Shan Groups: International Community Ignores War Crimes in Shan State
Yesterday a coalition of over 30 Shan community-based
organizations (CBOs) called
for the international community to take action on the current offensive in
central Shan State by the Burma Army.
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| Press conference held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand ( FCCT ) |
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’
Club of Thailand (FCCT) in Bangkok, Sai Khur Hseng, of the Shan Sapawa
Environmental Organization, questioned the “silence” of the international
community regarding ongoing fighting which has displaced 10,000 civilians since
early October.
“Why don’t they say anything about it?”
said Sai Khur Hseng. “Or do they think that Shan State is not part of Burma?”
“[They]
were happy with the election and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signing,
but they ignore the current conflict in the country,” he added.
Despite
the presence of previous ceasefires, the war re-started on October 6 between
the government military and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-North
(SSPP/SSA-N). Since then, central Shan State has only experienced four days
without clashes.
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| Map of displacement caused by Burma army offensive in central Shan State |
“Keeping
silent about Naypyidaw’s latest attacks and war crimes is giving the green
light to these atrocities,” said Nang Charm Tong, a Shan human rights activist
and a spokesperson for the coalition of CBOs at the conference.
The Shan coalition urged
international governments to condemn Burma government action against civilians,
and to immediately end both military reinforcement and offensives in the ethnic
areas.
“They
should not solve the problem with the armed forces,” said Sai Khur Hseng. “When
there is fighting, the civilians are the victims—not only Shan people but also
other ethnic groups like Ta’ang, Lisu and others.”
“The
government must responsible for the loss of the citizens’ property,” he added.
The statement
released by the CBOs also highlights growing economic and strategic ties with
Burma’s military power holders as a reason for inaction by the international
community, despite the Burmese government’s aggression against ethnic people.
The event was attended by
representatives from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), media agencies the
Thai and the Shan community.
By SAI AW / Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)
Tags: Human Rights, Opinion, Politics
