ethnic

Representatives from eight ethnic armed groups took part in a training program offered by the Cambodia-based Centre for Peace and Conflict Study from July 7-11. The officials – all of whom represent groups that have signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement – are taking part in a four-part leadership training held by the peace-building centre. P’doh Saw Hla Tun, joint secretary…

Participants of the Fifth Ethnic Media Conference have submitted an open letter to the President, the State Counsellor and the Tatmadaw’s Commander-in-Chief calling for the release of three journalists who have been detained in Shan State. After holding an emergency session on the issue of the detained journalists from the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and the Irrawaddy, 25 media…

The Fifth Ethnic Media Conference got underway in Loikaw, Kayah (Karenni) State on June 26. Led by Burma News International (BNI) and Kayah State-based Kantarawaddy Times, the three-day conference aims to raise the profile of ethnic media, according to BNI’s director Nai Kasauh Mon. Nai Kasauh Mon said ethnic media was vital in “providing truthful information to the public”. Under…

Anyone working for social justice in Burma should be disappointed by the mainstream media’s coverage of Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to Canada last week. Given ongoing military abuses throughout Burma’s ethnic regions, it was frustrating to see headlines focusing again and again that Canada must press Aung San Suu Kyi regarding her government’s brutal treatment of Rohingya Muslim communities…

The Union Peace Conference second session started yesterday with the surprise inclusion of eight armed ethnic organizations who had not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. In addition, some of the ethnic armed organizations are currently in armed conflict with government forces in both Shan and Kachin States that international humanitarian groups have estimated to have forced as many as 150,000…

Amid much speculation about what can be achieved at the second round of the Union Peace Conference, scheduled to start on May 24, even the ceasefire signatory groups seem baffled. The Restoration Council of Shan State announced that while it will attend the meeting, it will neither submit nor sign any binding proposals or agreements. “Since the second session of…

Myanmar needs a conflict prevention network, religious and civil society leaders in Tanintharyi Region announced at a conference this week. “We will establish a network by uniting people of different religions from various fields [to prevent] issues that can cause religious conflict and can harm peace,” said Ko Arkar Oo, an organizer of the Peace and Goodwill Forum. The May…

According to the results announced by the Union Election Commission, the National League for Democracy took the largest share of the 19 seats available, capturing nine spots, while the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy kept the race close, picking up another six seats. The Arakan National Party (ANP) and the All Nationalities Democracy Party (ANDP) each took one seat, in…

Over 800 Kayin State teachers are being trained in Karen language and culture in a three-week workshop in Hpa-An. “Ethnic language teaching is now permitted at government schools,” said Ko Wunna Htun, one of the leaders of the training program, which is being conducted by the Kayin (Karen) literature and culture association. “At this training, we will teach them not…

A bridge naming controversy in Mon State continues as ethnic Karen leaders weighed in this week, cautioning that the decision could have far-reaching repercussions on attempts to broker peace in ethnic areas. The bridge fracas began last month when the Mon State Government announced plans to name a bridge connecting Mawlamyine Capital of Mon State and Chaungzone Township, Bilukyun [Island]…