21-Jul-12 http://www.phophtaw.org/burmese/index.php/news/local-news/1904-ilo-.html ILO ဦးေဆာင္ၿပီး၊ အလုပ္ရွင္၊ အလုပ္သမားႏွင့္ အစိုးရ ကိုယ္စားလွယ္မ်ား ပါေသာ Freedom of Association in Myanmar အလုပ္ရံု ေဆြးေႏြးပဲြ တခုကို ရန္ကုန္ၿမိဳ႕၊ ဒဂုံၿမိဳ႕နယ္၊ ဇီ၀ကလမ္း၌ ရွိသည့္ Summit Parkview ေဟာ္တယ္ Ballroom တြင္ ဇူလိုင္လ ၁၉ ရက္ေန႕ မနက္ ၉ နာရီခြဲမွ ညေန ၄ နာရီ အထိ က်င္းပခဲ့ပါသည္။ ယင္းအလုပ္ရုံ ေဆြးေႏြးပြဲသို႔ လူေပါင္း(၂၈၀) ခန္႔ တက္ေရာက္ခဲ့ပါသည္။ (ရန္ကုန္) အျပည္ျပည္ဆိုင္ရာ အလုပ္သမား ေရးရာ အဖြဲ႕ခ်ဳပ္ စက္မွဳ လက္မွဳ အႀကံေပး အႀကီးအကဲ Ross Wilson အပါ၀င္ အလုပ္ရွင္ ကုိယ္စားလွယ္မ်ား ၊ အလုပ္သမား ကိုယ္စားလွယ္မ်ား၊ အလုပ္သမား ၀န္ႀကီးဌာနမွ အရာရွိမ်ား၊ စက္ရုံပိုင္ရွင္မ်ား၊ ႏိုင္ငံေရး လွဳပ္ရွားသူမ်ား၊ အလုပ္ သမား အဖြဲ႕အစည္းမ်ားမွ အက်ဳိးေဆာင္ ေရွ႕ ေနမ်ား၊ Yangon Crown Organisation၊ ေဆာက္လုပ္ေရးလုပ္သား မ်ား အဖြဲ႕၊ Good Family အထည္ခ်ဳပ္ စက္ရုံ အလုပ္သမားအဖြဲ႔၊ ေတာ္၀င္ျမန္မာ အထည္ခ်ဳပ္ အလုပ္သမား အဖြဲ႔ အျပင္ တျခား အလုပ္သမား အဖြဲ႕အစည္းမ်ားမွ အလုပ္ရုံ ေဆြးေႏြးပြဲကို တက္ေရာက္ ခဲ့ၾကပါသည္။ ေဆြးေႏြးပဲြတြင္ (DDG-Ministery of Labour) မွ ဦးသက္ႏိုင္ဦးက အစိုးရမွ ထုတ္ျပန္ထားေသာ အလုပ္သမား အဖြဲ႔အစည္း နည္းဥပေဒအား ရွင္းလင္း ေျပာၾကားၿပီး၊ အလုပ္သမား အဖြဲ႔မ်ားအား တႏိုင္ငံလံုး အတိုင္းအတာျဖင္႔ ၁၁၇ ဖြဲ႔ မွတ္ပံု တင္ရန္ တင္ျပထားေၾကာင္း ေျပာပါသည္။ ဤအလုပ္သမားမ်ား အဖြဲ႔ထဲမွ April 25/26 တြင္ ၁၄ ဖြဲ႔၊ ဇြန္လ 12 တြင္ 15 ဖြဲ႔၊ ဇြန္လ 23 ရက္ေန႔တြင္ ၁၀ ဖြဲ႔ကို မွတ္ပံုတင္မ်ား ထုတ္ေပးခဲ့ျပီးျဖစ္သည္၊ ထို႔အျပင္ ITUC အစည္းအေ၀း ေနာက္ပိုင္းတြင္လည္း အလုပ္သမားအဖြဲ႔ ၅၈ ဖြဲ႔ကိုပါ မွတ္ပံုတင္ ထုတ္ေပးခဲ႔ျပီး အလုပ္ရွင္ အဖြဲ႔ကိုလည္း ဖြဲ႔စည္းခဲ့ျပီးျဖစ္သည္ဟု ဆိုပါ သည္။ အလားတူ (UMFCCI-အလုပ္ရွင္မ်ား ကိုယ္စားလွယ္) ေဒၚခိုင္ခိုင္ႏြယ္သည္လည္း ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံအေပၚ ႏိုင္ငံျခားမွ စီးပြား ေရး ပိတ္ဆို႔မႈမ်ားေၾကာင့္၊ လာမည္႔ August လတြင္ အလုပ္သမားမ်ားႏွင္႔ ေတြ႔ဆံုရန္ရွိေၾကာင္း ဆိုပါသည္။ ထို႔အျပင္ ယခုေဆြးေႏြးပဲြမွ ေဆြးေႏြးခ်က္မ်ားကိုလည္း လုပ္ငန္းရွင္မ်ားအား မိမိ ျပန္လည္ တင္ျပေပးမည္ဟု ဆိုပါသည္။ ATK စက္႐ံု အလုပ္သမားအဖြဲ႔မွ အက်ိဳးေဆာင္ေရွ႔ေန ဦးသူရိန္က ခုံသမာဓိအဖြဲ႔သည္ အလုပ္ရွင္ဘက္မွ လႊမ္းမိုးမႈအား ခံေနရျပီး အလုပ္သမားမ်ားမွာမူ အမႈ မရင္ဆိုင္မီကပင္ ႐ံႈးနိမ္႔ေနျပီးျဖစ္ပါသည္။ တတ္ေရာက္ ၾကားနာရမည္႔ ခံုသမာဓိ အဖြဲ႔ဦးေရသည္ ၁၁ ဦး ျဖစ္ေသာ္လည္း အမွန္တကယ္တြင္ ၃ ဦးသာ တတ္ေရာက္ ခဲ႔သျဖင့္ အလုပ္သမားမ်ား ဘက္မွ ထြက္ဆိုခ်က္ မ်ားအား မွတ္တမ္းတင္ျခင္းမရွိခဲ့ဟု ေျပာၾကားပါသည္။ အဆိုပါ ခံုသမာဓိ အဖြဲ႔၀င္မ်ားသည္ ဥပေဒပါ အတိုင္း က်မ္းက်ိန္ျခင္း မရွိသည္ကိုလည္း ေတြ႔ခဲ့ရသည္ဟု ေျပာၾကားသြားခဲ႔ပါသည္။ ထို႔အျပင္ ေတာ္၀င္ျမန္မာ အထည္ခ်ဳပ္ အလုပ္သမားအဖြဲ႔ အမႈေဆာင္က မိမိတို႔အလုပ္သမားမ်ား ညအိပ္ဆႏၵျပမႈျပဳ လုပ္ရာ ၁၀ ရက္သာ ခံမည္ဟု ေ၀ဖန္ခံရျပီး အဖြဲ႔၀င္မ်ား အလုပ္ခ်ိန္အတြင္း စကားေျပာေနသည္ကို ေတြ႔ပါက O.T အျဖဳတ္ခံရေၾကာင္း တင္သြင္းခဲ့ပါသည္။ စာခ်ဳပ္ထဲတြင္ Bonus မျဖတ္ပါဟု ပါရွိပါေသာ္လည္း လက္ေတြ႔တြင္ ညွိႏႈိင္း ေရးအဖြဲ႔အား သြားေရာက္ေျပာဆိုရာ စက္႐ံုသို႔သာ ျပန္လည္ေစလႊတ္ျပီး မည္သည္႔ညွိႏႈိင္းမႈမွ် မျပဳလုပ္ေပးေသးခဲ့ ေၾကာင္း၊ ဤသို႔တင္ျပေသာ အလုပ္သမားကိုယ္စားလွယ္ ၇ ဦးကိုလည္း အလုပ္ရွင္ဘက္မွ ဖိႏွိပ္မႈမ်ားရွိခဲ့ေၾကာင္း အလုပ္ရံုေဆြးေႏြးပဲြတြင္ တင္ျပခဲ့ပါသည္။ အျပည္ျပည္ဆိုင္ရာ အလုပ္သမား ေရးရာအဖြဲ႕ခ်ဳပ္ စက္မွဳလက္မွဳ အႀကံေပး အဖြဲ႔ အႀကီးအကဲ Mr. Ross Wilson သည္ တတ္ေရာက္လာၾကသည့္ ကိုယ္စားလွယ္မ်ားအား ေက်းဇူးတင္ရွိပါေၾကာင္းႏွင္႔ ေဆြးေႏြးေျပာဆိုမႈမ်ားအား မိမိအေန ျဖင္႔ အလုပ္သမား ၀န္ၾကီးဌာနႏွင္႔ ILO အစည္းအေ၀းတြင္ တင္ျပေပးမည္ျဖစ္ေၾကာင္း နိဂုံးခ်ဳပ္ ေျပာဆိုသြားပါသည္။ Freedom of Association in Myanmar အလုပ္ရံု ေဆြးေႏြးပဲြကို ျမန္မာႏိုင္ငံ အလုပ္သမား သမဂၢမ်ား အဖြဲ႔ခ်ဳပ္ (FTUB) ကလည္း ေထာက္ခံေၾကာင္း အေထြေထြအတြင္းေရးမွဴး ဦးေမာင္ေမာင္က ဆိုပါသည္။ “ က်ေနာ္တို႕အေနနဲ႕ ဒီလိုျဖစ္ဖို႕ကို ၁၉၉၂ ခုႏွစ္က ႀကိဳးစားခဲ့တာပါ။ အခုဒီရလဒ္ကေနၿပီးေတာ့ လြတ္လပ္တဲ့အလုပ္ သမားအဖြဲ႕ ဖြဲ႔စည္းေရးကို စနစ္တက် လုပ္သြားဖုိ႕ကိစၥ၊ ျပီးေတာ့ အျပည္ျပည္ဆိုင္ရာ စံႏွဳန္းစံထားေတြ မီွဖို႕ကိစၥကို ဆက္လုပ္သြားဖို႔ လိုဦးမယ္။ ဒါမွက်ေနာ္တို႕ႏိုင္ငံရဲ့ အခုလို စီးပြားေရး ရင္းႏွီးျမွဳပ္ႏွံမွဳ ေတြ ဖြင့္ထားတဲ့ အခ်ိန္ကာလမွာ အလုပ္သမားေတြရဲ႕ အေျခခံ အခြင့္အေရး လယ္သမားေတြရဲ႕ အေျခခံ အခြင့္အေရး ေနာက္တစ္ခါ ပတ္၀န္းက်င္ ထိမ္းသိန္းေရးဆိုတဲ့ ကိစၥေတြ ေနာက္တာရွည္ခံမယ့္ စီးပြားေရး စနစ္ေတြ ျဖစ္ဖို႕ကို အေျခခံ အလုပ္သမားေတြဖက္က ထိန္း ႏုိင္မယ့္ အေနအထား ျပန္ျဖစ္သြားမယ္လို႕ က်ေနာ္ကေမွ်ာ္လင့္တယ္။ က်ေနာ္တို႕ အားလုံး ၀ိုင္းလုပ္ဖို႕ အမ်ားႀကီးေတာ့ လိုပါေသးတယ္” ဟု ဆိုပါသည္။ FTUB သည္ လြတ္လပ္ေသာ အလုပ္သမား သမဂၢျဖစ္လာေရးႏွင့္ အလုပ္သမား အခြင့္အေရး ရပိုင္ခြင့္မ်ားကို ILO ႏွင့္ အႏွစ္ (၂၀) ေက်ာ္ၾကာ ပူးေပါင္းေဆာင္ရြက္ခဲ့ပါသည္။ ဤကဲ့သို႔ ပူးေပါင္းေဆာင္ရြက္လာရာက ယေန႔ Freedom of Association in Myanmar အလုပ္ရံု ေဆြးေႏြးပဲြ ေပၚေပါက္ လာခဲ့ပါသည္။ ဤေဆြးေႏြးပဲြသည္ အိုင္အယ္လ္အိုႏွင့္ ျမန္မာ အလုပ္သမား အဖြဲ႕အစည္းမ်ား အၾကား ပထမဆုံး အႀကိမ္အႀကိမ္ အလုပ္ရံုေဆြးေႏြးပဲြ ျဖစ္ပါသည္။
FTUB News for July-21-2012, English News
(1) US Senate pushes to extend ban on Burmese imports : Source : DVB 20-Jul-12 The US Senate’s Finance Committee on Wednesday voted to maintain a ban on Burmese imports for three additional years. Read More--- (2) Local enterprises call for better access to credit, tax incentives : Source : DVB 20-Jul-12 Local companies could be set to receive similar tax breaks and incentives as foreign firms under the Burmese government’s new foreign investment law, as the government seeks ways to even up the playing field, said the leading industry body on Wednesday. Read More--- (3) Country, gov’t commemorate Martyrs’ Day : Source : DVB 20-Jul-12 Burma honoured democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi’s father and eight other slain independence heroes at an official ceremony Thursday that underscored the political changes sweeping the country. Read More--- (4) Security Forces ‘Abusing’ Rohingya : Source : RFA 2012-07-20 A rights group calls on Burma to address 'systematic discrimination' against the stateless group. Burma’s security forces are committing more rights abuses against the Rohingya minority in the wake of ethnic violence in Rakhine state, a global rights group said, urging the government to repeal emergency rule in the area. Read More--- (5) Old Burma Meets New in Parliament : Source : Irrawaddy 20-Jul-12 It must be the widest, smoothest road in Burma. Yet there is no traffic and not a single potholes to dodge, just a smattering of SUVs and sedans arriving at a huge gate each morning. From a distance, the vehicles look like ants scurrying across a big white board. Welcome to Burma’s Parliament! Read More--- (6) Thai editorial takes Thein Sein to task : Source : Mizzima Friday, 20 July 2012 11:52 Mizzima News Burmese President Thein Sein will begin a three-day visit to Thailand on Sunday, following two postponed trips in June. The trip was greeted on Friday by an editorial in The Bangkok Post strongly challenging Thein Sein’s recent comments about the Rohingya population in western Burma. Read More--- (7) US outlines