ethnic

The United Nationalities Federal Council are in discussion with the government in order to join the ongoing political dialogue, now widely known as “21st century Pinlon Conference” to be held in August, 2016. Ku Oo Reh, leader of the Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) said that UNFC needs to continue discussions with the government. The Delegation for Political Negotiation led…

A group of 19 community based organizations has called for an official investigation into the destruction of religious buildings in Burma. The statement was signed on behalf of a range of ethnic and human rights groups both local and international including Burma Campaign UK, Fortify Rights, and the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand. The statement comes after a spate of…

The Burma Army is engaging in “systemic torture” of civilians, a report by the Ta’ang Women’s Organisation (TWO) has found. The TWO is a community based human rights advocacy organization representing the ethnic Ta’ang, a minority in Eastern Burma. The report, Trained to Torture, documents more than 100 case studies across 33 villages in the Ta’ang areas. Civilians reported being…

The number of quarries in Mon State is quickly increasing and locals say authorities fail to regulate their environmental impact on farmlands. PAUNG TOWNSHIP, Mon State – On a recent afternoon in May, the farmers of Ohn Titbin Village Tract were tending to their betel nut and rubber plantations when a loud blast erupted at the foot of Kalama Mountain…

A community-based human rights organisation alleges that Burma Army soldiers stationed in Shan State are committing grave human rights violations. The Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) said in a public statement that Burma Army forces in Shan State have used “torture, extrajudicial killings, and [the] use of civilians as human shields.” SHRF said that Burma Army had launched a new…

As part of its policy development intended to contribute to the peace process political negotiations, the Ethnic National Affairs Center (ENAC) held a meeting with Karen political and civil organizations to discuss about the drafted ethnic affair policies. The ENAC, formed in 2013 describes itself as an independent resource, training, and education center supporting the peace process and development of…

Reports are emerging of a series of small scale attacks by Burma Army forces against Kachin Independence Army positions throughout Kachin State, and on the Shan-Kachin State border. Free Burma Rangers, a frontline humanitarian aid agency, has reported that the attacks have led to “several” civilian casualties including a 60-year-old woman, killed and a 7-year-old girl, badly injured by gunfire.…

Three people were wounded when a landmine exploded as they were sightseeing in Northern Burma on Tuesday 26 April. The three people were two German tourists and their local guide. The area where the explosion took place is close to where the Burma Army is fighting with an ethnic Shan armed group. AFP reported that the three injured people were…

Across Myanmar landmines pose a daily threat of death and disability, but five years after the transition to democracy began, an official clearance programme has yet to get underway. KYAUKKYI, Myanmar (Myanmar Now) – Two years ago, Kyar Yin was in the forest near his village collecting bamboo to sell when he stepped on a landmine. Alone and his left…

A Burma Army attack on a village on the Shan-Kachin State border has seen civilians targeted and killed, according to a report by the front line humanitarian organisation Free Burma Rangers. The attack happened on the 30th of March at Pang Hka village. During the attack a 70-year-old woman, named as Ma Kaw, was shot in the stomach. Before Ma…