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

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� Shan Diary April 2015Shan Diary April 2015Shan Diary April 2015Shan Diary April 2015Shan Diary April 2015

� CHINA WANTS NO WAR ON ITS BORDER!

�BANDUNG CONFERENCE 1955 REMEMVERED!

�POLITICAL PRISONERS ON THE INCREASE!

�WA TO HOLD HISTORIC 12 PARTY CONFERENCE!

�CRONY REMOVED FROM US BLACKLIST!

Economic

Ethnic Affairs

International Relations Inside Burma

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Message to the Reader

Dear Reader:

The word ‘compromise’ has more and more become a buzz-word following reform and peace talksannouncements made by Naypyitaw in 2011.

It has been, and always will be, an evil word for some on both sides of the fence. To them, compromisemeans both parties are getting what neither of them wants: One’s victory and the other’s defeat.

To others, compromise means “to live and let live”. It is sharing and conciliatory, loving and kind. Insteadof defeating each other, we find ways to live together —or separately —in peace.

Of course, the first group doesn’t see the other in a friendly way. To it, the other is a defeatist. Somemembers of the second group may also see the first group as one who is in the way of resolution ofissues in a peaceful manner.

But, in actuality, the two may be complementing each other toward the same goal. Because we havehawks, it makes it imperative for doves to reach agreements as quickly as possible. Which may nothappen, if we have only doves, with no hawks to help push up the prices.

I therefore hope that groups like the Karen National Union (KNU) which comprises both hawkish anddovish elements are able to preserve their unity on the principle of Common Goal and DiverseActions in their quest for Karen.

Then we may be able to bring peace and prosperity to this land and people in our lifetime.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mysoong Kha! (All the best!)

SHAN DIARY APRIL 2015

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

Think Piece

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Cartoon

Shan Diary, April 2015

Tips for 22 April Earth Day: A think piece

China, unlike in 2009, 2012 and 2013 has reacted quickly to the influx of more than 30,000

refugees. It sets up refugee camps and bolsters PLA presence along the border. This signals to

the Tatmadaw that Beijing is taking the issue seriously.

The Diplomat, 22 April 2015

Will there be another Cold War?

Last century’s Cold War was based on three necessary conditions: mutual nuclear deterrence

and ideological conflicts were the main contradictions, while proxy war was the main means of

competition. Now we have mutual nuclear deterrence, contradictions over international norms

and scientific and technological innovation as well as pursuit of friendly ties as the means of

competition.

Yan Xuetong, Tsinghua University, Beijing, Bangkok Post, 25 April 2015

Whereas there are no Mon or Kayin political parties in Thailand, though Mon and Kayin live in

Thailand, they persist in Myanmar.

Professor Robert H. Taylor, Mizzima, 28 April 2015

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The World

InternationalRelations

13 April

Internet security company FireEye says a cyber

espionage group likely sponsored by China has

been snooping on governments and businesses

in Southeast Asia and India undetected for the

last ten years. (AFP)

25 April 2015

Times of India reports anti-talks faction of United

Liberation Front of Assam, National Socialist

Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), National

Democratic Front of Bodo land (Songbijit) and

Meitei groups of Manipur have formed a new

platform called United Liberation Front of West

Southeast Asia.

(Mizzima)

25 April 2015

Magnitude 7.8 quake strikes Nepal killing

estimately more than 10,000 and affecting some

8 million people.

(Agencies)

27 April 2015

Ten most censored countries

1. Eritrea

2. North Korea

3. Saudi Arabia

4. Ethiopia

5. Azerbaijan

6. Vietnam

7. Iran

8. China

9. Myanmar

10. Cuba

(Statement)

27 April 2015

World’s 20 top military spenders, with burdens

of 4% or more of GDPs:

Oman Algeria Russia

Saudi Arabia Israel Lebanon

South Sudan Angola Myanmar

Chad UAE Armenia

Libya Azerbaijan Iraq

Republic of Congo Namibia Bahrain

Yemen Syria

(DVB)

8 April 2015

US embassy speaks on 2008 constitution:

� It should be amended to allow civilian

control of the military

� Failure to amend will raise questions

about the credibility of reforms (but

does not go so far as to say it would

undermine the legitimacy of elections)

� Legitimacy of the elections will be

determined by the people of Burma

(Reuters)

16 April 2015

Naypyitaw hires Podesta Group by signing a $

840,000 contract to promote the country’s

rapprochement with US.

