Media release of Tai Youth Conference
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
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