A tourist ferry carrying 21 Britons and two South Africans set off on Wednesday from southwest China for Thailand, marking the resumption of tourist services on the Mekong River after a suspension following the murder of 13 Chinese sailors on the waterway last year.
United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) members will meet the Nippon Foundation in Japan. The Nippon Foundation invited the UNFC to discuss what role they can play in providing assistance with the peace process between ethnic armed groups and the Myanmar government.
The Karen National Union (KNU) will hold an emergency central committee meeting in KNU’s Brigade -7 headquarters, on October 22nd, according to Pado Aung Maung Aye, who is chairman of Hpa-an District and KNU committee member.
US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns arrived in Naypyitaw on Wednesday on an official visit at the same time as a major US human rights delegation is meeting with top Burma officials.
After human right talks with Burma this week, the US said it now has an “open channel” to discuss political prisoners and other sensitive subjects as ties improve, officials said on Wednesday.
Efforts of Burma’s government-appointed commission to investigate the recent communal violence in Rakhine State have been blocked by local community members “from all sides” who refuse to cooperate, according to reports.
Chin state, Burma: The Chin National Front (CNF) has sent a survey team to scout for land to build army camps on new sites for their soldiers and families, in Than Tlang Township, Chin state, Burma.
Minbya, Arakan state: Minbya residents are continuing to face difficulties from supply shortages and rising costs of electricity. The problem is caused by the old diesel-generators that generate most of the electricity in the region.
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