If Naypyidaw wants peace, it must stop its military advances into Shan ceasefire territories
On October 11, 2015, the Burma Army began firing shells towards the SSPP/SSA headquarters at Wan Hai, in Ke See township, endangering thousands of civilians, and in the past few days has reinforced hundreds of troops to the area, causing fears of an imminent ground attack. On October 14, the Burma Army launched a new attack on the SSPP/SSA in the Tangyan area. These attacks are likely to lead to further displacement in the coming days.
Shan CBOs strongly condemn this new offensive, the indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, and the forced displacement of civilians. These attacks are part of a systematic military operation over the past few years by Naypyidaw to seize territory from the SSPP/SSA, in violation of its existing ceasefire agreement signed in January 2012.
By launching this new offensive just before the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), Naypyidaw is making it clear that it has no interest in political negotiations to solve the conflict. It is persisting with its decades-long strategy of seizing and occupying the ethnic lands by force. In other words, the current non-inclusive NCA is just a divide-and-rule tactic to temporarily pacify some armed groups while crushing others, and will not bring peace.
Therefore, if the international community wants genuine peace in Burma, it is urgently needed to publicly condemn this new offensive and put pressure on Napyidaw to end its advances into ethnic territories and pull back its troops from these areas.
Shan CBOs also urge international donors to provide urgently needed humanitarian aid to those displaced by the recent conflict in Central Shan State, through local community based organizations.
Endorsed by the following Shan CBOs:
- Shan Human Rights Foundation
- Shan State Development Foundation
- Shan Sapawa Environmental Organization
- Shan Youth Power
- Shan Women’s Action Network
- Worker Solidarity Association
- Migrant Worker Federation
- Shan Literature and Culture Society (Chiang Mai)
- Shan Literature and Culture Association in Mong Su
- Shan Youth Network Group
- Shan Youth Power Group
- Organizations in Toom toan tai
- Shan Refugee Committee
- Koong Jor Refugee Committee
- Shan Youth Organization
- Jao Khur Tai Organization
- Shan Students’ Union Chiangmai
- Shan Farmers’ Network
Contact persons:
Sai Khur Hseng +66 (0)81-672-2031 Shan, Burmese, English
Nang Charm Tong +66 (0)81-603-6655 Shan, Thai, English
Sai Hor Hseng +66 (0)62-9419600 Shan, English
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