, women, the elderly and disabled people.

He said that one male refugee had recently hanged himself due to the stress of the imminent cut in rations.  

Speaking at Chiang Mai University yesterday, Charm Tong, a Shan activist and spokesperson for the joint-statement, said, "The reason donors have cut the funding is because they believe Burma is under a peace process. They have moved the funds away from the border.

She added: "But the Burmese army continues to expand its military presence. This is because of the many mega projects [in the Shan region], such as dam construction, mining, and other operations.

"Unless there is a genuine nationwide ceasefire, a withdrawal of Burma Army troops, and a political settlement to end the civil war, the displaced villagers dare not return home," the joint-statement said. "Until such time as the refugees can return voluntarily, in safety and dignity, international donors are urged to maintain adequate humanitarian support for the refugee and IDP camps along the Shan-Thai border."

Camp leader Sai Peing concluded: "We want to live our lives as human beings, so we wish the international community to continue supporting us."

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

Myanmar Community in the United States Seek the U.S Support for Peace, Development, and Democracy

Posted: 30 Aug 2017 07:09 PM PDT

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 28, 2017) – U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., met with members of the Burmese-American community in Indianapolis where they discussed issues ranging from local needs to U.S. assistance to Myanmar, also known as Burma. In a meeting attended by members representing the Burmese-American community, Young gave his support for legislative policies that will continue federal programs aimed at assisting the refugees to become economically self-sufficient and achieve integration into the local community. These measures promote the newcomers' ability to give back to their new community.


The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) has successfully implemented federally-funded programs including the development of microenterprise home-based childcare businesses along with other programs such as employment workshops, naturalization preparation and preparing high school students for college readiness.

The college going rate among the Burmese-Americans has increased from 43 percent in 2012 to 85 percent in 2017. One hundred percent of participants in BACI's Upward College Summer Programs have gone on to post-secondary education.

"What BACI is doing is remarkable," said Young.

A member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Young reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the U.S. stays engaged with the world and to continue to lead the international community through diplomacy and development assistance, including to Myanmar.

The meeting also underscored the need for the U.S. to continue taking the Burmese and Chin refugees in Malaysia as part of their long-term protection while also providing assistance to Myanmar aimed at addressing the root causes of the exodus of the refugees and encouraging the country to move forward with democratic reforms.

BACI Executive Director Elaisa Vahnie said the community is thankful for the opportunity to start their new lives while they are becoming productive citizens, but he also believes that America's leadership and compassion is not only morally right but is also needed to provide solutions in the long-run.

"It is an honor and a pleasure to have Senator Todd Young today," said Vahnie. "We thank him for his leadership and we are humbled by his support. The U.S. and Hoosiers' leadership matters because they have critical roles in transforming Myanmar into a peaceful and developed democratic country. We all will be better off in the long-run."

A recent BACI study shows that nearly 170,000 Burmese refugees have been admitted to the United States since 2000. Over 23,000 Burmese individuals reside in Indiana and approximately 17,000 are calling the city of Indianapolis their new home. The overall Burmese population in the U.S. is estimated to be little over 300,000.

About Burmese American Community Institute

The Burmese American Community Institute is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 that provides educational and vocational support to the Burmese community in greater Indianapolis. The BACI supports community members regionally, nationally, and globally through strategic partnerships and advocacy. Since its inception, the BACI has assisted nearly 5,000 individuals.

Link story : goo.gl/3fRHCT
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