two-pronged sanction path in editorial : Source : Mizzima Friday, 20 July 2012 12:51 Mizzima News An editorial labeled “Encouraging Further Change In Burma” appeared on the US government’s Voice of America website on Friday, noting that while direct investment sanctions were removed on July 11 to allow US businesses to invest in the country and to take part in Burma’s economic development, other underlying sanction authorities remain in place, including direct trade with the country. Read More--- (8) Four-country task force focusing on Chinese sailors’ murder : Source : Mizzima Friday, 20 July 2012 14:14 Mizzima News Chinese officials have sent teams to Laos, Thailand and Burma to coordinate efforts in the investigation of the killing of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River in 2011. Read More--- (9) Burmese Firms Prepare for 2015 : Source : Irrawaddy 20-Jul-12 Burma’s businesspeople say they are preparing for the realization of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 by setting up public limited companies in the belief that the country’s stock exchange will drive economic development. Read More--- (10) One Chin villager dies in fight with Burmese security forces : Source : Mizzima Friday, 20 July 2012 13:14 Mizzima News A 41-year-old villager who tried to stop a fight between Burmese security personnel and villagers was mobbed and beaten to death, according to a report by Chin World Media (CWM). Read More--- (11) Ai Weiwei Barred from Court : Source : Irrawaddy 20-Jul-12 BEIJING—Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei says he has been barred from a Beijing court where a verdict will be delivered on his company’s appeal of a more than US $2 million fine for tax evasion. Read More--- (12) Karen in Europe call for refugee aid, political solution : Source : Mizzima Friday, 20 July 2012 12:12 Mizzima News More than 100 Karen from various communities across Europe have met to discuss the political situation in Burma and called for renewed efforts to achieve peace and increased aid to Karen refugees, after attending the third general meeting of the European Karen Network (EKN) in Sweden from July 13-14. Read More--- (13) EVA to fly into Rangoon : Source : Mizzima Friday, 20 July 2012 13:20 Mizzima News Taiwan's second largest air carrier, EVA, has announced it will operate three Taipei-Yangon [Rangoon] flights per week starting Oct. 9 to reflect increasing business and tourist travel between the two countries. Read More--- (14) Kachin man still missing after being arrested by Burmese military : Source : Kachin 20-Jul-12 An innocent villager from Yi Hku village in Pangsai, (or Kyukok) Township, northern Shan State, who was arbitrary arrested by the Burmese military on July 1, is still missing even though authorities claim they released him. Read More--- (15) 23rd clash after ceasefire pact : Source : Panglong Friday, 20 July 2012 14:43 S.H.A.N. The Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) had just fought the 23rd engagement against a Burma Army column that had trespassed on the territory under its control on Wednesday, 18 July, according to local sources. Read More--- US Senate pushes to extend ban on Burmese imports 20-Jul-12 http://www.dvb.no/news/us-senate-pushes-to-extend-ban-on-burmese-imports/22984 The US Senate’s Finance Committee on Wednesday voted to maintain a ban on Burmese imports for three additional years. “By reauthorizing the import sanctions for three years, we maintain pressure on the Burmese government to undertake reforms,” said US Senate Finance Committee’s Chairman Max Baucus. The decision came as the US’s 2003 Burma Freedom and Democracy Act was due to expire at the end of this month. The extension requires approval from the Senate and House of Representatives as well as a signature from the president, who last week eased investment sanctions on Burma. Shan Nationalities Democratic Party’s parliamentary representative Nan Wah Nu earlier in the week submitted a proposal urging ‘whoever can get the sanctions lifted as quickly as possible’ to work with the house. The parliamentarian told DVB yesterday the extension of the sanctions would impede the country’s reform process. “A reform process must go step by step. I would like – not just the United States of America – but also other nations to provide positive help,” said said Nan Wah Nu. “I think it is necessary for everyone to cooperate to bring a democratic system in the country,” US senator Mitch McConnell, who sponsored the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act, was cited on the US Campaign for Burma’s website as saying: “The Burmese government still has not met all the necessary conditions to justify a complete repeal of all existing sanctions. Despite the unmistakable progress made by the Burmese government, now is not the time to end our ability either to encourage further governmental reform or to revisit sanctions if necessary. As Suu Kyi herself has cautioned, the situation in Burma is ‘not irreversible.’ Serious challenges need to be addressed.” Prior to the Senate’s voting on the bill, Mitch McConnell called Suu Kyi to discuss the sanctions. Local enterprises call for better access to credit, tax incentives 20-Jul-12 http://www.dvb.no/news/local-enterprises-call-for-better-access-to-credit-tax-incentives/22979 Local companies could be set to receive similar tax breaks and incentives as foreign firms under the Burmese government’s new foreign investment law, as the government seeks ways to even up the playing field, said the leading industry body on Wednesday. “The locals who are currently doing wholesale/retail do not have the privilege of having these tax holidays,” said Dr Maung Maung Lay, vice president of the Union of Myanmar Federated Chambers of Commerce and Industry, an organisation representing Burma’s private sector. “But the government have said they are thinking about granting them such tax holidays in order that the playing field will be equal,” he said. One of the private sector’s central concerns include allowing international firms to open shop with 100 percent foreign ownership, and other tax incentives such as five year tax holidays, said Maung Maung Lay. Previously, local businesses have spoken out against these sections of the government’s proposed foreign direct investment law, said UMFCCI’s vice president, explaining these terms would put local enterprises, which lack the capital and technology to compete effectively, at a competitive disadvantage against foreign firms. “The private sector feels that currently the playing field is not level and the government is too generous to the foreigners,” said Maung Maung Lay. “In that sense, our mom and pop shops will all suffer and become overwhelmed by these potential investors.” The proposal to extend the current three-year holiday to a five-year tax holiday for foreign businesses was a sticking point for domestic companies, said Jared Bissinger, a PhD candidate at Macquarie University studying Burma’s economy. “This part of the new FDI law is certainly creating the biggest bones of contention so far and domestic business doesn’t like it,” said Bissinger.