(Irrawaddy)

SHAN DIARY APRIL 2015

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

Thai-Burma Relations

Inside Burma

Ethnic Affairs

21-24 April 2015

President Thein Sein heads for Jakarta to attend

the 2015 Asian- African Conference (AAC) and

celebrate the 60 year anniversary of the 1955

Bandung Declaration on Peaceful Coexistence.

(Agencies)

27 April 2015

Xi Jinping meets Shwe Mann, chairman of Union

Solidarity and Development Party in Beijing,

calls on both sides to maintain border peace,

among others.

(ECNS)

28 April 2015

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei tells daily

news briefing China has “lodged stern

representations” with Burma over shelling from

the Burma Army that have fallen into China

causing damage to property. He doesn’t give

exact date of the said incident. (Reuters)

29 April 2015

Township Border Committee (TBC) assists in

transit of ethnic representatives bound for

Panghsang Conference, 1-3 May.

(SHAN)

6 April 2015

AAPP says 172 political prisoners are now

serving time while 296 others are awaiting trial.

(Irrawaddy)

8 April 2015

Lower House approves amendments to the

National Education Law passed last year.

(Irrawaddy)

8 April 2015

President meets 41 key political figures to

discuss 3 key points: the peace process, general

elections and political stability before the

elections. This is the second time since 12

January that key figures meet. (Xinhua)

Absentees include: Hkun Htun Oo and Gen Min

Aung Hlaing. (RFA)

10 April 2015

6 party talks in Naypyitaw focuses on

constitutional amendments.

(Agencies)

3 April 2015

Election Commission calls on Mon National Party

to explain why it issued joint statement last

month with New Mon State Party.

(Irrawaddy)

6 April 2015

Invitation by organizers from UWSA,NDAA and

KIO for 12 EAOs to attend consultation on 1-3

May in Panghsang. There are 16 groups

recognized by the government. (SHAN)

7 April 2015

UNFC issues statement saying the NCA could be

signed only after agreement by EAOs and

“necessary implementation.” (Statement)

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Shans/Shan State

Economy/ Business

9 April 2015

Police have issued warrant for MNDAA

spokesman Tun Lwin aka Tun Myat Lin aka Peng

Ah Ti aka Tung Khaichang for defamation, says

police source. He is a resident of Maymyo Pyin

Oo Lwin.

(7 Day, Mizzima)

13-17 April 2015

U Aung Min and his delegation visits Japan to

meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and hold public

talks. (DVB) Japan will join Joint Monitoring

Committee as observer, he says. (Mizzima)

21-22 April 2015

US ambassador Derek Mitchell visits Hakha and

meets leaders including those from CNF.

(Chinland Guardian)

22 April 2015

Chinese president Xi Jinping tells his Burmese

counterpart on the sidelines of the AAC in

Jakarta that China supports to find a political

solution to “northern Myanmar issue” via peace

negotiations. He “hopes to see new dynamics

of the peace process in Burma at an early date.”

(Xinhua)

23 April 2015

NCA draft still needs to be discussed and

amended, according to KNU deputy president

Zipporah Sein:

• Does not include a ceasefire Code of

Conduct (COC)

• Transition period not included

• CBO call for mega economic projects to

be stopped is not also included

• No clear provision or procedure written

in order to amend the 2008 constitution

(Karen News)

3 April 2015

China demarcates some 150 acres of Shan lands

in Namkham for a planned bridge linking two

countries.

