The event, which coincided with the signing of Burma’s controversial Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), between eight—out of more than twenty—ethnic armed organisations, and the government, was to show support for the 1,500 villagers displaced earlier this month in central Shan State by the Burma Army and for the villagers they attacked at the Loi Kham gold mine.

Charm Tong, a spokesperson for the coalition of 18 Shan community-based organizations (CBOs) who organised the vigil, said its timing was: "Just a reflection of the reality of what is happening on the ground.”

Military Offensives in Central Shan State

The Burma Army caused widespread civilian displacements when it fired artillery at territory largely controlled by the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/SSA-N) on 6 October, less than 10 days before the NCA was signed.

The attacks intensified on 11 October when the army targeted the SSPP/SSA-N headquarters in Wan Hai, Kesi Township.

The SSPP/SSA-N is one of several ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) that decided to opt out of signing the NCA due to its lack of inclusiveness.

At the Chiang Mai vigil the CBO coalition that organised the event issued a statement that described the NCA as a “divide-and-rule tactic” intended to “temporarily pacify” some ethnic armies while “crushing others.”

Commenting on the people displaced by the fighting the statement said: "Over 1,000 [civilians] are sheltering in nearby villages, while hundreds are hiding in the jungle. Four women have given birth in hiding places; one in a cave."

Attendees participate in a Buddhist prayer ceremony at the vigil. (S.H.A.N)

Army Attacks Villagers Opposed to Gold Mining

On 13 October, just two days before the NCA was signed, Burma Army Battalion 330 opened fire on 20 villagers at a gold mine in the Loi Kham Hills near Nar Hai Long Village, leaving one 50-year-old man dead and five others seriously injured.

According to a statement released by the Shan Farmers’ Network (SFN) and the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) on 14 October, the villagers were monitoring the activities of Loi Kham Long Mining Company, which were supposed to have halted in July 2014 due to adverse effects on both the land and local people’s health.

The manager of the mining company allegedly called the local military battalion for assistance when he saw the villagers approaching. About 20 soldiers confronted the civilians, reportedly firing at them as they were leaving the mining site.

SFN and SHRH said they were "appalled" by the incident and demanded that the authorities “take immediate action to punish those responsible for the attack.”

Sai Khur Hseng, a spokesperson for Shan Sapawa, an environmental rights organisation that was part of the coalition that organised the vigil, believes the Burma Army attacks are related to the control of natural resources.

He said: "[Natural] resources are the background for the conflict. When a company registers and gets permission [for a project] from the government, some people in the government become shareholders. Usually, it will be a high person, with authority.”

NCA Is "The Death of Politics"

A teacher from the Shan community in Thailand described the NCA signing and the army attacks in central Shan State and at the Loi Kham mine as: “The death not only of civilians, but of politics.”

Vigil attendees place candles around a pagoda as a memorial to victims of Burma Army violence in Shan State. (S.H.A.N.)

The coalition of Shan CBO's statement urged the international community to “publicly condemn” these Burma Army offensives, and to press the Burmese government to demilitarize in ethnic areas. It also claimed that the NCA “will not bring peace.”

Charm Tong said: “The Naypyidaw government is not sincere about moving towards political dialogue. It’s really sad…the Burma Army can commit these crimes with impunity.”

By SAI AW and SIMMA FRANCIS / Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI