Briefs

Briefs

Landslide kills several 

On 18 June, 15:00, several people who were picking tea leaves at Wanlom, Namhsan Township, were caught by a landslide caused by heavy rains. So far, only 9 are known to be dead. The rest are still missing. 

Namhsan has been traditionally a tea country. 

Reporting time: 18:20, 24 June 

NGO workers arrested 

On 16 June, 13 local members of the Save the Children Fund (U.K.) in northern Shan State were taken into custody by MI-23. They included 3 men and 10 women from Hsenwi (32 miles north of Lashio), Muse (110 miles) and Namkham (129 miles). 

One of them is Nang Noanzing, former wife of Col Karnyawd, Secretary General to Shan State Peace Council, a coalition of Shan ceasefire groups. 

Two charges were made against them: holding a meeting in Zegao and Mongmao (Ruili) across the border the previous day without permission and meeting with anti-government elements. 

All of them were released on 19 June after U Soe Naing and Daw Nwe Nwe Aye from SCF's Rangoon branch office came up to appeal on their behalf. 

The SCF has been active in northern Shan State since 1998, said the source.