ethnic

SNLD lawmaker Sai Thiha Kyaw shares his thoughts on what the NLD government could achieve for Shan State and what issues he will address. NAYPYITAW (Myanmar Now) – Sai Thiha Kyaw is a two-term lawmaker in the Lower House representing Mongyai Township in northern Shan State. He became an MP in 2011 as a member of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party…

In an effort to unify both the signatories and non-signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement the leaders of the ethnic armed groups met last week in Chaing Mai, Thailand. The groups met in the hope of finding unity before beginning negotiations with the newly elected National League of Democracy government. The ethnic armed group’s summit was held from 24th to…

A report by Free Burma Rangers, a humanitarian organisation, has found evidence of opium growing in areas of Chin State, Burma’s Westernmost State. Chin State is one of Burma’s poorest states and is not known as an area for large opium production, which is more closely associated with Eastern Shan and Kachin States, that form part of the notorious ‘Golden…

YANGON (Myanmar Now) – Ethnic leaders and armed group representatives have welcomed last week’s appointment of Htin Kyaw as president of the National League for Democracy government, with some voicing confidence in his government’s abilities to revive Myanmar’s stalled peace process. “Although Aung San Suu Kyi is not the president, she will be able to work harmoniously with the president.…

Karen Literacy and Cultural Committee members in the Rangoon Region are disappointed over the lack of official permission to allow the ethnic group to teach its language in government schools. Teaching of ethnic languages in government’s schools now is allowed outside of the official curriculum, but ethnic nationalities pushed to have their languages taught officially in government schools. A general…

Burma Army soldiers have forced civilians to work for them in Rakhine State, under threat of death if they do not, Fortify Rights a human rights watchdog based in South East Asia said. Fortify Rights said that ethnic Rakhine civilians were forced to dig graves and carry supplies for Burma Army forces engaged in a conflict with the Arakan Army…

Funding for thousands of displaced Karen people living at Ei Tu Hta IDP camp face a daunting future as funding will stop in September 2017. Karen News is led to understand that the funding for basic food assistance for the displaced Karen people living at the IDP camp will end. Ei Tu Hta camp, located on the bank of the…

Ahead of the new NLD-dominated assembly, six newly elected MPs from five ethnic parties speak about their aspirations, what alliances they will form, and what drives them. YANGON (Myanmar Now) – The faces of Myanmar’s new Parliament, when it convenes in Napyitaw on February 1, will be almost unrecognisable when compared to the previous assembly. Few old faces have clung…

The Burma Army covered up evidence that members of its armed forces may have raped and murdered two young Kachin teachers last year, a report released by the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) alleged. The report, entitled ‘Justice Delayed, Justice Denied,’ presented witness testimony that implicated Burma Army soldiers in the rape and murder of two women. The report described…

A major Burma ethnic political alliance claims that the government’s peace convention will fail. The alliance said in a statement that convention, part of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, is scheduled to start on January 12, is unlikely to lead to a genuine democratic federal union for the country. The United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), composed of eight ethnic political parties made…