Statement of Ethnic Nationalities Conference

Statement of Ethnic Nationalities Conference


20 Feb 2011

Ethnic Nationalities Conference
February 12 – 16, 2011

Statement

1. Fifty one out of the fifty six delegates invited from the CNF, KNPP, NUPA, PNLO, WNO, LDU, KNU, PSLF, KIO, NMSP, KNO, ALD, UNLD-LA, KNLP and SSPP attended the Ethnic Nationalities Conference, which was held for five days, from February 12 to 16, and keenly discussed for greater unified action of the ethnic nationality forces, in the future.

2. The Conference was able to organize for the emergence of an umbrella organization representing

BGF Issue Remains Major Challenge in 2011

- - - those concerned nationally and internationally with peace and democracy in Burma should actively engage with the ethnic armed groups and involve them in discussions about political change.
- - - the world has focused on the struggle of the democratic opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who has become an international icon, but almost completely ignored ethnic minority issues and the relevance of the cease-fire agreements.

Read more

Burma ethnic groups seek talks with junta - World Net Daily

Leaders of the ethnic Karen in eastern Burma, who have been fighting for autonomy from the country's military dictatorship since 1949, say the recent election results and government policies put the regime on a collision course with failure.


The statement was issued after the KNU's 14th annual congress.

The KNU said that while it's thankful for the release from house arrest of pro-democracy advocate and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the fraudulent November elections show that the military regime – which calls itself the State Peace and Development Council, the SPDC – has no intention of moving towards a democratic Burma.

Read more (Note three embedded audio links)

Inside KNLA Brigade 5 with the Free Burma Rangers

Inside KNLA Brigade 5 with the Free Burma Rangers

Refugees Again Pour Into Thailand after Fighting Resumes

Refugees Again Pour Into Thailand after Fighting Resumes

After Burma Poll, Conflict Looms - The Diplomat

While the election may provide the basis for the creation of regional parliaments that could allow some degree of ethnic representation, observers say that most of the ethnically-affiliated parties have close links to the regime and will do little to advance minority interests.

MAE LA CAMP, THAILAND—Aside from the checkpoints, it could be any village in Thailand. The bamboo houses, bisected by dirt lanes and picturesque streams, are well-tended and strung with brightly-coloured laundry; in dirt-floored cafes, men in Burmese longyi (sarongs) chat over shots of sugary tea and chew betel nut, while nearby stalls stock the latest Thai cosmetics and DVDs. Children, their cheeks daubed with swirls of traditional thanaka face paint, chant lessons in Burmese and English in well-equipped bamboo classrooms. Read more

Burma's Nuclear Adventure—The Real Threat - Irrawaddy

 For several years reports have been emerging from Burma about its nuclear ambitions, supported by claims of varying provenance about equipment purchases and overt attempts to buy nuclear technology from Russia.

Now a brave military officer, who defected from the secretive state, has provided photographs of specialized machine shops building chemical equipment that is almost certainly designed for processing uranium chemical compounds to enrich uranium.

The only reason for Burma to be taking this secretive path is to embark on a weapons program. There is no other logical fit for the pieces.

The good news is that the technology is far too complex for Burma to master easily. The photos and information provided by the defector show a dysfunctional program. It has made terrible technology choices and the quality of the workmanship we can observe is primitive.

Read more

FBR REPORT: DKBA Continue to Forcibly Recruit Villagers while the Karen Peace Force Joins the Burma Army Border Guard Force

DKBA - The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army broke away from the Karen National Union in 1995 and have been fighting alongside the Burma Army ever since.


BGF - The SPDC has issued an ultimatum to various cease-fire and proxy groups stating that they have to join a "Border Guard Force." This involves the groups giving up operational control to Burma Army officers under threat of dissolution.

Karen Peace Force - The Karen Peace Force was created 1997 after a battalion split off from the Karen National Liberation Army (the military arm of the Karen National Union).
Read more

FBR Training Report: Graduation of New Ranger Teams in Southern Karen State

Dear Friends,


Thank you so much for your love and support. We have just finished training seven Karen relief teams in Southern Karen State, including three completely new teams. These teams successfully completed Leadership and Relief Team Training in Karen State. They are now on their way to relief missions to help people displaced by the attacks of the Burma Army. The teams received training in different subject areas, which will improve their ability to help their people and to put a light on the situation in Burma. (See the list of Subject Areas below.)
Read more

Than Shwe’s ‘Final Solution’ for ethnic Burma | Democratic Voice of Burma

By ZOYA PHAN

Published: 24 September 2010

The international community has never paid proper attention to what happens in ethnic areas of Burma. The Burmese army’s attacks against civilians – even the shooting and killing women and babies, and the mortar bombing of schoolchildren in Karen state – are ignored by media and diplomats. The focus is almost exclusively on what happens in Rangoon, and what happens with Aung San Suu Kyi.