(Irrawaddy)

6 April 2015

Mass demonstrations in support of peace

process held in Taunggyi, Lashio, Loilem,

Kyaukme, Muse and Kengtung. They were, also

held in Mon State. Participants say they were

ordered by local authorities, who in turn refer

to higher authorities, to stage said

demonstrations.

(SHAN/7 Daily)

9 April 2015

Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) reached a

record of $ 8 billion during the 2014-15 fiscal

year, more than doubling last year’s $ 3.5 billion,

according to Myanmar Investment commission.

Singapore $ 4.2 billion

Hong Kong $ 850 million

China $ 516 million

SHAN DIARY APRIL 2015

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

Human Rights

Environment

Many US firms are reportedly resorting to

opening offices in Singapore in order to avoid

potential risks involved in doing business with

blacklisted businessmen, says Aung Naing Oo,

Directorate of Investment and Company

Administration (DICA).

(Irrawaddy)

19 April 2015

Tin prices have gone down due to flood of supply

from Burma, according to London Metal

Exchange, to $ 14,850 per ton.

(Dow Jones)

23 April 2015

World Bank announces new funding package

worth $ 1.6 billion in credit as well as $ 1 billion

from its private investment arm for Burma. This

is the first full framework for the country since

1984, 31 years ago. (DVB)

23 April 2015

Win Aung, president of Burma’s main business

association and his companies, removed from

US treasury’s sanctions list.

(AP)

21 April 2015

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

condemning misuse of Peaceful Assembly and

Peaceful Procession Act by the government, and

the judicial system still under control of

administrative and executive authorities, calls

for the passing of regulations in terms of the said

Act. “Democratic life is still a fantasy in

Myanmar,” it says.

(Statement)

22 April 2015

Complaint filed by villagers of Kong Kon, Tawng

Nao tract, Loilem distract, rejected by district

administrative office. The case is about the

alleged rape by Corporal Myint Thein of LIB513

based in Loilem of a 14-year old girl from the

village on 17 April.

(SHAN)

6 April 2015

Locals of Mongton, meeting the Snowy

Mountain Engineering Corporation (SME) of

Australia, leave the meeting hall to

demonstrate displeasure over dam construction

on the Salween.

(SHAN)

8 April 2015

Haze pollution discussion at Chulalongkorn

University hears Bio Thai Foundation director

Witoon Lianchamroon putting the blame

squarely on commercial maize planters than

traditional highland tribe people. He shows a

graph that demonstrates close relationship

between maize prices and the number of forest

fires. Maize operators include CP that has

contracts also in Burma and Laos.

(Bangkok Post)

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Drugs

29 April 2015

Safe Mekong joint Operation meeting in

Chiangmai agrees to extend drug crackdown,

11 May-11 September.

(Bangkok Post)

War

18 April 2015

Second clash between AA’s Brigade 5 and LIB

539 in Kyauktaw. One AA fighter killed. The

first clash in Arakan was on 29 March.

(Irrawaddy)

19 April 2015

Government issues statement on Kokang

offensive:

Clashes 253 government killed 126

wounded 359

Kokang killed 74

Arms confiscated 226

Kokang surrender 22

(DVB/Irrawaddy)

23 April 2015

Obituary

The Burma Army, while attacking an MNDAA

stronghold northeast of Laogai today, uses

chemical shells, alleged MNDAA spokesman

Tun Myat Lin.

According to him:

• The shells emit different colors of

smoke: red, yellow, blue and even

bright white

• Sharply sweet smelling

• Fighters vomit while eating or drinking

and feel weak afterward

(VOA)

21 April 2015

Burma marks the first anniversary of respected

journalist U Win Tin’s death by wearing blue

shirts. He had worn his blue prison shirt every

day after release from prison in 2008 “until there

are no political prisoners.”

(Mizzima/Agenies)

SHAN DIARY APRIL 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

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