During November, thousands of people in Myanmar (Burma) were displaced because of ongoing clashes between the Shan State-Army and government forces. Myanmar government forces have launched air strikes against  rebels in the Shan State, forcing many citizens to leave the area. The army claims to have been fighting in Kachin and Shan states, areas of the country that have been engaged in ethnic conflict for 70 years. Fresh fighting broke out between the military and rebel groups this week – less than two weeks after leader Aung San Suu Kyi took office.

Last month, the Myanmar government signed ceasefires with several ethnic armed groups, but major conflicts still persist. Both the Shan State Army and the Kachin Independence Army have refrained from joining the ceasefire. The groups have been engaged in clashes with the government forces for months.

On November 18th, the United Nations General Assembly’s human rights committee criticized Myanmar for the treatment of its Muslim minority, the Rohingya. The committee urged Myanmar to change its citizenship laws to make Rohingya full citizens. The Rohingya minority is not one of the 135 ethnic groups recognized under the country’s 1982 citizenship law, despite living in Myanmar for generations. Because of this, Rohingya have limited rights.During a meeting of the 193-nation assembly’s Third Committee, a non-binding draft resolution, supported by European nations, the United States and other Western states, was adopted by consensus. The resolution calls for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedom of all individuals, including those of the Rohingya minority. Many Rohingya hope that the newly elected Aung San Suu Kyi will lead to the provision of more rights for them.

To read more, visit:

http://www.nation.co.ke/news/world/Myanmar-army-and-rebels-in-new-clashes/-/1068/2961850/-/1575eswz/-/index.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/18/us-myanmar-un-idUSKCN0T732520151118#w5#TDLZZaQVIJVDZ1RT.97
http://www.voanews.com/content/myanmar-signs-symbolic-peace-deal-with-ethnic-rebel-groups/3007183.html