“You want to create a level playing field for all business so there’s no need to prejudice one over the other.” According to Myat Thu Winn, managing director of Shwe Minn Tha Enterprises Co Ltd, Burma’s small to medium enterprises (SMEs) still struggle to access sufficient credit from the country’s weak banking sector to grow their business and will suffer if forced to compete against sophisticated and well-financed foreign companies. “There are many challenges for the local businessman,” he said. “Our country is very poor and we need foreign investment, not only to provide capital, but to provide new infrastructure and techniques. “So as a normal Burmese citizen, I welcome foreign investment, but as a businessman I think all companies need to have an equal chance at profitability.” Local firms wanted to access the same benefits as foreign companies, without having to sacrifice their firm’s independence, explained Maung Maung Lay, saying he’d encountered mutual reluctance from the private sector and foreign investors on the topic of joint ventures. “Local businesses are concerned they will have to sell their companies, or joint venture, or be overwhelmed,” said Maung Maung Lay. One local battery manufacturing company said it needed additional capital to expand and compete more effectively against an influx of cheap Asian brands, but due to current banking sector constraints, the only way it could access fresh capital was through a joint venture partnership. “We are ready to play on the fair ground with foreign investors … but we need better access to finance,” said Ohn Lwin, the managing director of Toyo Battery. “So if we can get an industrial long-term loan with a low interest rate from the government then we’d be very happy. Then we wouldn’t need to look for a joint venture to provide capital.” Better access to credit and receiving tax incentives on par with what foreigners are entitled to would help boost local firms, says Ohn Lwin. “If they give the incentives to the foreigners, say a five year tax break, then we should also be granted five years, that would be fair,” said Ohn Lwin. The government has not officially announced new tax incentive plans to even up the playing field for local firms, but according to UMFCCI’s vice president the issue has been discussed at government meetings and within his organisation, which acts as a bridge between the private sector and the state. Country, gov’t commemorate Martyrs’ Day 20-Jul-12 http://www.dvb.no/news/country-gov%E2%80%99t-commemorate-martyrs%E2%80%99-day/22975 Burma honoured democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi’s father and eight other slain independence heroes at an official ceremony Thursday that underscored the political changes sweeping the country. Vice President Sai Mauk Kham led the memorial for General Aung San and others killed on July 19, 1947, by political rivals while they were holding a meeting as part of their struggle to win independence from Britain. The high-level presence at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum in the former capital marked a departure from recent years when the Rangoon mayor was the official representative at low-key ceremonies to mark the anniversary. The event was broadcast live on state television in another sign of change in the country formerly known as Burma, which is emerging from decades of military rule. President Thein Sein, a former general, has overseen dramatic political changes over the past year, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the election of Suu Kyi to parliament. After the ceremony, the 67-year-old opposition leader paid homage at the mausoleum with three baskets of flowers, followed by relatives of the other late independence heroes as well as diplomats and members of the public. Later Suu Kyi addressed supporters at her party offices, calling on youth members to embrace the spirit of the martyrs. “The martyr spirit is a noble spirit. We should respect the martyr leaders in order to increase the noble spirit of our country,” she said. The veteran dissident, who spent much of the last two decades under house arrest and was released in late 2010, last year attended the remembrance ceremony for the first time in nine years. The Nobel Peace Prize winner was only two years old when she lost her father, who is widely hailed as the architect of Burma’s liberation from British rule but who died a year before the colonial era ended in 1948. Often referred to simply as Bogyoke, or General, Aung San remains a potent symbol of pride in Burma, but for years his image was rarely seen in public under a junta anxious not to draw attention to its incarceration of Suu Kyi. Pictures of the father and daughter are now widely seen in one of the most visible signs of change under the reformist regime. Security Forces ‘Abusing’ Rohingya 2012-07-20 http://www.rfa.org/english/news/burma/rohingya-07202012162621.html A rights group calls on Burma to address 'systematic discrimination' against the stateless group. Burma’s security forces are committing more rights abuses against the Rohingya minority in the wake of ethnic violence in Rakhine state, a global rights group said, urging the government to repeal emergency rule in the area. Burma’s Border Security Forces have arrested hundreds of Rohingya in massive sweeps that mostly appear to have been “arbitrary and discriminatory,” Amnesty International said in a statement Thursday. "Six weeks after a state of emergency was declared in Myanmar’s [Burma’s] Rakhine State, targeted attacks and other violations by security forces against minority Rohingyas and other Muslims have increased,” it said. The group did not specify the period during which the increased abuses occurred but claimed there