ethnic

Villagers claim that as a result of the recent armed conflict between the Palaung and Shan armed groups in Kyaukme Township of Shan State has been the increase in drug use and the availability of narcotic drugs for sale are now easier to find. A villager from Mangsat said, “During this month, over half the youth population have used it…

Burmese Government have been criticised by a frontline human rights organisation after a village in Chin State was bulldozed. Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organisation which delivers aid to ethnic areas throughout Burma, said that the village, which is called Bualpui, was bulldozed on August 31st, FBR said that Bualpui village has a population of around 380 people. “No compensation…

The Karen People’s Party (KPP) has formally submitted a proposal for constitutional reform with the object of making the State Chief Ministers elected by the people, rather than appointed by the government of the day, as is the case now. Nant Khin Aye Oo, from the KPP, said: “The people know those who are good and intelligent in their own…

Ethnic leaders have warned that now is not the time to give up arms, in reaction to a speech calling for disarmament by the Burmese Commander-in-Chief General Min Aung Hlaing. The speech was made at the 21st Panglong Conference in Naypyidaw, which had a series of high-profile international guests including U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. General Min Aung Hlaing said…

A statement by the Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) has criticised Burmese Government plans to dam the Salween river, questioning the economic benefits of various projects and raising concerns over their environmental impact and effect on the ongoing conflict situation in Shan and Kachin States. According to the community based organisation Salween Watch, six hydropower projects are being developed…

A report by the frontline humanitarian organisation Free Burma Rangers has said that the war in Kachin and Shan States is escalating. The FBR said in a report dated 29 August 2016 that “clashes and infantry assaults backed by mortar attacks are now a daily occurrence, and civilians are frequently caught in the crossfire.” The FBR said in its report…

A controversial Chinese dam project in Shan State has been given the go-ahead, as local human rights organisations warned that the development could stoke ongoing conflict in the region. The project, called Naung Pha dam, will produce 1,200 megawatts, of which 90% will be exported directly to China. Naung Pha is backed by China’s state-owned Hydrochina Company. The project has…

Three ethnic armed organizations not recognized by the previous military backed government as part of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement have said they are prepared to attend upcoming political dialogue if they are invited. The three armed groups – the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party/ Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA), the United League of Arakan Army/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) and…

The NLD’s ongoing narcotics crackdown has caught many drug addicts, but health experts say they should be treated as patients, not punished. YANGON (Myanmar Now) – Several young men were standing near the entrance of Thingangyun Hospital in central Yangon on a recent July morning, waiting impatiently for a fellow drug addict to exit the facility. They had just received…

MAI JA YANG, Kachin State (Myanmar Now) – It’s nearly dinner time at the dormitory in Mai Ja Yang and teachers are busy in the kitchen, while several teenagers are lounging on benches outside the building in this Kachin rebel-controlled town on the Myanmar-China border. While some sleep or read, La Phai, 16, is strumming his guitar. He said he…