News & Articles on Burma

Wednesday, 17 August, 2011
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Burma’s president informally offers exile citizens to come home
By Zin Linn Aug 18, 2011 12:07AM UTC

Burmese nationals who escaped the country subsequent to the well-known 1988 people’s uprising are allowed to return to their motherland, President Thein Sein said recklessly in a speech today.

Tens of Thousands of Burmese who took part in the mass demonstrations and the following armed uprising have since 1988 lived in exile, the majority in Thailand and the US. Although there has been no specific ban on their return, no one believes the president’s welcoming words since he failed to release the political prisoners and stop ongoing war on the ethnic groups.

Thein Sein was quoted by The Voice journal as telling businessmen in Naypyidaw this afternoon that those “who committed a crime” would still be punished. The comments appeared on the journal’s Facebook page, according to Francis Wade of DVB.

There are roughly 2,000 political prisoners who have been under arrest and sentenced for having peacefully articulated their views orally, through partaking in peaceful demonstrations or in activities of political parties. Some of them are punished for having written about human rights or political issues in the country or for reading or possessing written materials judged illegal.

Business tycoon Khin Shwe, who runs the Zaygabar company and was in attendance at the meeting, told DVB however that Thein Sein said all “minor offenses would be pardoned”.

In the president’s speech, the key point is for those persons out of the country to return to the motherland and work for development of the nation.

Although Thein Sein is a president, he did not make a decree or declaration legally for a general amnesty through the state media. In this case, it is not adequate saying informally to return from exile in such a meeting. The concerning people may think his welcoming words as unofficial. Actually, there is no official statement issued by the president office.

In reality, most of the dissident persons and groups in exile are based on the different political opinions. But, according to president’s words, it seems just calling for businessmen and scholars.

He did not mention the political dissidents. So, president’s proposal for homecoming towards the Burmese abroad may be a premeditated scheme. He just calls on businessmen and scholars who agree to work under the 2008 constitution.

For those who returned home must be under screening process inevitably. After arrival in Burma, they have to speak to local administrations in respective townships in order to question about details of their past in exile. It means the government will not guarantee the returnees’ individual freedom. They can put anyone into jail for any reason.

President’s words only welcome persons who will support business development of the country. He did not welcome persons who will support Aung San Suu Kyi or any other opposition parties. His invitation to the Burmese citizens outside the country is just a cosmetic phrase without generosity.

In a word, if the president has sincere purpose, firstly, he should release political prisoners and secondly, declare a nationwide ceasefire to show evidence for meaningful political dialogue with all dissident groups. Thirdly, the president should announce a general amnesty in search of peace, stability and development for a prosperous Burma. http://asiancorrespondent.com/62710/burma%E2%80%99s-president-informally-offers-exile-citizens/
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Myanmar papers lift slogans attacking foreign media
YANGON | Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:31am EDT

Aug 17 (Reuters) - Myanmar's state-run newspapers dropped back-page banners attacking Western media for the first time in four years on Wednesday, the latest indication its new government could be softening its stance towards opposition voices.

Three official newspapers dropped half-page slogans that were running daily, accusing the Voice of America (VOA) and the British Broadcasting Corp (BBC) of "sowing hatred among the people", and other Western media of "generating public outrage".

The slogans also told readers not to be swayed by "killer broadcasts designed to cause troubles". They had been a fixture in state newspapers since a bloody army crackdown on monk-led protests in August 2007.

The BBC, VOA and two other foreign news organisations provide local-language news bulletins on short-wave radio frequencies and satellite television that are primary news sources for many people in the former Burma.

Myanmar's government has long struggled to control overseas' news. Removing the slogans is seen as the latest gesture of openness since elections last year ended five decades of army rule and ushered in a civilian-led administration.

Some private media, which routinely exercise self-censorship, have run stories recently quoting lawmakers critical of government policies and the country's reclusive Information Ministry announced last week it had formed a "Spokespersons and Information Team" to assist journalists.

State newspapers have also been less critical of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the figurehead of Myanmar's democracy movement who was freed last year when her period of house arrest expired.