were credible reports of other human rights abuses committed by security forces including physical abuse, rape, destruction of property, and unlawful killings. It urged Burma to end the emergency rule, which remains in effect in some areas since it was declared across Rakhine state on June 10, at the “earliest opportunity.” “Declaring a state of emergency is not a license to commit human rights violations,” the group’s Burma researcher Benjamin Zawacki said. “It is the duty of security forces to defend the rights of everyone – without exception or discrimination – from abuses by others, while abiding by human rights standards themselves.” Ongoing violence Six weeks after the state of emergency was declared, communal violence is continuing in the region, Amnesty said. “The widespread violence in at least eight areas that began on 8 June has reduced considerably, but human rights abuses continue to take place among the Buddhist Rakhine, Muslim Rakhine, and Muslim Rohingya communities, as well as by state security forces,” the group said. Since the ethnic violence broke out between ethnic Rakhines and Rohingya in early June, at least 50 people have died and 30,000 have been displaced, according to official figures, though the U.N. refugee agency has put the number of displaced three times higher. Amnesty urged the Burmese government to allow humanitarian workers and unfettered access to the region, recommending international observers, possibly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, be permitted to monitor the area. Burma should investigate the communal strife and its “underlying causes” thoroughly and impartially, the group said, warning that returning to the status quo that existed before the recent violence broke out would not be enough to address decades of “systematic discrimination” against the Rohingya. Overseas Some 800,000 Rohingyas live in Burma, where they are considered outsiders despite many of them having lived there for generations. Burmese President Thein Sein had requested the U.N.’s refugee agency this week place Rohingyas in refugee camps or send them out of the country, saying the ethnic minority is made up of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and that Burma “cannot accept them.” His request was immediately refused by the U.N. agency. Bangladesh, where an estimated 300,000 Rohingyas live, has turned back boatloads of the oppressed group arriving on its shores since the outbreak of the unrest. The plight of the Rohingya, whom the U.N. considers one of the world’s most persecuted minorities, has sparked protests among fellow Muslims in Asia in recent weeks. On Thursday, an Indian Islamic organization staged a demonstration against abuses against the Rohingya by in Hyderabad, the Times of India reported. In Indonesia, hundreds of Indonesian Islamic hardliners demonstrated in front of the Burmese embassy in Jakarta last week, vowing a holy war against perpetrators of “genocide” against the Rohingya. On Sunday, the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the violence against the Rohingya and state policies toward them. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called on Burma to allow Rohingyas to “return to their homeland in honor, safety, and dignity.” Old Burma Meets New in Parliament 20-Jul-12 http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/9653 t must be the widest, smoothest road in Burma. Yet there is no traffic and not a single potholes to dodge, just a smattering of SUVs and sedans arriving at a huge gate each morning. From a distance, the vehicles look like ants scurrying across a big white board. Welcome to Burma’s Parliament! Only vehicles belonging to MPs are allowed to drive right up to the Parliament buildings, despite one reporter remarking, “a plane could even land here!” All cars must be scrutinized by under-vehicle search mirrors at the gate. Peering through tinted windows you can make out parliamentarians wearing khaung paung—the tradition Burmese pink or yellow turbans—cocooned in air conditioned opulence. Of course, not all MPs have their own transport and some instead arrive in communal vans. Inside the compound, everything is huge with Parliament buildings sprawling in all directions. They are appropriately built in the royal architectural style to compliment the name of the capital—Naypyidaw, the abode of kings. Yet it is hard to find the spirit of this “royal” city. What is its history and where is its culture? There are no such things because it was suddenly created in the middle of nowhere in 2005 by the military junta, away from all major cities and 320 kilometers from the former capital Rangoon. Homely is not a word to associate with Naypyidaw. The Parliament building is likewise—enormous and fresh but devoid of a soul. “This is a royal prison,” Win Htein, an MP and senior member of main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), jokes on the top step of the Lower House building. We were waiting with his fellow parliamentarians and assorted journalists for Aung San Suu Kyi to make her first entrance to the legislature. Win Htein, a former political prisoner, said MPs had nowhere to go in Naypyidaw. They were supposed to stay in the capital for several months until the current parliamentary session ends. But despite its obvious flaws, the fact remains that Burma’s Parliament is a historic entity. The countries first true legislature for more than half-a-century has proven itself to also be one of the nation’s most inclusive, vibrant and relatively democratic institutions. During Ne Win’s rule from 1962 to 1988, the country had a bogus Parliament. From 1988 to early 2011, the country was ruled by the military dictatorship without even the façade of a phoney legislature. July 9 was a historic day as pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the nation’s most famous prisoner-turned-MP, joined the parliamentary session. This significantly changed the country’s political landscape by bestowing an element of legitimacy upon the military-dominated administration. MPs currently hail from Suu Kyi’s NLD and many other opposition and ethnic groups, apart from the majority military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the appointed 25 percent of armed forces appointees. The existence of the military stooges clearly undermines the democratic credentials of the Parliament. Even so, it remains an institution of many colors—contrasting attire here