<p>36 Shan community organizations and individuals issued a statement on Monday (13 July) in support of the protest in Kyaukme township in northern Shan State on 10 July, demanding justice for the villagers who were wounded, torture, and killed by the Burmese Army and call for the charges against protest leaders to be dropped as well as for the international community to pressure the Burmese government to take action against the Burma Army for their ongoing crimes against ethnic minorities.</p>

<p>On the 73rd Shan National Day on 7 February, the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) organized a military parade and cultural performance at Loi Kaw Wan, the RCSS/SSA&rsquo;s regional eastern base.</p>

<p>What are the dreams of families who migrated from Shan State and currently reside in Thailand? Many families hope to be reunited with family members in their home country; but there are many families who hope to begin new lives here, in Thailand. &nbsp;While Shan children have been growing up in Thai society and feel that Thailand is their home, how should the Thai policies on citizenship and the status of stateless people be adjusted to the needs of this cross-border population? &nbsp;These issues are addressed in the following report.</p> <p></p>

<p>With the National League for Democracy (NLD)&nbsp;<a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=72826759&amp;msgid=909868&amp;act=98NZ&amp;c=348258&amp;destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvb.no%2Fnews%2Fnld-officially-wins-outright-majority-myanmar%2F59185">cementing its place</a>&nbsp;as the incoming government by achieving a supermajority in Parliament, the ongoing armed conflict in northern Burma, especially in Shan State, only highlights the pressing need for the new government to facilitate a genuine and inclusive peace process that works towards national reconciliation.<br /></p>

<p>On 27 October 2015, the Union Election Commission (UEC)<a href="http://www.dvb.no/news/elections-cancelled-in-4-shan-townships-myanmar/58539">announced</a>&nbsp;that elections would be cancelled in four townships in Shan State as a result of the newly intensified fighting between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N).<a href="http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-army-launch-assault-on-shan-army-hq-myanmar/58568">According</a>&nbsp;to the Shan State Progressive Party, the political wing of the SSA-N, the Burma Army was seen to ramp up attacks against the SSA-N after they deliberated t</p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/645/22757615531_ec54e95343_c.jpg" /></p> <div><span>Ethnic parties in Myanmar elections (Infographic: Myanmar Now, Prachatai) <a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/645/22757615531_ec54e95343_b.jpg">See large image here</a></span></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/782/22125224143_83307918a6_b.jpg" /></p>

<p>The Union Election Commission (UEC) has&nbsp;<a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=72826759&amp;msgid=908506&amp;act=98NZ&amp;c=348258&amp;destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvb.no%2Fdvb-video%2Felection-2015-polls-wont-open-in-karen-states-east%2F57703">declared</a>&nbsp;102 villages in Karen State to be too dangerous for polling to take place, which will prevent nearly 10,000 citizens in Burma from voting during the 8 November, 2015 General Elections. The announcement comes amid a number of similar voting cancellations and interference during the last few months.<br /></p>

<p>As talks over the signing of a nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) continue, with another meeting planned for later this month, the Burma Army continues to attack various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) in Kachin, Palaung, Shan and Karen areas, casting doubt on the dominant narrative of optimism that surrounds the NCA. Meanwhile, as has always been the case, it is civilians and local communities who are bearing the brunt of the war, with their protection glaringly absent in the ceasefire discourse.</p>

<p>Community representatives from Shan, Karenni, Karen and Mon States are handing a petition today to the Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power, and to the Chinese and Thai Embassies in Yangon, urging an immediate halt to dam projects on the Salween River, which are fuelling war and violating the rights of local peoples.&nbsp;</p>