� Message to the ReaderMessage to the ReaderMessage to the ReaderMessage to the ReaderMessage to the Reader

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� Shan Diary June 2015Shan Diary June 2015Shan Diary June 2015Shan Diary June 2015Shan Diary June 2015

� ETHINI SUMMIT ADOPTS NCA DRAFT!

�THE LADY RETURNS FROM BEIJING CLOSE-MOUTHED!

�MA BA THA URGES NO VOTE FOR NON-CONFORMIST PARTIES!

�WA-BURMA ARMY STAND OFF!

�CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?

�INDIA VS NSCN-K!

War

Ethnic Affairs

International Relations

Shan/Shan State

2

Message to the Reader

Dear Reader:

By all accounts, the peace process seems to have reached the crossroad. It took us nigh 4 years to gethere. And now we are divided between two camps: what I call the Presley Fan Club and the ArmstrongFan Club:

· The Elvis Presley fans are singing, “It’s now or never!”· While the Louis Armstrong fans are crooning, “We have all the time in the world”

One politician meanwhile has named them “The bird in the hand” camp and “The bird in the bush”camp. The former wants to make a deal with the incumbent regime while the latter with the newgovernment created by the upcoming elections in November.

A friend of mine has his own interpretation. According to him, we are “between the devil we know andthe deep sea we don’t know.” The devil has promised a yet to see Neverland, but the deep sea seems tohave its priorities set in other things.

But I think there is another way, perhaps even a better one. Why don’t we try to make the most of thebird in hand first and also try to catch the bird in the bush at the same time? That way we won’t have toworry about making a mistake and regret it afterward.

Most recently, a childhood friend suggested that maybe we are torn between those who are for “trust”and those who are for “opportunity”.

To them, and to all peacemakers, I hope the following words will make sense:

Trust is importantOpportunity is equally importantThe best is if we can get bothBut if I have to choose only one, I’ll choose trustHowever, if I cannot get trustI’ll be damned if I let go of the opportunity

Thank you for your continued support.

Mysoong Kha! (All the best!)

SHAN DIARY JUNE 2015

SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.)

Think Piece

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Cartoon

Shan Diary, June 2015

Tips for peacemakers: Things can never be that bad!

After we have signed the ceasefire agreement we can continue to fight at the negotiating table.

(Myanmar Times)

The leaders must be courageous to sign the NCA, and continue the struggle at the discussion

table. (DVB)

Gen Mutu Saypoe, speaking at Law Khee Lar, 2 June 2015

We don’t care if the agreement is signed before or after the election. The important thing is to

make clear what we want in the negotiations.

Nai Hong Sa, 7 June, Law Khee Lar Press conference.

Both India and China have refrained from criticizing Myanmar on the Rohingya issue.

Austin Ramzy, New York Times Reporter, Bangkok Post, 1 July 2015

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The World

InternationalRelations

1 June 2015

Matt Dillon visits Rohingya camp in Sittwe. He

says he has come due to appeal by activist Htun

Khin.

(AP)

4 June 2015

FM Wunna Maung Lwin tells diplomats in

Rangoon that persecution is not the cause of

migrant crisis in Asia. He points to the majority

of Bangladesh on board a migrant boat

intercepted last month as proof. Zaw Aye

Maung, Rangoon Region Ethnic Rakhin Affairs

minister, meanwhile says if genocide is taking

place in Arakan, then it is against the Arakanese

majority. “We are now in danger of being overrun

by these Bangladeshis,” he says which visibly

angers Bangladeshi ambassador Mohammad

Sufiur Rahman.

(Reuters)

11-14 June 2015

Aung San Suu Kyi visits China. Beijing, Shanghai

and Kunming her destinations. She meets

Yunnan CPC secretary Liu Jiheng on 13 June.

(Agencies)

17 June 2015

One Bangladeshi border guard soldier shot and

another abducted by Burmese police on the Naf,

near Tegnaf. (Kalandan) Released on 26 June-

(AFP)

22 June 2015

South Korea will train 40 newly appointed

permanent secretaries, says Song-Woo Nam, KDI

School of Public Policy and Management.

(Myanmar Times)

25 June 2015

Indian ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya mets

defense chief in Naypyitaw to discuss ensurance

of good relations and joint combingoperations.

(Mizzima)

25-27 May 2015

Three Burmese monks receive World Harmony

award from the Parliament of World’s Religions

at Oslo Conference to End Myanmar ’s

Persecution of the Rohingya in recogrution of

their efforts to save Muslim lives during the 2013

riots: U Vistuddha of Meikhtila, U Cintita of Pyin

Oo Lwin and U Jotika of Rangoon.

(Irrawaddy)

29 June 2015

Visiting President Thein Sein meets Mongolian

counterpart Taskhiagiin Elbegdorg and oversees

signing cooperation agreement in mining,

agriculture and tourism industries.

(DVB)

3 June 2015

Around 700 Indonesians and 200 Malaysians

formed into a separate unit called Katubah

Nusantara is fighting within the ISIS ranks in

Syria and Iraq. Southeast Asia is a key

recruitment center for ISIS, says Singaporean PM

Lee Hsieng Loong last week.

