2008

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Revered Shan monk prays for Burma’s generals

“I pray for the well-being of the people of Shan State and Burma as well as the country’s rulers,” Krubar Boonchoom Nyanasangvaro told thousands of his devout worshipers coming from Burma, Yunnan, Laos and Thailand in Maesai on 4 January, a day before his 43rd birthday.

Thailand ready to reopen closed border checkpoint

Thailand is ready to reopen the Kiu Pha Wok checkpoint between Burma’s Mongton and Chiang Mai, closed since 2002, according to the Thai-language The Manager Online.

Shan community in Chiang Mai mourns for the late Princess

Yesterday, Shan community in Chiang Mai led by the Shan Literature and Cultural Committee, Chiang Mai (SLCC) organized a 15 days of mourning for the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

Burma announces ban on cars with Chinese license plates

On January 15, at 9:00 am, a Burma official issued a statement banning on Chinese vehicles from stopping overnight in Muse, at the Sino-Burma border in Northern Shan State.

The Moon Princess: Another book on Burma

This is one of the books that just reached my eager hands and I can’t wait to tell you about it though I have just gone through only a few pages of it.

Border opening a one-sided love affair

Hundreds of Thai entrepreneurs who turned up at the opening ceremony of the Kiu Phawok border pass between Chiangmai and Burma’s Mongton this morning amid the unexpected downpour were disappointed when the other side of the border remained empty of humanity.

Novices killed by two mysterious cutthroats

Two mysterious men sliced off two novices’ throats without apparent reason in Kunhing, Southern Shan State, according to SHAN reporter on the border.

Murder by Proxy: The Story of Fake Artesunate

Saw James felt unwell, with sudden onset of high fevers and shivering, despite the tropical heat of eastern Burma. By the time he reached the nearest clinic, a days walk away, his friend was half-dragging him.

The memory of great leaders will remain fresh

On Valentines' day, 14th February at about 5 pm, while I was working on the computer, the phone rang. "Did mother call you?" my older sister who lives in the refugee camp asked me. She sounded like something is wrong. "No, she didn't, what happened?" I asked.

Like father, like son: Some aspects of a disabled refugee

“I am not shy having a disabled father, but I am worried for him. With the disability, struggling for a life is so difficult and rough,” said a little boy, who looked deeply sad. So was I, with tears gathering in my eyes, I could not continue our conversation.

2 die from fire at Market in Mandalay

This morning at about 8:00 am, a fire in Yadanabon market in Mandalay, the second largest capital city of Burma broke out and causing at least 2 dead according to a source in Mandalay.

Fire razes 13 houses, kills one

Fire broke out in Kengtung, Eastern Shan State, 160 Km north of the Thai-Burma border, where 13 houses were destroyed and a local was killed, according to S.H.A.N sources from the border.

Border pass remains closed

A month after the unilateral reopening of the Kiu Pha Wok border pass between Burma’s Mongton and Thailand’s Chiangmai, the Burmese side has yet to reciprocate, say sources from the border.

Funeral in Bangkok

Sao Lern aka John Hpa, 61, passed away at Bangkok’s Bamrungrat Hospital last night, 29 February at 22:00. He had been suffering from lung cancer, according to one of the organizers of his funeral.

Breaking News: Singer Htee Hseng passes away

Popular Shan singer Sai Htee Hseng, 58, who exploded into prominence by singing songs composed by Sai Kham Lek, in the early 1970’s, passed way at 07:50 at his home in Kyaukmyaung, Rangoon. He had been reportedly suffering from weak lungs.

Sai Htee Hseng: Singer who engaged in dialogue

Sai Htee Hseng, who passed away this morning at his home in Rangoon, is “an example of Shan artists who, instead of drawing boundaries that are inclusive and exclusive, engage in dialogue with those of Burmese representations,” according to Amporn Jirattikorn, Ph.D Candidate from the University of Texas, at the Shan Buddhism and Culture Conference, held in London, 8-9 December 2007.

SSA former leader dies from hypertension

A former leader of Shan State Army – North yesterday died from high blood pressure in Ruili, Yunnna, reports Shan Herald reporter Hawkeye, better known as U Sein Kyi.

Lawyer vows to fight for disabled migrant’s rights to the end

A Thai legal counsel who is handling the case for three migrant workers, one of whom was paralysed in December 2006 while working at a hotel construction site in Chiangmai, declares today he hopes his lawsuit ends successfully at the local administrative court as he is ready to take the matter not only to the supreme law court in Thailand but also to the international arena.

Another former ceasefire commander passes away

On 13 April, a former brigade commander of Shan State National Army (SSNA) died from high blood pressure in Lashio, northern Shan State according to local sources.

Wa Christians mark centennial

The 100th year ceremony to mark coming of Christ was held for three days, 16-18 April, in Kengtung, the capital of Shan State East, according to Lahu and Shan sources returning to the border.

Authorities have no time for trifles like buffalo killing disease

More than 200 water buffaloes, used for plowing fields and pulling vehicles, have dropped dead since Songkran after suffering a hitherto unheard off “stand still” disease, in Shan State East, yet authorities are taking no notice of it let alone taking serious steps to deal with it, according to a reliable source coming to the border.

SSA guarantees visiting PM’s safety

Shan State Army (SSA) leader Col Yawd Serk has given firm assurance to Thai authorities that Prime Minister Thein Sein, who is on a 3-day visit to the kingdom starting today, has nothing to worry when he comes up to northern Thailand that shares a border with his domain, Burma’s Shan State.