Read more

Twilight of the DKBA? - Irrawaddy

Since it signed an agreement with the Burmese military regime and held ceremonies marking its decision to join the border guard force (BGF), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) has been written off by many Burma observers for wilting under the pressure of the military junta.


Many say the ethnic cease-fire group is at its endgame and that its troops can only look forward to a grim future under the command of the Burmese army.

Read more

Karen People Worldwide Call for Peace on International Peace Day - by Zoya Phan

Friday, 17 September 2010 at 09:26.  Media release from Karen community worldwide

For immediate release 17th September 2010

Karen People Worldwide Call for Peace on International Peace Day

Karen people around the world have come together in support of recent statement made by the Karen National Union, to call for peace in Burma on the World Peace Day on 21st of September.

For so many decades, the Karen people have been targeted for planned, widespread and systematic attacks by the ruling regimes which have forced hundreds of thousands of Karen civilians into hiding, refugee camps

BURMA'S NUCLEAR BATTALION - Dictator Watch

BURMA’S NUCLEAR BATTALION

By Roland Watson
August 28, 2010

Please forward.

In June, we published lists of 660 Burma military officers who in 2009 began masters or doctoral programs in Russia at fourteen different technical universities. We now understand that the lists were prepared for
submission to and approval by Russia’s Foreign Minister. They were in English to facilitate this communication.

http://www.dictatorwatch.org/prstudentlists.html

Of the 2009 class - Batch 9, 111 were directly assigned to the SPDC's nuclear project. We have

Lives of Karen youths celebrated in funeral services - Utica, NY - The Observer-Dispatch

Lives of Karen youths celebrated in funeral services - Utica, NY - The Observer-Dispatch

An Ardent Appeal to the Peoples of the Western World - Kanbawza Win

I am an insignificant Burmese expatriate, even as my native country, Union of Burma is irrelevant to the international community. I am just one of the 55 million plus people suffering silently, at the hands of the Burmese military thugs. And now, may I take your precious time just to tell you my version of the story couple with my vision.

The one unmistakable message, which I like to convey to you is that (Click the link below to watch the video and read more)
 
http://www.burmaliberationfront.org/declarations/appeal050510.htm

Southwestern Papun District: Transitions to DKBA control along the Bilin River - KHRG

August 18, 2010

Since late 2009, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) has strengthened its presence in southwestern Dweh Loh Township, Papun District, increasing troop levels and camps, commencing gold mining operations on the Bilin River, and enforcing movement restrictions on the civilian population. Residents of the village tracts near the Bilin River and along the Bilin to Papun road, which follows the eastern bank of the Bilin River north through the centre of Dweh Loh Township (see map), have told KHRG field researchers that they have faced heavy demands for forced labour to support the increased DKBA presence, detracting from the time they can spend on livelihoods activities. Communities with a DKBA camp nearby have had livelihoods further curtailed, as DKBA soldiers have enforced strict curfews and other movement restrictions that have prevented villagers from spending sufficient time in their fields.
Read more

Mr. Beard Breaks Away

Mr. Beard Breaks Away

USA Backs UN Burma Crimes Inquiry – Now EU Must Support - Campaign for Burma UK

USA Backs UN Burma Crimes Inquiry – Now EU Must Support


18 Aug 2010

Burma Campaign UK today welcomed US backing for a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma, and called on European Union members to also express support.

On 17th August the USA became the fifth county to publicly support a UN Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma. The other countries are Australia, UK, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Junta Buys DKBA Allegiance

Junta Buys DKBA Allegiance

Fair Elections in Burma?

Aug 16, 2010


by: Admin— Partners USA @ 10:23 am

Fair Elections in Burma?

Many people have asked me what my opinion is on the upcoming elections in Burma. Naturally they think that this is a step towards progress and democracy. I don’t believe the election will change things for the people of Burma. But rather than describing my reasoning, I am going to paste a speech that was delivered to