(Mizzima)

26 June 2015

US Supreme Court declares same sex couples

have the right to marry anywhere in the US.

(AP)

SHAN DIARY JUNE 2015

SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.) 5

Thai-Burma Relations

Inside Burma

20-21 June 2015

Woothisarn Panaree, vice president of the

National Thai Buddhism and Culture Mass Media

Association, who attends the weekend

conference in Rangoon says Thai Buddhists have

offered to donate B 1.5 million ($ 35,800/ K 40

million) worth of radio equipment to the Ma Ba

Tha (Association for Protection of Race and

Religion).

Dr Pornchai Pinyapong, president of Bangkok-

based World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth, is

one of those present on the occasion.

(AFP)

23 June 2015

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha attends one-day summit

of Ayeyawaddy. Chao Phraya- Mekong Economic

Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in Naypyitaw.

(Mizzima)

30 June 2015

Burma Army officials call on Thai counterpart at

the Township Border Committee (TBC) meeting

in Tachilek to help capture Peng Jiasheng, who

they claim is hiding in Thailand.

(The Manager/DVB)

26 March 2015

Reporters told they are no longer allowed

access to a media observation booth above the

Union Parliament Chamber. No explanation

given.

(Irrawaddy)

9 June 2015

Upper House Speaker Khin Aung Myint suggests

Aung San Suu Kyi should assume the title as

prime minister. (Eleven)

9 June 2015

Ma Ba Tha (Organization for Protection of Race

and Religion)’s spokesman Ashin Pamokkha says

it will urge voters boycott any political party that

doesn’t support Buddhism. The 2010 Election

Law makes illegal “uttering, making speeches,

making declarations and instigation to vote or

not to vote on grounds of race and religion or by

abetment of such acts,” with a maximum

penalty-one year in prison and a fine not

exceeding K 100,000 ($ 83). They also control the

constitution’s Article 364 to abuse religion “for

political purposes.”

(Irrawaddy)

18 June 2015

EU-Myanmar Human Rights Dialogue #2 held in

Naypyitaw. Topics discussed include migration,

protection of minorities, non- dissemination,

land rights, and labor rights.

(Mizzima)

21 June 2015

Bhaddanta Vimala, secretary of Ma Ba Tha, at a

2-day conference in Rangoon, calls for support

for incumbent government party instead of the

opposition in the upcoming elections.

(Irrawaddy)

23 June 2015

Parliamentary debate on constitutional

amendment bill begins.

(Agencies)

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25 June 2015

Parliament votes in favor of Section 59 (d)

dealing with the qualification of a presidential

candidate. That the candidate shall be well

acquainted with the affairs of “defense” instead

of “military”. The number of voters stand less

than 75% for the remaining 5 sections.

(Xinhua)

25 June 2015

67 out of 80 registered parties sign election Code

of Conduct (CoC) presided over by UEC. It was

drafted by FDA, NBF, NLD, NUP, UNA and USDP.

(Irrawaddy)

Ethnic Affairs

2-9 June 2015

Law Khee Lar conference held to consider

signing of the draft Nationwide Ceasefire

Agreement (NCA).

(Agencies)

2 June 2015

UN’s Vijay Nambiar and China’s Sun Guoxiang

urge support for NCA signing. Out of 22 groups

invited, 19 join the conference. (Agencies)

3 June 2015

UN special adviser Vijay Nambiar talks to 10

leaders from Arakan at Law Khee Lar to discuss

the Bay of Bengal migrant crisis. They have in

turn asked him to let them participate in efforts

to solve conflicts in their state. They say they

are hampered by lack of recognition by the

government afforded to their organizations.

(Irrawaddy)

Shans/Shan State

9 June 2015

Zipporah Sein, newly elected chairperson says

the 8 day summit has approved the NCA draft

with some proposed amendments and

suggestions.

(DVB)

3 May 2015

RCSS/SSA issues statement expressing welcome

and support of the NCA signing and the

convening of a political dialogue as soon as

possible.

(Statement)

20 June 2015

Ta-ang National Party’s Mong Keung branch

president Mai Aung Khant and Secretary Mai

Zam Hsa go missing. RCSS is suspected of

abducting them.

(Irrawaddy)

23 June 2015

UWSA 171st Military Region’s Liaison officer Kaw

Neng travels to Naypyitaw after receiving

invitation from U Thein Zaw, parliament MP, says

external affairs chief Ai Lu.

(DVB)

24 June 2015

Government peace negotiation meets UWSA

representatives. No details come out from

either side.

(Myanmar Time)

SHAN DIARY JUNE 2015

SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.) 7

26 June 2015

SNDP announces it will not contest seats in

Namkham township in order to avoid splitting

Shan vote. (DVB)

26 June 2015

UWSA has lodged complaint with the information

ministry to take action with media agencies

publishing articles detrimenting peace process,

making false accusations:

� China backing the conference

� That UWSA leaders are not Burmese

ethnics

� Dealing in drugs

(SHAN)

Economy/Business

Human Rights

26 June 2015

Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and

Accountability (MATA) issues statement calling

on the government to halt all extractive projects

in ethnic areas until a ceasefire is brokered.

