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

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� Shan Diary January 2015Shan Diary January 2015Shan Diary January 2015Shan Diary January 2015Shan Diary January 2015

� RAPE-MURDER IN SHAN STATE THREATENS PEACE PROCESS!

�DO PRESIDENT AND C-IN-C SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE?

�BUDDHIST MONK’S UNBUDDHIST SPEECH MAY FURTHER

HURT COUNTRY IMAGE!

�GOVT, EAOS STRIVE TO MAKE THIS YEAR’S UNION DAY

SPECIAL!

�COUNTRY’S FIRST CARDINAL APPOINTED!

Economic

Ethnic Affairs

International Relations

The World

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Message to the Reader

Dear Reader:

February, as we all know, marks the month when leaders of Burma, Shan, Kachin and Chin nationssigned the historic Panglong Agreement to form a union for joint independence.

Solemn promises: Total Autonomy, Rights and Privileges fundamental in democratic countries and FinancialAutonomy were made, everyone of which have been broken up to this day. The result of brokenpromises is the 60 plus year old war in the whole land.

It still looks like there are leaders who still argue against “the promises of Panglong”. They suggest “thespirit of Panglong” should be sufficient.

Does it mean that “the spirit of Panglong” also encompasses “the Promises of Panglong”? If it doesthen we can all be rest assured everything’s going to be all right.

But if does not, then we will all be back in the fields fighting again, despite all the efforts that have beenmade to rebuild peace during the last 4 years.

So let us all hope and pray our leaders have learned their lessons well and are determined to see that allthe promises of Panglong are honored.

Thank you again for your continued staunch support.

Mysoong Kha! (All the best!)

SHAN DIARY JANUARY 2015

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

Think Piece

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Cartoon

Shan Diary, January 2015

Tips for Tamadaw: Keep on doing what you've been doing all these years!

How about our country’s leaders paraphrasing him?

There is no negro problem.

There is no Southern problem.

There is no Northern problem.

There is only an American problem.

President Lyndon Johnson, address to Congress, 15 March 1965, reported by Time, 10 January

2015

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The World

InternationalRelations

Thai-Burma Relations

7 January 2015

12 people, including two cartoonists of Charlie

Hebdo magazine that had infuriated the Muslim

world by depicting the Prophet Mohammed

gunned down on a raid in Paris. (AFP)

9 January 2015

Maithripala Sirisena sworn in as new Sri Lankan

president, after beating his predecessor

Mahinda Rajapakse in the elections. (Agencies)

4 January 2015

Charles Maung Bo appointed by Pope Francis as

one of 20 new cardinals. He will be eligible to

vote for the next pope. (Reuters)

7 December 2014

Officials from China, Burma, Laos and Thailand

attend meeting in Laos’ Bokeo province to

discuss border trade, hotels and tourism.

(Irrawaddy)

16 January 2015

Monk Wirathu, speaking to a crowd in Rangoon,

calls UN envoy Yanghee Lee ‘a whore’ for

offering her ‘arse to the Kalars’. (Reuters)

1 January 2015

Mae Sot- Myawaddy pass opened for 3 hours

longer everyday, 05:30-20:30.

(Bangkok Post)

2 January 2015

Deputy labor minister U Htin Aung says the

government is to carry census of all migrant

workers in Thailand by the end of March, both

documented and illegal, in a bid to offer

better protection. (MT)

Inside Burma

12 January 2015

20 Muslims, including a groom and bride-to-be,

sentenced to prison terms on terrorism charges

in Taunggyi. No evidence produced by the

officials, says lawyer Khin Moe Moe. (DVB)

17 January 2015

Right of Self Determination becomes ruling

Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)

principle at its central committee meeting in

Naypyitaw. (Mizzima)

SHAN DIARY JANUARY 2015

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

Ethnic Affairs

22 January 2015

Union Parliament votes in favor of tripling

salaries from $ 300 per month to $ 1,000 that

will take effect on 1 April. (Irrawaddy)

5 January 2015

President Thein Sein and C in C Min Aung Hlaing

hold separate meetings with 12 of the 14 groups

that have signed interim agreements. C in C says

the military will operate within the boundaries

of the law the ensure stability, peace and

development. He also emphasizes his 6-point

policy regarding peace process. Hkun Okker says

a letter has been handed to the President.

