Shan Herald Agency for News |
- Burma Army killed, tortured civilians in Ho Pong, says Shan NGO
- UNFC proposal: 4 out of 8 points to be re-negotiated
- Heroin worth K100m seized, three women arrested
- The Myanmar Population in The U.S. Growing, College Enrollment Rate Rising
| Burma Army killed, tortured civilians in Ho Pong, says Shan NGO Posted: 04 Aug 2017 02:56 AM PDT Burmese armed forces arbitrarily killed, tortured and arrested local people in southern Shan State's Ho Pong Township during the period July 16–30, according to a briefing today from local watchdog Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF). SHRF says that the extrajudicial killings, torture and arrest of civilians occurred after the Burmese military clashed with the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), which is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), near Hai Khai village, Ho Pong Township, on July 14.  In a detailed eight-page report, SHRF documented that a litany of human right violations were committed by soldiers belonging to the following Burmese military battalions: Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 508; LIB 509 of Light Infantry Division 55 (Ba Htoo Base); LIB 423; LIB 424 of Military Operations Command 7 (Hsihseng Base); IB 225 from Triangle Military Command (Kengtung Base); and IB 249 from Eastern Military Command (Taunggyi Base). The Shan rights group reported that at least one villager was killed and up to seven others remain unaccounted for, their whereabouts unknown. "On July 18, 2017, at 10 am, two farmers named Sai Jarm and Sai Panda from Khok Lao village were on their way from a corn farm to a paddy field near the village carrying two rifles, one long-barreled and one short-barreled (used for hunting and protection against wild animals in the jungle), when they [encountered] about 100 Burma Army troops from LIB 424," reads the statement. "The troops arrested and interrogated both of them, then took them with them, first to Khok Lao village, then to Kho Tawng village. This was seen by local villagers." The report continued: "On the way, they met a 12-year-old boy called Sai Win, from Kho Tawng, who was returning home after sending his grandfather to Nawng Vok village, south of Kho Tawng. He was carrying a walkie-talkie (commonly used by villagers for communication as there is no mobile phone coverage in the area). He was arrested and taken together with the other two villagers to a corn farm belonging to Lung Wan Na, in the hills near Kho Tawng village." The SHRF statement read: "SHRF is gravely concerned for the fate of the seven detained villagers, particularly the 12-year-old boy, and urges their immediate and unconditional release." The report also described how Burmese troops killed a mentally ill man last week. "On July 30, at about 10 am, a farm laborer called Lung Shwe (who was mentally ill) was seen being arrested, beaten and shot dead by Burma Army troops from LIB 425 at Mai Nim. On August 1, a villager went and found his body, which had been burned, but he did not dare take it back to the village. The body remains uncollected, but on August 2, a funeral ceremony was held for Lung Shwe at the Hai Kai village monastery." Sai Hor Hseng, a spokesperson of the SHRF, said that the Burmese military must take responsibility for their crimes. "Killing innocent people is [a violation of the] military code of ethics," he said. "Therefore, the Burmese armed forces are responsible for all of their crimes and [should compensate] the victims." "The government should not be silent," he added. "They should come out and do something for the people." Extrajudicial executions and arrest of civilians have been regularly reported across Shan State. On June 30, 2017 Shan Herald reported that shelling killed two villagers in Wan Penghoi Village in northern Shan State's Kutkhai Township amid fighting between Burmese armed forces and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). "The situation is the same or even worse compared to last year," Shan activist Sai Hor Hseng said. "Burmese troops were even torturing and arresting civilians while UN envoy Yanghee Lee was in the country [July 9-21, 2017]." In June last year, SHRF reported that43 villagers including women were used as human shields, while five villagers were seriously tortured and three were killed by Burmese armed forces during fighting with the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State. By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) | ||
| UNFC proposal: 4 out of 8 points to be re-negotiated Posted: 04 Aug 2017 02:51 AM PDT
Today's informal meeting between Naypyitaw's Peace Commission delegation and the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)'s Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) will continue to seek agreement on 4 of the latter's 8 point proposal, according to Khu Oo Reh, the UNFC's secretary general and head of the DPN. "We may say that 4 other points have been agreed in principle," he says. The said points are: Point#1 Joint announcement of nationwide ceasefire Point#2 Establishment of a Federal Democratic Union Point#3 Participation in all levels of political dialogues Point#8 Implementation of development projects in accordance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) procedures However, 4 other points still need to be discussed for both common understanding and agreement, he adds. They are: Point#4 Laws including the Union Constitution to be drafted based upon decisions reached at the 21stCentury Panglong Point#5 Prior agreement must be reached on Military Code of Conduct (CoC) and ceasefire monitoring terms of references (ToR) Point#6 Formation of an independent monitoring committee which shall include international representatives acceptable to both sides Point#7 Formation of an independent mechanism to facilitate resolutions for disputes "We are not pressing for acceptance of our demands," he explains, "only for joint endeavor to reach common agreements on them." On 3 March, both sides had declared that "agreement in principle" had been reached on all the 8 points. "But we now have to re-negotiate them again, as the Tatmadaw representatives informed us later that they had not taken part in the agreement on 3 March." On the government's side, (Lt-Gen retired) Khin Zaw Oo said, "It's time we reached agreement. We've been negotiating on the same proposal for 14 months already." | ||