However, Myanmar's television media remains strictly controlled by the government, foreign journalists are still mostly barred from legally reporting in the country and most foreign media websites remain blocked.

Most expect Western sanctions to remain in place until an estimated 2,100 political prisoners are released. (Reporting by Aung Hla Tun; Editing by Martin Petty and Sanjeev Miglani) http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/17/myanmar-media-idUSL3E7JH0IT20110817?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=rbssTechMediaTelecomNews&rpc=401
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SSA: We are fighting for peace
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 12:23 S.H.A.N.

The Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), popularly known as the SSA North, yesterday held a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the party’s founding at the besieged Wanhai base in Kehsi township, according to the SSA sources.

[Col Khay Min delivering opening speech] Maj Gen Pang Fa, who is concurrently the party’s General Secretary as well as the commander in chief of its armed wing, had sent a 4 page message to be read at the ceremony. “We will continue to fight until peaceful negotiations emerge to resolve our political problems,” he wrote.

The SSA’s Chief of Staff Col Khay Min, who remained in Wanhai to run the day-to-day affairs there, presided over the ceremony, attended by 285 fighters and villagers.

Information minister Kyaw Hsan, during his 12 August press conference in Naypyitaw, had given a somewhat unconvincing explanation why Wanhai (Wanhing to him) was yet to be attacked and occupied by the Burma Army: “Although the government had been in a position to attack with the help of artilleries and aircraft, only limited attacks were carried out by setting aside Wanhing Headquarters as it had been designated as the area of SSA (Wanhing) since peace was made (in 1989).”

[Participants at the 40th anniversary ceremory of the SSPP] The SSA North is still engaged in a mobile guerrilla warfare against the Burma Army. Nearly 300 clashes have been fought, according to Maj Gen Pang Fa, since 13 March, when Naypyitaw launched its Operation Zwe Man Hein against the SSA.

The SSPP was formed in 1971 under the leadership of the late Sao Sengsuk (1935-2007) and Chao Tzang Yawnghwe (1939-2004). http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3956:ssa-we-are-fighting-for-peace&catid=86:war&Itemid=284
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Burma allows a visa to the UN Envoy this time, why?
By Zin Linn Aug 17, 2011 10:14PM UTC

Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar (Burma), will be allowed to revisit to Burma next week for the first time in more than a year, officials said on Wednesday, AFP news said.

Mr. Quintana is to meet higher-ranking government officials, including the defense and foreign ministers, during his August 21-25 trip, according to a government official.

“He will also visit parliament and meet with parliament members,” he told AFP.

Mr. Quintana has not been issued a visa to visit Burma since March 2010, when he suggested forming of a commission of inquiry.

The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution shortly after he presented a report in March that asked him: “to provide an assessment of any progress made by the government in relation to its stated intention to transition to a democracy to the General Assembly.”

In his statement, he said, “I am concerned that the Government is not finding a political solution to solve the ethnic conflicts. The authorities have now reached the final step of their 7-step road-map to democracy, but democracy requires much more. We also have to keep in mind that the electoral process excluded several significant ethnic and opposition groups, so their voices are not being heard in these fora.”

Quintana last visited Burma (Myanmar) in February 2010 but was not allowed to see opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest at the time. His consequential requests to revisit Burma have been neglected.

As a result, Mr. Quintana held a press conference on 23 May at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) following the conclusion of his one-week mission to Thailand. During the press conference, he highlighted that a United Nations commission of inquiry should be set up to address Burma’s human rights violence, which has not ended under the new government.

Quintana also underscored the Burma military has continued to commit widespread human rights abuses in ethnic minority areas where armed conflicts are still taking place along the border with Thailand, which he visited last week.

“These abuses include land confiscation, forced labour, internal displacement, extrajudicial killings and sexual violence,” Quintana said.

In this coming trip, Quintana is likely to meet Burma’s Nobel laureate, who was freed from seven years of house arrest soon after the country’s controversial election in November last year.

It would be the first talks between the UN special rapporteur and the democracy icon of Burma.

