December 29, 2013

The first national Tai Youth Conference was held in Mandalay from 27 to 29 December 2013, and altogether about 250 youth- both Tai women and men from 49 townships of Burma attended the conference.

The conference  was opened with the key note speeches of the Shan State Member of Parliament Nang Kham Aye, the Chairperson of Shan Literature and Culture Association (Universities of Upper Burma) Dr. Sai Naw Khur, and the Chairperson of Mandalay Shan Literature and Culture Association Khun Tun Sarm.

The purpose of the conference was to start the process of forming a coordination team of Tai youth across Burma in time of current political development in Burma so that both Tai women and men youth will be able to increase their voices and concerns in various issues at different levels including current peace process. Moreover, it also aimed at enabling Tai youth to fully enjoy their rights.

During the three days’ conference, Tai youth discussed the issues of capacity building (formal and non-formal education), literature and culture, drug and migrant issue, and youth political participation.  Tai youth also pointed out that there is limited space and support for youth in the leadership role and decision-making processes.

In addition, Tai youth discussed the problems and challenges particularly faced by the youth in the area they are living in. The following reflects the reality of Tai youth situation in Burma.
 
While the Tai population has long been experiencing from forced migration, and loss of in historical and cultural heritage due to the political instability and ongoing armed conflict, Tai youth have very limited access to education, that resulting in and limited opportunity to decent job and face unemployment

They also have the issue of drug use, which has led to low quality of living standard, deteriorating of health including HIV/ AIDS
Tai young women have been faced with limited access to basic information and services of reproductive health, and they are vulnerable to human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Apart from these, Tai people have been suffering from land grabbing, environmental degradation, forced migration and chemical poisoning, due to some mega-development and mining projects.

Obviously, the political instability and armed conflict have serious impact on the Tai youth. Therefore, all the participants at the Tai Youth Conference have called all stakeholders  for genuine and lasting peace in Burma, laid-down of education and health policies in comply with international standard and the rights to freely preserve the Tai’s literature and culture, and the safe return and resettlement of Tai migrant workers outside Burma other countries 
Therefore, Tai youth attending the conference have unanimously agreed that in order to solve the problems and challenges, there is a need for a coordinating network of Tai Youth Network, which will coordinate and communicate to effectively tackle the youth affairs.

For details, please contact:
Sai Hseng Mong: 09 526 2936
Sai Hsai Leng: 09 4315 9639
Sai Wan Leng Kham:  - 09 4451 08 235