Day: October 12, 2012
Women in Muse township’s Mongpaw tract are up in arms against both drug addicts and peddlers
Worried of their children becoming drug users, women in Muse township’s Mongpaw tract are up in arms against both drug addicts and peddlers, according to sources coming to the Sino-Burmese border.
Keng Mai
Made up mostly of Kachin and Shan women, the group, since 2 months ago, has been launching raids on houses in villages suspected of selling drugs to the local people and youth. “They would burn up the drugs seized in public,” said a businessman who had visited the area. “They are also setting up their own treatment centers for addicts.”
The sources however were unable to offer more details.
Mongpaw has a Burma Army run People’s Militia Force (PMF), headed by Keng Mai, 42, who was “elected” as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Shan State Assembly in 2010. He is also a member of the ruling military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
During the 2010 election campaign, he reportedly told the villagers at one rally: “If you vote for me, I’ll be elected. But if you don’t vote for me, I’ll still be elected.”
He has been named by Shan Drug Watch 2012 as one of the 9 druglords in Parliament. All are USDP members.
Naypyitaw, on 5 October, declared the end date for drug eradication in the country has been moved from 2014 to 2019.
Mediator works with government and opposition groups to promote successful peace discussion User Rating:
Kristian Gould from PACRIM Associates, a marketing consultancy that serves as a bridge between clients, government and industry, is working as a mediator between the Myanmar government and opposition groups in attempts to ensure successful peace discussions. At a recent civil peace meeting she gave the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) suggestions on how to have a smooth discussion with the government, said a Karenni representative who attended. “She is observing the discussion between the current Myanmar government and ethnic arms groups. She’s contacted us, and also spoken with the government, and given us advice on how we should go about our peace discussion with the government so it will be effective,” said the Karenni representative.
PACRIM Associates said in order to assure peace in Myanmar a mediator is needed to effectively communicate between the government and the ethnic opposition groups. Seven representatives from UNFC attended a consultation meeting that was held from October 5th to the 7th. During the meeting Gould reviewed the governments Union Level Peacemaking Agenda, which highlights 8 points, and also the Six-Point Ethnic Peace Road Map that was drawn up at the Panglong Conference in Chiang Mai last September. Gould also pointed out the use of government propaganda and said that they are using media as a weapon against ethnic groups. She suggested that ethnic groups use media to express the truth from their side. Continue reading “Mediator works with government and opposition groups to promote successful peace discussion User Rating:”
Toronto_Canada Calling: Peaceful protest against attack on Buddhism in Bangladesh
Peaceful protest against attack on Buddhism – This Saturday at 2pm
A peaceful protest will be taking place in Toronto against brutal attack on Buddhism in Bangladesh. Please join to show your solidarity with Buddhists under attack by the extremists.
You may remember that all Buddhist villages and Buddhist Monasteries in Maungdaw & Bhuthitaung townships in Burma’s Northern Rakhaine State were also attacked during communal violence in June 2012.
When: Saturday October 13, 2012; from 2pm to 4pm
Where: The Speaker’s Corner located at Nathan Philip Square of the Toronto City Hall
Requested to arrive by 1:45pm.
Ye Yint Nge‘s photo.
democracy for burma 
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