Freedom of expression, information and association is controlled by more than half a dozen laws, the violation of which, may be, and in fact is, widely authorized by three to 20 years in prison.

There are approximately 2,000 political prisoners who have been detained and sentenced for having peacefully expressed their views verbally, through participation in peaceful demonstrations or in activities of political parties. Some of them are punished for having written about human rights or political issues in the country or for reading or possessing written materials judged illegal.

Releasing political prisoners and granting autonomy to ethnic groups would prove to the international community that new government is going along political change through the real democratic values.

If the President Thein Sein government wants to make real political change, it should not stubbornly used to say there are no political prisoners in its prisons.

Information Minister Kyaw Hsan confirmed at the 12-August press conference that Quintana would be allowed a visa after he was denied for a year. It seems Quintana’s idea of ‘commission of inquiry’ threatening toward the current president and his cabinet members who have responsibilities with the human rights abuses under previous junta.

Some analysts believe that the government allowed a visa to the UN special rapporteur on human rights because it has a burning desire of holding the ASEAN chair in 2014. http://asiancorrespondent.com/62700/burma-allows-a-visa-to-the-un-envoy-this-time-why/
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Thai army stages mock evacuation on the border
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 11:39 S.H.A.N.
General/Thai-Burma Relations

A public exercise to evacuate Thai citizens on the Chiangmai border, opposite Mongton township, in the event of a renewed war between the ethnic resistance and the Burma Army was held yesterday under the auspices of the Royal Thai Army’s Phamueng Force, according to border sources.

The mock evacuation was conducted at two tambons (village tracts): Mueng Na in Chiangdao district and Mornpin (Naw Lae village) in Fang district. Both village tracts had already undergone bitter experience of the fighting across the border spilling over into Thai soil.

Helicopters were also deployed to transport the “elderly” and “injured”.

According to Krungthep Thurakij Online, the exercise involved screening of the evacuees and compilation of bio-data in order to differentiate aliens from citizens.

Col Chalongchai Chaiyakham, Deputy Commander of Phamueng Force, told Krungthep Thurakij, “The relationship between the two countries are cordial, but we should not be careless,” adding that there was a real probability that the new government in Naypyitaw might be launching offensives against armed resistance movements in the near future.

The Shan State Army (SSA) South and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) are active opposite Chiangmai province.

Another senior officer from Phamueng Force explained that the mock evacuations are an annual affair to keep the people on the alert. It has already held similar exercises in Maesai, Mae Ai and Wiang Haeng districts for this year.

According to Information Minister Kyaw Hsan, out of 17 Major armed groups and 23 minor armed groups that had made peace with the Burmese government since 1989:

15 surrendered
5 became Border Guard Forces (BGFs)
15 became People’s Militia Forces (PMFs)

The five that have refused either to surrender or become BGFs / PMFs are Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Karen National Union (Htay Maung splinter group). http://shanland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3955:thai-army-stages-mock-evacuation-on-the-border&catid=93:general&Itemid=291
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Taiwan's opposition visits Aung San Suu Kyi
Published on Aug 17, 2011

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's main opposition party said on Wednesday its top officials paid a rare visit to Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who praised the role of women in the island's politics.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which favours the island's independence from China, said a delegation of top female party officials met Ms Suu Kyi in Yangon on Tuesday.

Ms Suu Kyi sent blessings to the party's chairwoman and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen, according to a DPP statement.

'Ms Suu Kyi is very glad to see Taiwanese women's outstanding performance in politics and she sends her utmost encouragement and blessing to Ms Tsai and other DPP female politicians,' the statement said. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_703075.html
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Exiled Burmese ‘allowed home’, says president
By FRANCIS WADE
Published: 17 August 2011

Burmese nationals who fled the country following the infamous 1988 popular uprising are allowed to return to their country, President Thein Sein is rumoured to have said in a speech today.

Thousands of Burmese who took part in the protests or the subsequent armed uprising have since 1988 lived in exile, the majority in Thailand and the US. While there has been no explicit ban on their return, the very real threat of them being jailed upon setting foot in Burma has forced many to remain abroad.

