Myanmar or Burma

Thailand’s proposed “Associations and Foundations” legislation threatens civil society organizations (CSOs) and media exiles from Myanmar based in the previously tolerant kingdom, according to rights groups.

On November 27, the Shar Htoo Waw Technology team claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the MICC2 hall in Naypyidaw, which occurred during the wedding of the son of General Maung Maung Aye, the junta’s Chief of the General Staff for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The Thai Army has reportedly ordered the withdrawal of United Wa State Army (UWSA) forces from Thai territory in Mae Hong Son, with artillery units on standby to strike if the UWSA does not comply by December 18.

The UWSA is estimated to have up to 30,000 armed soldiers, approximately 10,000 of whom are based in southern Shan State along the border with Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.

In its statement, the TNLA said it was willing to negotiate an end to the conflict in order to alleviate the suffering of civilians and in consideration of the Chinese government’s ongoing efforts to restore peace.

The group also said it recognised China’s efforts and pledged to continue cooperating with Myanmar’s powerful neighbour to resolve the situation on its border.

Over a million children amongst the 3.4 million displaced due to continuing violence and extreme weather in the country.

UNICEF’s 2024 humanitarian appeal is currently less than 25 per cent funded, even as the needs grow increasingly urgent.

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) is reinforcing troops, ammunition and other supplies in the northern Shan State capital, Lashio, despite pressure from China to withdraw from the city.

Excerpts from the book Best Laid Plans: The Inside Story of Reform in Aung San Suu Kyi’s Myanmar By Sean Turnell.

Best Laid Plans presents the insider perspective of Sean Turnell, who worked as “Special Economic Consultant” to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on economic reform in the National League for Democracy (NLD) era.

geteilt von: https://sh.itjust.works/post/28355765

Decades of sporadic conflict between the military and ethnic rebel groups have left the Southeast Asian country littered with deadly landmines and munitions. But the military's ouster of Aung San Suu Kyi's government in 2021 has turbocharged conflict in the country and *birthed dozens of newer "People's Defence Forces" now battling to topple the military.

Anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war killed or wounded 1,003 people in Myanmar in 2023, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) said on Wednesday. There were 933 landmine casualties in Syria, 651 in Afghanistan and 580 in Ukraine, the ICBL said in its latest Landmine Monitor report.

Myanmar is not a signatory to the United Nations convention that prohibits the use, stockpiling or development of anti-personnel mines.

ICBL said it had seen evidence of junta troops forcing civilians to walk in front of its units to "clear" mine-affected areas.

All sides in the fighting were using landmines "indiscriminately," the United Nations Children's Fund said in April. Rebel groups have told AFP they also lay mines in some areas under their control.

The ICBL said at least 5,757 people had been casualties of landmines and explosive remnants of war across the world in 2023. Of those, 1,983 were killed and 3,663 wounded. Civilians made up 84 percent of all recorded casualties, it said.