Contents undisclosed. (Irrawaddy/DVB)

20 January 2015

Two Kachin teachers badly raped and beaten to

death found in Kawng Kha village of Kutkhai.

(Irrawaddy)

20 January 2015

Former chief minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga

on a visit to Chiangmai urges infinite patience

to both sides negotiating for peace. (SHAN)

21 January 2015

Meeting between NCCT and MPC in Chiangmai

fails to reach agreement on the date for the 7th

meeting with UPWC. (SHAN)

22-29 January 2015

Chin National Front (CNT) holds CC meeting on

Indo-Burmese border. Declares that the NCA be

signed as soon as possible. The new chair is Pu

Thang Nang Lian Thang. (Khonum thing)

30 January 2015

RCSS, KNU, UWSA and NDAA meet in Mongla to

discuss on the ongoing peace process. (SHAN)

31 January 2015

UNFC calls for agreement to be signed with

Naypyitaw on Union Day to establish a federal

union. (Statement)

Shans/Shan State

12-14 January 2015

RCSS/SSA holds annual meeting to review

ongoing peace process. (SHAN)

30 December 2014

China’s Global Times publishes interview with

Peng Jiasheng who says Kokang will be retaken

with assistance from allies. The article is

removed on the next day. (7 day)

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Economy/ Business

Human Rights

5 January 2015

The next 12-month will be critical in terms of

economy, according to Treasury Today, magazine

based in Britain. Others agree, adding the

obstacles include:

• Inadequate banking and financial

facilities

• Rampant corruption

• Unexpected collapse of oil prices

• Lack of deep-water port for Rangoon

undermining manufacturing growth

(Irrawaddy)

28 January 2015

Sino-Burmese oil pipeline opens. Natural gas

pipeline began work in 2013. (Mizzima)

4 December 2014

AAPP says 164 political prisoners still being

held and 203 awaiting trial. (Mizzima)

12 January 2015

48 party meeting held in Naypyitaw, presided

by President Thein Sein, who says political

dialogue is needed to become a “union based

on flourishing democracy and federalism.” (DVB)

29 January 2015

Human Rights Watch (HRW) world report says

government continued to pass laws with

significant human rights limitations, failed to

address calls for constitutional reform ahead of

the 2015 elections and increased arrests of

peaceful critics, including land protesters and

Journalists. (Eleven)

Environment

5 January 2015

Water level on the Mekong recedes to 2.59m

from 3m on 1 January. Pagaimas Viera , owner

of Mekong Delta Travel Agency, says Chinese

authorities told her the upstream Jinghong dam

decreased its water discharges 3 days earlier.

Many barges in Chiangrai are being forced to

dock at local piers. (Bangkok Post) According to

27 December Bangkok Post report Songklod

Duanghaklang, director of the regional harbor

office in Chiangrai, had “brushed side concerns

SHAN DIARY JANUARY 2015

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

Drugs

over the problem of shallow stretches” saying “the construction of 11 Chinese dams across the

Mekong River have been completed, which means the water level will be easily manageable for

transport” -Editor

7 December 2014

The Irrawaddy water level declining lower than 3.7 meters (12 ft). (Eleven)

13 January 2015

Mong Keung township’s ward and village representatives meet with 8 representatives of Pyae

Aung Hein and Hein Metta companies to discuss coalmine project. It will affect water resources,

says MP Sai Pang. The Shan State government has been quiet about it, he adds.

(Mizzima)

15 January 2015

Safe Mekong Coordination Center (SMCC) launched in Chiangmai with two representatives each

from China, Laos and Burma. (Bangkok Post)

29 December 2014

ONCB has given arrest warrants for 10 drug suspects to Burmese authorities, says secretary general

Permpong Chaovalit. Among them is Col Yishay who “is believed to be linked with the Wa ethnic

group.” (Bangkok Post)

War

20 January 2015

Tycoon Tayza says 13-grade uranium has been found near Mogok. (Irrawaddy)

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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

I hope i don't have to ask the same question to myself!Happy New Year!