| Heroin worth K100m seized, three women arrested Posted: 04 Aug 2017 02:40 AM PDT Herion was seized from three women who were about to take a China Air flight to Taipei and they were charged under the Narcotic Drugs Law, said a police officer from Mingaladon police station on Wednesday. Li Hui Li, 40, of Ho Nar village of Kutkai, Shan State, was planning to leave for Taipei by China Air flight CI-7916 when she passed through an X-ray machine at Yangon International Airport at about 10am on Tuesday. She was detained by a Yangon Airport Police team led by police lieutenant Aung Kyaw Myo.  "When a female officer searched her, she found packages of heroin in the woman's underpants and a package of heroin in her privates," said a police official. Police officers led by police lieutenant Zaw Myo Win seized three packages of heroin, weighing 95g, 65g and 120g, worth a total of K28 million, that were found on Li Hui Li. "Ma Yang Shai Cheng, 53, carried two 100g packages of heroin wrapped in plastic in her underwear. She also had a 155g package of heroin wrapped in black tape and inserted in a condom in her privates. The heroin was worth about K35.5 million," the police officer said. While the two suspects were being examined, according to police, Ma Hla Yi, 51, of Shan State, who was with them, tried to throw into a dustbin three packages of heroin weighing 90g, 95g and 180g, and worth a total of K36.5 million. She was arrested. According to investigators, Ma Jan Pa Di, 49, who lives in Kutkai, paid them to carry the narcotics. She fled the scene. Mingalardon police station opened a case under section 15/19(a)/ 20(b)/21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and is investigating. By Toe Wai Aung Link story : goo.gl/U2WfeB | ||
| The Myanmar Population in The U.S. Growing, College Enrollment Rate Rising Posted: 04 Aug 2017 02:34 AM PDT INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 3, 2017 – A Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) study finds the college going rate among Burmese-Americans 85 percent this year. The researchers at BACI found that the college going rate among the Burmese has increased from 43 percent in 2012 to 85 percent in 2017 which makes a 97.7 percent rise in 6 years.  "We are delighted to see the continued rising number of students who are planning to attend college," said Lian Sang, Director of the Institute's Upward College Programs that help prepare high school students for their college readiness and success. The study also shows that 169,949 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. This figure includes those who came the U.S. before and after 2000 through various paths and it also includes children born in the U.S. The researchers also found that the college persistence rates among the Burmese students have been maintained over 95 percent in the past three years, with of 97.64 percent this year. In his remarks, Mr. Elaisa Vahnie, Executive Director of BACI, said that the community is appreciative of the United States' commitment to the refugee protection and for the opportunity start new lives in America. He is more optimistic about the future that the U.S. continue to be a beacon of hope for the oppressed as well as for the world's best and brightest. "As much as we greatly value America's exceptional leadership, compassion, and rich tradition of welcoming refugees from around the world, we remain committed to collaboratively working with the U.S. Government and our partners to ensure newcomers are becoming economically self-sufficient, integrated through education and employment, and that they are becoming productive citizens." Vahnie said. "With the leadership and political environment that embraces diversity, fosters common interests with a clear vision, these promising young leaders will be achieving their fullest potential. We will be stronger here locally, nationally, and even back home in Myanmar", he said. Over 100 key stakeholders as well as elected public officials of Indiana attended the event, including representatives from the Office of U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly and the Office of U.S. Senator Todd Young. Dr. Ro Dinga, chair of BACI, thanked the organization's supporters and invite the community to continue coming together for the betterment of the society. The research findings and solution-oriented policy recommendations were the culmination of an 8-week intensive Participatory Action Research (PAR) project. These were unveiled at the Institute's 6th Annual Research Presentation on Tuesday, August 1 in Indianapolis. The research was conducted by forty-seven local Burmese high school students, with the support and close supervision of college, graduate, and doctoral students. The topics of study include: Burmese political participation, health, college persistence, college going rates, cultural integration, and the U.S. refugee admissions program and secondary migration. 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. Media Contact: Phone: 317.731.5537 Email address: info@baci-indy.org |
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