represents different parties. Most MPs from the NLD and its allies wear traditional Burmese jackets in beige, while USDP representatives instead wear white. Members from ethnic Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, known as White Tiger Party, wear their traditional Shan outfit also in beige, while other ethnic groups wear contrasting costumes. Of course, and ominously, the most significant color is green—the army uniform. There are four columns of seats for MPs in Parliament with the far right occupied by military personnel. Only by amending the widely-condemned 2008 Constitution will this emerald stripe disappear. Out of their eight rows, seven contain army officials from brigadier-generals and colonel to captain. The last row is shared by officers of the air force and navy who wear different uniforms. The MPs themselves seem content to avoid tackling the military’s presence at the moment. Before joining Parliament, Suu Kyi repeatedly said one of her aims was to amend undemocratic clauses in the Constitution such as the guaranteed legislative quota for the military. But she might not feel that the time is right to approach this yet. “We came here to collaborate, not to oppose,” Suu Kyi reportedly told party colleagues after her first day. Htay Oo, general secretary of USDP, told me in a hallway in the People’s Parliament, “I don’t regard other political parties here as opposition. It’s difficult to define the meaning of the opposition. I think we all are here to work together for the sake of our people and country.” Without doubt, all MPs, especially ex-military officers within the USDP, could do with more diplomatic and consensual language when they meet press—even if their words sometimes might not be wholly truthful. When asked how the institution’s dynamic had changed due to the presence of Suu Kyi and her party, Htay Oo said, “Well, more people are here. There are no empty seats.” Pressed on how formal the Parliament appears with the strict dress code, he paused for a moment before answering with a smile, “Oh, I’ve got used to it,” pointing to his traditional turban. “It’s our pride. We could even hold this Parliament on a lawn. But holding it here is a matter of pride.” Undoubtedly discussions within parliamentary sessions appear to be essentially free. The MPs can bring up practically any issue from repairing potholes and the release of political prisoners to ethnic conflict and land confiscations. “This Parliament has more freedom though its formality and style is similar to under the BSPP [Ne Win’s Burma Socialist Programme Party],” NLD MP Ohn Kyaing told me during an interval. In his former role as a journalist, Ohn Kyaing witnessed the dictator’s legislature where there was no opposition at all. This new Parliament is certainly different. A scoop of reporters is allowed to do their job as the “fourth estate” watchdog on proceedings. Through the glass of media booths above the chamber, they keep dozens of beady eyes on the MPs. Lots of pictures are snapped of prominent members such as Suu Kyi, the house speaker and certain billionaire tycoons. And during breaks, members mingle with the media as quotes and soundbites are traded and newsworthy material filtered out of the day’s bureaucracy. When we run into Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann, a former high-ranking general, after the lunch, he greets the press pack in a friendly manner. “I am very pleased that you media people come to support our Parliament,” he says before warning, “but don’t ask questions now.” At least journalists were allowed to take photos. It appears one of the greatest powers the media possesses in Parliament is to prevent MPs nodding off. “I don’t dare doze as TV cameras are shooting all the time,” joked Win Htein. “If the voters in my constituency catch me, I will be kicked out!” Yet the way that MPs make proposals and debate issues suggests that most largely ignore the presence of the media. Nevertheless, pictures of parliamentarians sleeping and using iPads have already spread on Facebook and other social media. After sitting through the whole day, it seems obvious that many MPs, like their children in school, are desperately longing for the end of the day. On the steps of the Parliament building before boarding the van, reporters surrounded Col Hla Myint Soe, a military-appointed MP, and ask what proposals will be coming from his green-clad section. Hla Myint Soe reportedly played a key role in the brutal crackdown on the 2007 pro-democracy Saffron Revolution. The colonel was friendly and the reporters kept throwing questions. But another military official interrupted, grabbed his arm and took him away saying abruptly, “We have things to do.” A fitting end to a day of Burma’s Parliament. Thai editorial takes Thein Sein to task Friday, 20 July 2012 11:52 Mizzima News http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/7564-thai-editorial-takes-thein-sein-to-task.html Burmese President Thein Sein will begin a three-day visit to Thailand on Sunday, following two postponed trips in June. The trip was greeted on Friday by an editorial in The Bangkok Post strongly challenging Thein Sein’s recent comments about the Rohingya population in western Burma. Thein Sein's trip to Thailand was originally scheduled for June 4 when he was also scheduled to address the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok. However, after an enthusiastic welcome for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who also spoke at the conference, the trip was cancelled, leading to speculation that Thein Sein did not want to walk in Suu Kyi’s shadow while in Thailand. The Burmese government said duties at home caused the cancellation. Later, a second trip was also cancelled. Thein Sein will hold talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the two leaders will witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for development in Burma covering human resource development and preparations for Burma to take the chairmanship of Asean in 2014, Thai officials said earlier. The Bangkok Post editorial on Friday strongly challenged Thein Sein’s recent comments to a UN official suggesting the UN accept hundreds of thousands of Rohingya in Burma, following the outbreak of sectarian unrest in western Burma in June, claiming dozens of lives and causing widespread loss of property. The editorial said: “…the country and its leader still have a long way to travel