(Irrawaddy)

Environment

1 June 2015

NLD issues 7 point policy for Rohingya:

• Establish rule of Law

• Ensure border security

• Eradicate corruption in border areas

• Ensure assistance

• Resettlement

• Improve area economic situation

• Address issue of citizenship

fairly, transparently and as quickly as

possible.

(Mizzima)

2 June 2015

Fomer NLD member Htin Linn Oo sentenced to

two year imprisonment with hard labor under

Article 2015 (a) defaming religion. In October he

strongly criticized the Association for Protection

of Race and Religion “for preaching lies and

prejudice.”

(Irrawaddy)

4 June 2015

Army releases 51 child soldiers from its ranks

today, bringing the total number of discharges

this year to 93, says UN.

(Reuters)

5-6 June 2015

AAPP monthly report says Burma currently holds

163 political prisoners. Another 442 non-

detained activists are awaiting trial.

(DVB)

9 June 2015

16 CSOs hold press conference at FCCT calling

for immediate halt to the hydroelectric

Mongton dam on the Salween planned by

Australia’s Snowy Mountains Engineering

(SMEC). The impact assessment process is aimed

to rubber-stamp the plans, as it has canceled all

public consultations at all township level. ‘We

should wait until there is a negotiated

agreement under the peace process, which will

give ethnic people decision-making power to

protect their natural resources,’ says spokesman

Sai Khur Hseng.

(Irrawaddy)

9 June 2015

UNESCO Man and Biosphere program passes

resolution to grant MAB title to Inle Lake.

(DVB)

Drugs

20 June 2015

Burmese authorities burn $244.65 million worth

of narcotic drugs in 3 main cities: Yangon,

Mandalay and Taunggyi, marking 28th anniversary

of Internaltional Day against Drug Abuse and

Trafficking. Bwina is cooperating with NNCC,

ONCB, DEA and Australian Federal Police.

(Xinhua)

Major Khin Maung Than of CCDAC says the drug

campaign has problems in some regions that are

home to groups where drug production is the

highest. (Reuters)

24 June 2015

China’s cabinet report says 90% of the 9.3 tons

of heroin and 11.4 tons of methamphetamine

seized in 2014 was produced in the Golden

Triangle. Heroin from the Golden Crescent

accounted for less than 2 percent.

(AP)

26 June 2015

Thailand burns B 22 billion ($687.5 million) worth

of drugs. (The Nation)

26 June 2015

Thailand is providing 350 million baht ($ 10.4

million) to develop alternatives to opium

cultivation in Mong Hsat’s 56 villages, says Vice

President Sai Mawk Kham. Naypyitaw is also using

$ 9.1 million for substitution projects that began

in 2010 in Hopong, Panglawng and Loilem,

according to him.

(Myanmar Times)

War

2-30 June 2015

Wa and Burma Army face-off in Mongton over

illegal logging and 16 ID-less loggers. Involvement

of troops and armored cars. The Wa side

withdraws forces after agreement reached in

Naaypyitaw.

(SHAN)

2 June 2015

China conducts live-fire drill, a joint air-ground

training exercise between Lincang where in

March a bomb dropped by Burma’s air force plane

killed 5 Chinese citizens, and Laogai of Kokang.

(Irrawaddy) Also opposite Wa at Gengma/ (Jane’s)

4 June 2015

20 Indian soldiers killed and 12 others wounded

in an ambush in Manipur staged by National

Socialist Council of Nagaland! Khaplang (NSCN-

K). Khaplang maintains a ceasefire with Myanmar

Amy he signed in 2012.

(Mizzima)

9 June 2015

Indian army attacks insurgent armies along the

Indo-Burmese border.

(AP)

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SHAN DIARY JUNE 2015

SHAN HERALD AGENCY FOR NEWS (S.H.A.N.)

S.H.A.N. P.O.Box 15, Nong Hoi P.O., Chiangmai 50007, ThailandEmail: shan@cm.ksc.co.th

www.english.panglong.org, www.shan.panglong.org,www.burmese.panglong.org and www.khonkhurtai.org

9 June 2015

Indian Intelligence officials say: returned Chinese colonel, Muk Yan Pau Huang, and Ting Ying, a

businessmen who has set up an arms factory on the Sino-Burmese border, are supporting NSCN-K

that staged ambush in Manipur on 4 June. (New Indian Express/Mizzima)

10 June 2015

MNDAA, “responding to China’s demand for border peace, the people’s desire for democratic

reform and the upcoming elections,” declares unilateral ceasefire beginning midnight today.

(Statement)

28 June 2015

According to Myanmar Peace Monitor, there has been 231 clashes between the Burma Army and

EAOs. (7 Day)

29 June 2015

Burma has replaced air force chief of staff Maj Gen Lwin Oo with Brig Gen Maung Maung Kyaw

following China’s anger over a stray bomb that fell in Chinese territory and killed farmers three

month ago. (Reuters)

Cartoon

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