Whether that threat has diminished however remains unclear. Thein Sein was quoted by The Voice journal as telling businessmen in Naypyidaw this afternoon that those “who committed a crime” would still be punished. The comments appeared on the journal’s Facebook page.

Burma’s laws are notoriously malleable, and close to 2,100 political prisoners are behind bars, among them monks, journalists, politicians and relief workers. Hundreds were jailed following the 1988 protests.

Business tycoon Khin Shwe, who runs the Zaykabar company and was present at the meeting, told DVB however that Thein Sein said all “minor offenses would be pardoned”.

“One of the main things [the president] said is for those individuals abroad to come back to the country and work for development of the nation.”

Khin Ohmar, chairperson of the Network for Democracy and Development, took part in the uprising as a student, and eventually fled to the border. There she joined the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), the main armed group that formed following the uprising, before settling down in Thailand.

She said that until Thein Sein made an official statement on the subject, his comments must be approached with caution. “For those of us outside [Burma], there are benchmarks we have for our country that must be realised – for example, the release of political prisoners, cessation of attacks against ethnic minorities, and so on. Unless there is genuine reform, then what he says cannot be taken seriously.”

The work of the various NGOs and campaign groups formed by Burmese exiles since 1988 is being carried out in order to ensure that one day Burma is stable enough for its countrymen to return home, she continued.

“We don’t reject the proposal [Thein Sein] made, because this is what we all want, but we must question how serious he really is.”

Those who do decide to return to Burma are to contact local administrations in the townships they lived in to inquire about details, The Voice added.

How the apparent change in attitude of the government will affect opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi, whom the government has spent years attemtping to sideline and silence, is similarly uncertain. Having spent much of the past two decades under house arrest, she can leave the country, but it is widely acknowledged that she may not be allowed to return.

Additional reporting by Ahunt Phone Myat http://www.dvb.no/news/exiled-burmese-%E2%80%98allowed-home%E2%80%99-says-president/17089
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THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
LETTER TO EDITOR
Burma Under Pressure

Your article "Myanmar Considers Foreign-Exchange Overhaul" (World News, Aug. 8) stated that Myanmar's national election last year "was dominated by allies of Myanmar's long-ruling military regime" and that it was "derided as a sham by the U.S. and other Western governments." It went on to note that Western governments maintain economic sanctions against Myanmar because of "reports of widespread human-rights violations there."

In my view those statements were not relevant to the subject matter of the article and were only included to satisfy the political correctness in Western countries.

The article goes on to say it "isn't entirely clear" why Myanmar allows multiple exchange rates. In fact, the government's inability to change its currency rate system is partly due to a lack of foreign reserves and a lack of support from the International Monetary Fund, which in turn is a result of pressure from the U.S. Your article failed to mention this.

Lastly, the article said that many residents believe military figures including former leader Sen. Gen. Than Shwe "continue to pull the strings behind the scenes" and that there is a power struggle developing within the new government between "hard-liners connected to the military" and ministers who are pressing for more economic changes.

Since 1988, there have been many rumors and speculations about splits and power struggles within Myanmar's leadership, which were mainly spread by opposition groups and Western media outlets that are happy to quote them. But nothing happened.

Ye Htut
Director General
Information and Public Relations Department
Ministry of Information
Naypyidaw, Burma http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903392904576511862784627834.html
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globalpolitician.com
Condemning India's Arm Supply to Burma
Nava Thakuria - 8/16/2011

The Burmese exiles living in India and their sympathizers had recently came to the street of India's national capital to lodge a stronger protest against the government for supplying arms and ammunitions to the semi-military Burmese government at Nay Pie Daw. Expressing resentment at New Delhi's continued military relationship with Nay Pie Daw, hundreds of pro-democracy activists and various Indian civil society groups demonstrated in New Delhi on July 22, 2011 arguing that 'supplying arms to the most brutal military dictatorship may have grave consequences to millions of innocent lives'.

It may be mentioned that the Indian government had recently supplied 52 military trucks load of arms and ammunition to the Burmese government. India maintained its strategic and military relationship with the Burmese regime even after receiving brickbats from international community.

