Tai Youth Network (TYN) advisor Sai Saing Main told NMG the main intention of the workshop last week in Lashio was to bring the communities together to clear up misunderstanding and doubt.

Fighting that started late November of last year between the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army and the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army has driven a wedge between the communities.

“There aren’t big problems between the Tai (Shan) people and the Ta’ang people,” he said, but with the fighting continuing for many months, negative comments posted on social media have made the situation tense.

“This has affected the communities.”

Mai Myo Aung, general secretary 2 for TSYU, explained that before the fighting began, Shan and Ta’ang people lived together side by side without a problem.

“Before the fighting started, Shan and Ta’ang always invited each other whenever we held a ceremony. But we don’t this anymore after the fighting started,” he said, adding that participants of the workshop have agreed to change this.

To administer their action plan, a joint steering committee, central committee and a township committee has been created.

Sai Saing Main said: “The outcome of the workshop is for us—Shan youth—to join hands with Ta’ang youth to solve human rights violations and hatred between the two races.”

A total of 117 Shan and Ta’ang representatives hailing from 11 townships in northern Shan State were counted in attendance.

Reporting by Network Media Group
Translated by Thida Linn

Edited by BNI staff