By Reuters Staff

A government-appointed body that oversees Myanmar’s Buddhist monkhood has issued a directive intended to check the influence of a monk-led movement accused of stoking violence against minority Muslims.

At least 237 people have died in sectarian violence since June last year and more than 150,000 have been displaced. The vast majority of the victims were Muslim.

BNI

About 100 Kachin war refugees remain trapped in the isolated jungles of Putao District in Burma’s northernmost Kachin state, according to sources from a local church.

The group – mainly women and children – have been in hiding since the middle of last week when fighting broke out between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) near Nhka Ga village, Machyangbaw Township. The refugees have been unable to evacuate to designated ‘safe places’ and are being denied all forms of aid by government forces, said the sources.

Liberalised private media accused of stoking ethnic fears

By Nirmal Ghosh Indochina Bureau Chief In Bangkok

NOT too long ago in the office of Myanmar’s media censor, a young military officer crumpled up a newspaper article by a noted Myanmar writer and, dropping it on to the floor, used a golf putter to send it across the room.

The putter is now in the closet and the censorship office no more.

BNI

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) and Myanmar Journalists Association (MJA) signed a seven-point memorandum of understanding in Bangkok, Thailand on Sept. 4. The memorandum that will strengthen press relations between the two countries was drafted as part of a  five day conference between delegates from the MJA and TJA.. In what both groups are hailing as a historic demonstration of regional press cooperation, the memorandum is intended to promote cross-national press cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and resources pertaining to mass media. TJA President Pradit Ruangdit and head of the MJA delegation Aung Hia Tun were several of its signatories.

Xinhua Publish By Joseph A. Cambra

Myanmar has set to add a new television channel named the National Races Channel, aimed at widening the scope of the people.

Test broadcasting of the channel with eight nationalities languages is to be done in mid-October and the languages include those of Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan and Wa.

“All national races need to join hands in an attempt to widen the scope of people. It is hoped that the channel would serve the interest of all national races,” Minister of Information U Aung Kyi told a coordination meeting on Saturday in Nay Pyi Taw involving representatives of ethnic nationalities.

Reliefweb

OVERVIEW

A 11-truck humanitarian convoy led by the UN and other humanitarian partners delivered food, medicines, and other items to displaced communities living in the Woi Chyai Camp in Laiza town. Significantly, this is the first time that cross-line missions have been permitted to deliver humanitarian assistance to Laiza since December 2011. These missions supplement the aid delivered on a regular basis by local NGOs.

The conflict in Kachin and northern Shan State has displaced an estimated 100,000 people. The number of registered IDPs staying in camps in these areas has reached more than 91,000 including over 53,000 in areas beyond the Government’s control.

Burma Times

Whenever Burma-watchers get together these days, one topic that usually gets an airing is the prospect of another military coup. Some analysts have put the likelihood of this happening over the next five years as high as 20%, while others believe the odds are much lower. A few observers have argued that the country is still effectively under military control, so the question of a coup does not arise.

Contrary to expectations, President Thein Sein’s ambitious reform program has developed a momentum of its own and there is now palpable hope for real change. Opinion is divided on whether or not the process is ‘irreversible‘. It is difficult to see Burma going back to the dark days before 2011 but, in certain circumstances, the armed forces (Tatmadaw) could be prompted to step in and exert greater direct control.