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On 17 December 2002, the US State Department released its report on the systematic rape by the Burmese military of Shan women. The report confirms the findings of a report by the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) and Shan Women Action Network (SWAN) called ‘License to Rape’ which caused a major international outcry. This report concluded that the Burmese military, as part of its campaign to bring ethnic areas under its control, officially condones rape as a "weapon of war" against civilian populations. The rape report will remind the International community of the real nature of the military regime, which has no respect for the lives and dignity of the people in Burma.

Planned dam, danger to environment and people

The proposed hydroelectric dam on the Salween River with an estimated cost of US$5.5 billion is met with great opposition by many human rights and environmental organizations. At a recent Asean summit in Cambodia, energy ministers agreed in principle that the project would go ahead. Thailand will aid Burma, in spite of international condemnation, in the building of the 3000-megawatt dam to develop Burma’s infrastructure. Other similar projects in the past were accompanied by forced labour and rape of ethnic people in the project area and there is no sign that this ‘development project’ will fair any better. Some 10 million people live along the Salween River who rely on it for their survival. The consequences for the people as well as the impact on the environment in one of Southeast-Asia’s richest river ecosystems will be enormous.

Shan New Year celebrations

For the third consecutive year Shan Literature and Culture groups in northern Shan State celebrated the traditional Shan New Year that began on 5 December. The celebrations were held at Kyaukme. The first collective Shan New Year was celebrated in Hsenwi in 2000 followed by Hsipaw in 2001. The celebrations strengthen the Shan identity and unity, hoping the New Year will bring peace and prosperity to all.