ethnic

Since coming to power in 2011, President Thein Sein, a former general, has initiated a plan to resolve Burma’s decades-long ethnic conflict as part of broader domestic reform programs. Burma observers, both inside and outside, agree that resolving ethnic conflict is central to the success of political reform and lasting peace in the country. Among other things, President Thein Sein…

Armed conflict in Kachin and parts of Shan State continues, despite ongoing ceasefire talks between the Burma government and ethnic armed groups, as the toll on civilians grows. Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organisation delivering frontline assistance to civilians across Burma, estimate that there were 127 armed clashes in April and May alone causing hundreds of casualties including both civilians…

A human rights organization has accused the Burma Army and an ethnic armed group of abuses and violations against civilians in Southern Chin State. In its report, The Chin Human Rights Organization warned that recent fighting between the Arakan Army and the Burma Army was putting civilians at risk with both sides alleged of perpetrating human rights abuses. The report,…

A senior member of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team explained to Karen News that the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Restoration Council of Shan Sate/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) will not attend a conference to discuss the nationwide ceasefire draft documents. Padoh Kwe Htoo Win, a senior member of the NCCT told Karen News that the “conference is about informing…

Frontline humanitarian organization, the Free Burma Ranger report that the Burma Airforce continues to bombard Kachin Independent Army positions using jet fighters. The Free Burma Rangers said in a statement released this week that the Burma military has focused its attacks around Nam Lim Pa village. “On the 18th and 19th of May alone clashes continued for many hours and…

The Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) released a report today, 11 May that documents the results of interviews held with Kokang villagers taking refuge in neighboring China. The Shan Human Rights Foundation report that the refugees “remain fearful of return, due to killing, beheading and disappearance of villagers caught returning home.” The Shan Human Rights Foundation said that there are…

Villagers from Kunhing on the upper Salween River are strongly opposed to the Mong Ton Dam project that they say will destroy their way of life. The villagers released a statement on the 30th April listing their opposition to the damming of the Salween. “Our  ‘thousand island’ Kunhing township,  is one  of  the 16 townships  that will  be  flooded by the…

The Karen National Union’s vice chairperson, Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein will lead its delegation to attend the ethnic leaders’ summit to be held today 1st May, in Pangshang. Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein was selected at the KNU by its central standing committee at an emergency meeting on 25th April to discuss the draft Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement at the ethnic summit.…

The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) released a statement on 7 April, 2015, to make clear its position on the nationwide ceasefire agreement reached with the Burmese government on March 31. The UNFC statement pointed out that the document, its Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) signed on March 31, 2015, “was not the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA),…

An alliance of ethnic armed groups have said that they have reached an agreement with the government about a nationwide ceasefire but now need to take the draft wording to a summit for their leaders to ratify and sign the document. Naing Hong Sar, head of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) representing the ethnic armed organizations, told reporters at…