"It is hurting and awful that Government of India has breached its democratic principles by supplying arms and ammunitions to the Burmese military rulers, which is identified as the world's most notoriousmilitary regime. The consequence will be the victimization of innocent Burmese citizens who have been yearning for justice, peace and democracy for many decades," said M Kim, a young Burmese exile living in India.

"Systematic human rights abuses and criminal hostilities against the ethnic groups, political activists, journalists and civilians have been committed without a halt by Burma's Army even after the installation of so-called civilian type government. It is a fact that over 2,200 political prisoners in Burma are still detained in jails," he added.

The demonstrators also sent a memorandum to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh urging him to renew New Delhi's support the Burmese people's movement for restoration of peace and democracy in Burma.

Till the early nineties, Indian government supported the democratic movement led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. But later it changed the course and started engaging the then military regime named State Peace and Development Council for various bi-lateral relationships. "We believe that India is a nation founded on sound democratic principles and time and again India has proven to uphold the principles of constitutionally elected governments. Further as a nation committed to playing an important, if not pivotal role in maintaining peace in the region, it is unbecoming of a responsible nation to supply arms to countries known for abusing military power," said in the memorandum, which was signed by nearly hundred Indian civil society groups and individuals with many Burmese organizations.

“While the other big neighbors (of Burma) is silently urging for negotiation between the authorities and ethnic groups, New Delhi has continued its arm supply to the infamous regime,” said Dr Tint Swe, the chairman of Burma Centre Delhi, a pro-democracy forum. Speaking to this writer from New Delhi, Dr Swe asserted that ‘democracy and human rights activists in Burma have been imprisoned, intimidated, tortured and many of them are put to death and it is
observed by none other than the United Nations and the International community that the advocators for democracy, justice, peace and human rights in Burma have been regularly castigated’.

So we are apprehensive that those arms will only be used against the pro-democracy activities and ethnic minorities like Kachin, Shan and Karen in eastern Burma, added Dr Swe.

In a separate memorandum to the Indian Premier, the Burmese pro-democracy groups urged New Delhi 'to immediately halt the supply of military aids to Burma's dictatorship' and 'to review India's foreign policy on Burma by focusing on long-term interests, development and stability, prosperity and peace in the region'.

"Systematic human rights abuses and criminal hostilities against ethnic groups, political activists, journalists and civilians have been committed by Burmese Army even after the installation of a so-called civilian government at Nay Pie Daw," said in the memorandum.

"India's national interest will be served only if a real democratic regime is established in its eastern neighbour," argued the memorandum which was endorsed by Women League of Burma, All Burma Students Democratic Front, Arakan Liberation Party, All Burma Democratic Lusei Women Organization, Chin Human Rights Organization, Chin Student Union, Kuki Women Human Rights Organization, Kachin National Organization, Matu Youth Organization, Zomi Women Union etc, adding that ‘supporting the democratic movement in Burma will thus be beneficial for the largest democrcay in the globe as well’.
Nava Thakuria is the editor of News Network Television, a local news channel of Assam in Northeast India. He also contributes articles to The Statesman (Kolkata), Eastern Panorama (Shillong) and The Independent (Dhaka).

Nava Thakuria is an engineering graduate (Bachelor of Engineering from Assam Engineering College under Gauhati University) in Mechanical Branch. http://www.globalpolitician.com/27033-india-burma-weapons-democracy
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UN envoy critical of Burma to visit
By JOSEPH ALLCHIN
Published: 17 August 2011

The UN’s special envoy to Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, has been a granted a visa to visit the country and will arrive next week.

The announcement by Burma’s Information Minister Kyaw Hsan at the weekend that Quintana would be allowed in comes exactly a year after the Argentine lawyer was denied a visa. Speculation surrounding the reason for the refusal centred on Quintana’s public backing of a UN probe into war crimes and human rights violations in the country.

He told DVB at the time that “human rights abuses are ongoing in the country because of militarisation in the border areas.

