KIO faces protest by ethnic Shans
The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) delegation faced a protest by local Shan residents as it returned to the northern state of Kachin after last week's Myitkyina peace talks with the government. About 200 protestors held placards in Waimaw as the
The placards bore the messages “May the peace group be healthy”, “Sign a ceasefire agreement now”, “Release detained ethnic people”, “Stop arresting Shan nationals in Kachin state and using them as porters and soldiers”, “Allow us to farm without fear” and “Clear the landmines from farmland”.
Sai Tin Hlaing, a 60-year-old Shan resident from Khatcho village, said: “Around 1994, Myanmar soldiers arrested local people to make them work as porters while the KIA [Kachin Independence Army], the armed wing of the KIO, recruited our local people and forcefully collected taxes. In and after 2011, the Myanmar soldiers stopped their acts but the KIA still recruits and collects taxes.
“We don’t abhor anyone. But we will not accept any armed organisation that ill-treats us.”
When asked for a response, the KIA’s Major General Guan Maw told Daily Eleven: “We are all seeking coordination for resolution of the issues. We have plans to deal with the issue of arrested ethnic nationals. The government and KIO will continue talks on a ceasefire, which everyone has demanded.”
“Shan and Kachin nationals have been living together in Kachin state for years. We already have a policy for coexistence.”
German foundation to aid tourism
The Germany-based Hanns Seidel Foundation will provide technical and financial assistance to Myanmar for the development of its booming tourism sector, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said. The foundation signed an MoU with the ministry last week for long-term assistance. Hanns Seidel is one of Germany’s leading non-profit political organisations. Official data shows that over 250,000 foreign tourists visited Myanmar from January to April this year, 44 per cent up from the previous year.
IKBZ offers insurance coverage
International Kanbawza Insurance Company launched its insurance services at the weekend, offering six different kinds of coverage. “IKBZ has set up a 46 billion kyats in capital investment, of which 6 billion is for life insurance and the remainder for the others,” said Kanbawza Group managing director Nyo Myint. “More cash will be added for capital investment in the future.” The company’s six insurance policies comprise life, fire, surety bonds, transportation, cargo, and money security.