to catch up on its 48 years as a cruel, violent military dictatorship. The recent ethnic clashes in western Myanmar have thrown off the facade of a united country. "President Thein Sein uttered some of the most distressing statements heard from a reform government in recent memory," said the editorial. “He told the United Nations last week that the million Rohingya people in Rakhine (formerly known as Arakhan) state are simply not welcome in Myanmar. They would be placed in camps or, preferably, deported. They are ethnically different from the Burman majority, and they are religiously Muslim, he said. The only solution is to hand them over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or resettle them in third countries that are willing to take them.” The newspaper called for the Thai government not to let Thein Sein’s views go unchallenged. “The existence and problem of Rohingya should be raised during Thein Sein's visit. Thailand and other neighbours are all too aware of the plight of these people,” it said. “The shocking language of the Myanmar president may be excused briefly after his country's long isolation from the real world, enforced at the army's gunpoint.” The editorial said any action by Thein Sein to back up his words is unacceptable. “Myanmar is emerging from a long, dark history of violence. It is entering a new world, with norms that are quite different from 50 years ago. Thein Sein's statements about the Rohingya appear racist, malicious and threatening. They must not stand unchallenged.” US outlines two-pronged sanction path in editorial Friday, 20 July 2012 12:51 Mizzima News http://www.mizzima.com/business/7568-us-outlines-two-pronged-sanction-path-in-editorial.html An editorial labeled “Encouraging Further Change In Burma” appeared on the US government’s Voice of America website on Friday, noting that while direct investment sanctions were removed on July 11 to allow US businesses to invest in the country and to take part in Burma’s economic development, other underlying sanction authorities remain in place, including direct trade with the country. “The president has also signed a new executive order expanding the ability of the U.S. government to target sanctions against those individuals who violate human rights or threaten the peace, security and stability of Burma,” said the editorial. “Further, U.S. business interests won’t be allowed to invest in entities owned by Burma’s Ministry of Defense or other state or non-state armed groups. Investors also will be required annually to file detailed, public reports on their activities as a way to promote greater transparency and encourage civil society there to partner with our companies toward responsible investment,” it said. It said the US would call for further progress in democratization, a halt to hostilities in ethnic minority areas, the unconditional release of political prisoners and a cessation of Burma’s military trade with North Korea “Burma has made progress since the formation of its new government in the spring of 2011. The beginning of a transition to civilian rule from a military-dominated system, holding of a more inclusive and credible Parliamentary by-election this April, the easing of some media restrictions and the freeing of more than 500 imprisoned political activists were important steps in the nation’s democratic transformation, and a sign that Burmese leaders have embarked on a path of greater openness, transparency and reform,” said the editorial. It said, “The participation of American businesses in the Burmese economy has the potential to set a model for responsible investment and business operations, as well as encourage further change, promote economic development and contribute to the welfare of the Burmese people.” The US Senate next week is expected to approve a three-year renewal of trade restrictions with Burma. US officials said President Obama could rescind the restrictions at any time. Four-country task force focusing on Chinese sailors’ murder Friday, 20 July 2012 14:14 Mizzima News http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/7573-four-country-task-force-focusing-on-chinese-sailors-murder.html Chinese officials have sent teams to Laos, Thailand and Burma to coordinate efforts in the investigation of the killing of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River in 2011. China’s Ministry of Public Security said on Thursday that Lao police had arrived in China to interrogate Burmese drug lord Naw Kham who is accused in connection with the deaths, according to an article by the Chinese Xinhua news agency on Friday. A team headed by Sysavath Keomalavong, director general of the Lao General Police Department, traveled to China to talk to Naw Kham in a joint effort with Chinese counterparts to deal with the cross-border massacre. A Burmese national, Naw Kham, was arrested in Laos on April 25 and is being held now by Chinese police in connection with the deaths. The drug lord was extradited to China on May 10 for investigation and court trial. Chinese police said a joint investigation in China, Laos, Burma and Thailand has found evidence that Naw Kham, members of his gang, and a small number of Thai soldiers planned and conducted the murders of 13 Chinese sailors on two cargo ships on Oct. 5, 2010. The gang reportedly had more than 100 members and was armed with assault rifles, bazookas and machine guns. They are believed to have engaged in drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, looting and other crimes along the Mekong River for many years. A small number of the gang reportedly turned themselves in with their weapons to Burmese authorities near Tachilek earlier this year. According to the Chinese ministry, the gang is believed to be behind 28 robberies and gun-related crimes directed at Chinese vessels and citizens since 2008, resulting in 16 deaths and three injuries, Xinhua said. Sysavath said Lao and Chinese police will conduct follow-up investigations and will try to eliminate other members of the gang in order to maintain safe shipping security along the Mekong River. Under the framework of the “Law Enforcement Cooperation along the Mekong River Mechanism,” the four countries have created channels for intelligence exchanges, Mekong river patrols and general law enforcement, as well as for tackling incidents that disrupt public order, combat transnational crimes and deal with emergency events, said Xinhua. Burmese Firms