Death of Shan Herald chief’s namesake causes a stir

News of the unexpected death on Sunday, 27 April, of a former resistance fighter, who shared the same first name with SHAN’s editor in chief Khuensai Jaiyen, had caused a brief commotion among the Shan community in Chiangmai.

Visiting junta PM’s destination off-limits to the media

Maximum security has been “bestowed” to Prime Minister Thein Sein and his entourage, who are on a 3-day visit to the kingdom, and the media has been barred from traveling to Doi Tung in Chiangrai, where he is expected to arrive tomorrow.

Migrant reps join May Day parade

40 representatives from migrant work sites in Chiangmai were invited to join forces with the May Day march held in Lamphun, 30 km south of Chiangmai, this morning, according to sources returning from the event.

Workers call for rights on May Day

About 600 workers including 40 representatives from migrant work sites in Chiangmai have drawn attention to their rights yesterday, at May Day ceremony held in Lamphun, 30 km south of Chiangmai.

Burma News International Press Conference

Release of Nation-wide Opinion Poll of Burmese Voters on the Burmese Referendum

Mandalay- Taungyi buses robbed

Buses bound for Taunggyi, Shan State capital, from Mandalay were robbed by a band of about 10 gunmen in camouflage with expensive weapons and passengers lost large amount of money, jewelries and mobile phones, according to a source from Southern Shan State.

Conning to conquer

 

Elected Shan leader’s house damaged

The roofs of the house of Khun Tun Oo, elected in 1990 and sentenced to 93 years in prison in 2005, at 9th Mile Shan village, Rangoon, were blown away during the cyclonic storm that hit southern Burma on 2-3 May, reported sources from Rangoon.

Invitation: Donations for Nargis victims

Having learned that tens of thousands of Shans are among the victims of Cyclone Nargis which struck the coastal regions of Burma on 2-3 May 2008, Shan (Thai Yai) residents in northern Thailand are organizing a direct aid programme for them.

Overseas Shans call for donation to Shan residents in Rangoon division

Overseas Shans are organizing a direct aid program for thousands of Shan residents in Rangoon division who are among the victims of Cyclone Nargis that hit southern Burma on 2-3 May, according to sources.

New jet plane for donations lands in border city

For the first time in almost ten years state-owned Myanmar Airways has replaced the old propellers with a new jetliner ATR 72, reported sources from Tachilek, opposite Maesai.

Burma’s junta criticized in Friends of Burma Festival

On 20 May, at 15:00 to 22:00, thousands of people from different organizations, collectively calling themselves as "Friends of Burma" celebrated a fund raising festival for victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma and talked about the future of those, at the Convention Center, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai, northern Thailand.

Junta soldiers arrested in China

Soldiers guarding villages in Namkham township, northern Shan State were recently caught by Chinese authorities inside Chinese territory, according to sources.

Disabled migrant’s petition thrown out by local court

Petition last month by a female migrant worker, who was paralyzed in 2006 while working at a hotel construction site in Chiangmai, for equal compensation was rejected by the Chiangmai Administrative Court, according to a statement released today by the Bangkok-based Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) led by well-known Thai activist Somchai Homla-or.

Senior General praised for “profound wisdom”

A Kadaw Bwe (offertory) was recently held in Burma’s new capital in honor of Senior General Than Shwe for his “foresight” in moving there in 2005 from the now cyclone-ravaged Rangoon, according to a reliable government source.

Burma reconnects electricity from Thailand

Authorities of Electric Power Cooperation (EPC) have quietly returned to using Thai electricity at Tachilek township on the Thai-Burma border, cut off since 2002, according to local sources.

SSA denies killing civilians

Shan State Army (SSA) leader Col Yawdserk issued a statement yesterday in Shan with a firm rebuttal that the group had hacked to death 8 civilians in southern Shan State on 28 May.

Late monk’s prophecy says the generals’ days are numbered

People in lower Burma made desperate by recent upheavals, namely, the September Saffron Revolution and Cyclone Nargis, are taking comfort in the three-point divination by a respected abbot made a few months ago before his death.

Air Mandalay stops Thailand flights

Air Mandalay has temporarily stopped its Thailand flights due to fewer passengers and tourists coming to Burma after Cyclone Nagis hit southern Burma on 2-3 May, according to a regular traveler.

Famous Shan abbot passes away

Most Venerable Bhaddanta Aggamahapantita Nyanasambhara, 84, of Wat Pitaka at the historic town of Panglong, passed away last evening at 07:13 (Burma Standard Time) at the Taunggyi hospital.

Junta officials, two teak traders killed over unequal division of loot

Two junta officials and two Chinese teak traders from Taunggyi were killed by each other in Kholam, Namzang township, after quarreling over the division of the proceeds from teak trading, according to SHAN sources.

Junta private arrested for bank-burglary

A junta private who providing security for Myanmar Economic Bank in Mongyai, northern Shan State was arrested for burglary, according to SHAN sources.

Chiangmai Shans mark Martyrs Day

For the second consecutive year, young Shans in Chiangmai came together yesterday, 20 July, a day later than the official Martyrs Day, to mark the fatal shooting that shook Burma in 1947.

China tightens border security

Thanks to the Beijing Olympics which is kicking off on 8 August, the Sino-Burma border though not close is unusually tight, according to sources.

Breaking News: Junta commanders visit Chiangrai

Commanders of the military regions bordering Thailand have arrived this morning in Chiangrai to hold the Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting with their Thai counterparts, according to Thai security sources.