“The problems are still there, and I don’t see a real commitment from authorities in Myanmar [Burma] to solve this problem, other than further militarisation.”

Despite the change of government in Burma in March this year, his support for the inquiry appears to remain strong. In May he told a Bangkok press conference that, “A commission of inquiry is an option, and I’m not dropping it.”

He is scheduled to visit the capital Naypyidaw to meet ministers, the names of whom have not been disclosed, before heading to Rangoon to meet with opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

The issue of a UN commission of inquiry (COI) into Burma has divided international opinion and is a particular taboo for the Burmese government, which has barred international human rights groups from the country and repeatedly denied the existence of egregious rights violations, despite numerous reports to the contrary.

The UN has launched some 50 COIs in its history but has often struggled to gain substantial support. The US, Canada and Australia have all backed calls for the inquiry, and have been joined by a growing number of European states.

Yet Germany, a key EU member state, is allegedly a staunch opponent of both the commission of inquiry and the EU’s sanctions on Burma, which were enacted in reaction to its human rights record.

The UN is also apparently divided on the issue. Vijay Nambiar, an acting UN envoy to Burma and Ban Ki-moon’s chief of staff, appears less concerned about developments in the country, telling a press conference earlier this year that he was “very encouraged” by the new government.

This came after he was allegedly persuaded by Li Baodong, China’s ambassador to the UN, that the idea of a COI was “dangerous” and “counter productive”. China has been accused in the past of using its Security Council influence to sabotage the probe.

Fears over the ability of Quintana to both enquire openly whilst in the country and persuade his UN colleagues of the need for an investigation were expressed by Bo Kyi, head of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners–Burma (AAPPB), a Thailand-based support network and advocacy group.

“Importantly, he’s not a person who can make decisions on situations in Burma – his mandate is to only say whether there are improvements or not,” Bo Kyi said. “So it depends on how much cooperation he will receive from the government.”

Bo Kyi also reserved some criticism for the trip itself, claiming the government “is only inviting him into the country to get some credit”. http://www.dvb.no/news/un-envoy-critical-of-burma-to-visit/17076
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Newsflash: Women Senators Call for Action on Rape in Burma
August 15, 2011 by Christie Thompson · Leave a Comment

On August 10, a group of 13 women U.S. senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for support of a U.N.-led investigation of rape in conflict-ridden Burma. The senators urged Clinton to take action after 18 women and girls in the Kachin territory were reportedly raped by Burmese soldiers in late May. Similar accounts [PDF] of brutal rapes of pregnant women, children and the elderly have been documented in the Shan State in northern Burma.

The letter was a bipartisan effort from the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma, signed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). In the letter they state:

We must not allow this regime to continue to commit such dire crimes while the people of Burma continue to suffer. As members of the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma, we express our solidarity with our friend and sister, [Burmese activist] Aung San Suu Kyi and express our deep commitment to the struggle for freedom and justice in Burma.

The senators point out that rape is not a side effect of the ongoing conflict, but rather a strategy of war by the Burmese regime. According to the Kachin Women’s Association, Burmese soldiers have been ordered by their superiors to rape women. The letter quotes Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi:

[Rape] is used as a weapon by armed forces to intimidate the ethnic nationalities and to divide our country … Every case of rape divides our country between peoples, between genders, between the armed forces and ordinary citizens, between ethnic nationalities.

In June, Suu Kyi made a video testimony before Congress expressing the need for investigation into wide-ranging abuses of power by the Burmese government. Reports of the regime’s use of forced labor, displacement and land confiscation, along with sexual violence, have long been documented by human rights organizations.

The war between the Burmese government and the Kachin Independence Army was, until June, in a 17-year ceasefire. The Northern Shan State was in a 22-year truce until fighting broke out in March. Thousands of Burmese have fled their homes since the renewed violence.

In a statement by the Shan Human Rights Foundation, Hseng Moon called for international action. “Foreign governments dealing with Burma should not be silent about these atrocities,” she said. “‘Business as usual’ means ongoing rape in our communities.” http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2011/08/15/newsflash-women-senators-call-for-action-on-rape-in-burma/