Prepare for 2015 20-Jul-12 http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/9588 Burma’s businesspeople say they are preparing for the realization of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 by setting up public limited companies in the belief that the country’s stock exchange will drive economic development. Economics experts in the former pariah state say that 96 percent of businesses in Burma are SMEs (Small and Medium Entrepreneurs), which will not be able to survive once the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) law is put in place. “The stock market is main engine that will drive economic development without having to borrow from banks. It follows therefore that public companies are essential,” said economist Hla Maung. Speaking to The Irrawaddy, a major shareholder in the Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation (MAPCO), said, “Assuming the FDI is followed by mass investment, local businesspeople have only three options: to sell off their businesses; to change industries; or to cooperate. I am guessing that setting up new public companies is the right way to complete the move to real economic development.” According to a Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) spokesperson, there were no more than 21 public limited companies in the country before the 2011-12 fiscal year. In the last year, seven new firms have gone public, a 33 percent increase. They are: MAPCO; Myanmar Citizens Bank; Myanmar Agricultural & General Development; Myanmar Edible Oil Industrial and General Development Public Ltd; FMI Company; and Gold Industrial. “The authorized capital cost to set up a public limited company is 500 million kyat (US $560,000),” he said. Publicly traded companies first appeared in Burma in 1990. However, according to official data from the MIC, only one percent of them are privately owned companies. One Chin villager dies in fight with Burmese security forces Friday, 20 July 2012 13:14 Mizzima News http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/7569-one-chin-villager-dies-in-fight-with-burmese-security-forces.html A 41-year-old villager who tried to stop a fight between Burmese security personnel and villagers was mobbed and beaten to death, according to a report by Chin World Media (CWM). The dead villager was identified as Thang Sian Mung, and the attack occurred in a village bordering Sagaing Division, according to local residents. He died at a hospital in Tedim on July 12, said an article on the CWM website. Reports said two army enlisted men in Light Infantry Battalion 269 and a police officer were in a confrontation with local villagers and when the victim attempted to break it up, he was struck from behind and then hit on the head with a stone. The incident originated over a vehicle accident dispute between a villager and one of the soldiers, said CWM. Authorities are investigating, but there have been no arrests so far. According to the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), arbitrary killings by Burmese security forces in Chin State almost never get prosecuted. "Sadly, impunity still reigns in Chin State and elsewhere in Burma, especially for the Burmese Army despite the ongoing talks of reforms in Naypyitaw. This is why the withdrawal of the Burmese Army from ethnic States is essential in ending serious human," said a CHRO member. Ai Weiwei Barred from Court 20-Jul-12 http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/9581 BEIJING—Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei says he has been barred from a Beijing court where a verdict will be delivered on his company’s appeal of a more than US $2 million fine for tax evasion. Security was heavy Friday outside the Chaoyang District Court. Plainclothes and uniformed police were blocking roads and forcing media and diplomats to leave the area. Ai case the tax evasion case is part of an intimidation campaign to stop him from criticizing the government. He spent nearly three months in police detention last year. Ai wants the court to overturn a tax office’s rejection of an appeal against the fine and back taxes imposed on Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd., which oversees his art and designs, for tax evasion. Karen in Europe call for refugee aid, political solution Friday, 20 July 2012 12:12 Mizzima News http://www.mizzima.com/news/world/7565-karen-in-europe-call-for-refugee-aid-political-solution.html More than 100 Karen from various communities across Europe have met to discuss the political situation in Burma and called for renewed efforts to achieve peace and increased aid to Karen refugees, after attending the third general meeting of the European Karen Network (EKN) in Sweden from July 13-14. The network welcomed the recent cease-fire agreement between the Burmese government and the Karen National Union, but it said that based on recent history it is still very cautious about the situation in Karen State and other ethnic areas. It called on the Burmese government to – Engage in dialogue with the Karen National Union for lasting political solutions that can guarantees the safety and security of the Karen people. We believe that a ceasefire alone without political solution will not bring genuine peace for our Karen people. – Create economic development that will benefit local people and ensure the protection of the environment. – Increase humanitarian aid especially refugee aid and cross-border humanitarian assistance for internally displaced people along the border areas. “European Governments and the international community focus too much on the small positive changes in central Burma and prematurely reduce pressure against the dictatorship while human rights situation in ethnic areas is getting worse,” said Naw Tah Eh Shee, a EKN board member and executive member of Karen Community Norway. “We have been suffering human rights abuses for decades. It is very disappointing that the EU and the rest of the international community fail to pay proper attention to what is happening in ethnic areas," he said. "They have been easily fooled by the Burmese government promising reform without yet delivering. EU and international governments should not ignore and neglect the on-going human rights situation in ethnic areas. “ The European Karen Network was set up in July 2009 with the aim to raise awareness about the Karen and the government of Burma. EVA to fly into Rangoon Friday, 20 July 2012 13:20 Mizzima News http://www.mizzima.com/news/breaking-and-news-brief/7570-eva-to-fly-into-rangoon.html Taiwan's second largest air carrier, EVA, has announced it will operate three Taipei-Yangon [Rangoon] flights per week starting Oct. 9 to reflect increasing business and tourist travel between the two countries. Many Taiwanese are either doing business or showing a growing interest in traveling to Burma, which has been isolated for decades, EVA said. The airlines said more than 30 per cent of its future clients are expected to be North American passengers making transfers to Burma via Taiwan. MD-90 jets will operate the route initially, with A321 aircraft taking over the route in the second quarter of 2013, the company said. Taiwan’s flagship carrier China Airlines currently operates four flights per week between Taipei and Yangon. Earlier this year, China Airlines said the number of flights would be increased to five per week starting Sept. 15. Kachin man still missing after being arrested by Burmese military 20-Jul-12 http://www.kachinnews.com/news/2354-kachin-man-still-missing-after-being-arrested-by-burmese-military.html An innocent villager from Yi Hku village in Pangsai, (or Kyukok) Township, northern Shan State, who was arbitrary arrested by the Burmese military on July 1, is still missing even though authorities claim they released him. Galau Bawm Yaw and 26 men from Yi Hku village were arrested by government troops who suspected them of being in contact with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). According to a local villager, the men were arrested following a clash between Burmese Battalion 109, 123, and 45 and KIA Battalion 36 on the morning of July 1. Government troops took them to the Pangsai police station and released most of them the same night after a headman lobbied on their behalf. But Galau Bawm Yaw’s wife says her husband is still missing. “I haven’t heard from him since they arrested him. There were rumors he was released on July 3. The village headman thought he was free but I didn’t see him. I don’t know what happened but suspect the Burmese military troops executed him and are lying to me. But I want to know if he really died or not. I need to see his body to know the truth,” said Galau Bawm Yaw’s wife. Two Chinese men, Jau Fa Ying and Jau Fa Ning, were also arrested. They were held by Burmese authorities for longer than the others people who were detained. The two men said they were tortured. Burmese soldiers covered their heads with a rag and burned them with candles, hot knives and cigarettes. The soldiers asked them if they were in contact with the KIA. According to a local villager the two men were released on July 4 when Burmese soldiers realized they were Chinese and not Kachin. “The Chinese men had several wounds on their bodies when they were released. The next day they went to the Pangsai hospital for x-rays. One of Jau Fa Ning’s bones was fractured,” said the villager. The local village head who appealed for the release of the 26 men was also arrested and beaten by Burmese soldiers. When he was released he had a head wound. Meanwhile Galau Bawm Yaw’s family members and his relatives are still searching for the missing man around Pangsai (Kyukok), said a local villager. Most of the villagers from Yi Hku have moved to Pangsai (Kyukok) Baptist Church IDPs Camp because of daily fighting between the KIA and Burmese military. Ms. Hkawn Ja who’s responsible for assisting the internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the camp says they are receiving some support but lack sufficient food and medicine for the 241 people they are sheltering. 23rd clash after ceasefire pact Friday, 20 July 2012 14:43 S.H.A.N. http://www.english.panglong.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4816:23rd-clash-after-ceasefire-pact&catid=86:war&Itemid=284 The Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) had just fought the 23rd engagement against a Burma Army column that had trespassed on the territory under its control on Wednesday, 18 July, according to local sources. The fight took place east of Na Piem village, Hsipaw township, 16:15-16:45 between the SSA’s First Brigade, commanded by Maj Hseng Fa, and the Burma Army’s Infantry Battalion 41, based in Lashio. The Burmese column was said to have suffered at least 10 killed and 15 wounded. Sai Mawng, 22, who was forced to serve as a guide for the Burmese column was among those killed. Hsaw Kianghai, 38, of Hsai Liang village, who was tending buffaloes near the battlefield was also taken into custody by the column as a suspect. “He is yet to be released,” said a fellow villager. “We fear he won’t be coming back at all.” According to the SSA, its liaison officer in Lashio was informed by the regional command in at advance that the column would only go as far as Na Piem and not beyond it. It remains to be seen how the regional command would respond to the clash that had taken place. The two sides had recently fought for the possession of two strategic hills in Monghsu, south of Lashio. It was the SSA that had retreated on both occasions. The meeting of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), the umbrella organization of which the SSPP/SSA is an active member, held on the Thai-Burmese border, 17-18 July, noted that 3 of its members that had reached ceasefire agreement with Naypyitaw were still being “forced to fight”: SSA (Shan State Army) 23 times KNU (Karen National Union) 2 times KNPP (Karenni National Progressive Party) 1 time As for the KIA that has yet to reach agreement, it has already fought 1,640 times since the 1994 ceasefire was violated by the Burma Army on 9 June 2011, reported Irrawaddy. The Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), the sister organization of the SSPP/SSA, that had also fought 24 times, noted that the reason the clashes that have taken place even after ceasefire agreements were signed, was because the Burma Army did not cease its military activities, especially “area clearing” and “area control” operations. The UNFC is made up of 11 member organizations: 5 of which have ceasefire status with Naypyitaw (KNU, KNPP, SSPP/SSA, Chin National Front and New Mon State Party) and 6 that have yet to reach agreement (KIA, National United Front of Arakan, Wa National Organization, PaO National Liberation Organization, Lahu Democratic Union and Palaung State Liberation Front).
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