{"id":75244,"date":"2019-11-23T20:14:49","date_gmt":"2019-11-23T13:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freeburmarangers.org\/?p=75244"},"modified":"2019-11-23T20:14:49","modified_gmt":"2019-11-23T13:14:49","slug":"amidst-climate-fear-shan-rangers-provide-relief-shan-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/2019\/11\/23\/amidst-climate-fear-shan-rangers-provide-relief-shan-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Amidst a Climate of Fear, Shan Rangers Provide Relief in Shan State"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amidst a Climate of Fear, Shan Rangers Provide Relief in Shan State<\/span><\/h1>\n

23 November 2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Shan State, Burma<\/p>\n

\"Northern<\/p>\n

Villagers in\u00a0northern Shan State\u2019s Hsipaw Township fear the sight of soldiers, Burma Army or Ethnic Armed Organization (EAO), as conflict rages. In September, Rangers traveled incognito as civilians during their mission to reduce tension in villages where people fear uniforms. The Shan Rangers are members of Shan EAOs, yet as Rangers their mission changes to providing\u00a0emotional and spiritual encouragement, material, and life support to the oppressed in the conflict areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe villagers are still afraid of the fighting. Nowadays, some old ladies are really frightened, and their hypertension is getting worse when they see people wearing soldiers\u2019 uniforms. We saw many houses, temples, and schools were damaged because of the fighting,\u201d the Shan team leader said.<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having removed their uniforms, the Rangers brought out their\u00a0guitar and conducted GLC programs for 433 students from seven schools in seven towns. They sang and danced with children who had been given a new smiley-faced Good Life Club (GLC) shirt. The Rangers provided medical clinics, rice supplies, and cash gifts to people who\u00a0had\u00a0suffered loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifteen\u00a0Shan villagers reported the conflict had destroyed property, caused injury from landmines or crossfire from the war, or\u00a0killed\u00a0family members.\u00a0One man was killed just outside his home by shrapnel from a Burma Army mortar round that exploded nearby. He died lying on the ground at the entrance to his home, leaving his wife and two children behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rangers\u2019 interviews included two stories about landmines disabling civilian men amidst their daily activities.\u00a0One man was driving a motorbike near his village when a landmine exploded. It was determined that the\u00a0Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) placed the landmine, and they paid some indemnity to the victim. Another man was looking for firewood in the forest near his home\u00a0when he stepped\u00a0on a landmine. He awaits funding for surgery to place a steel rod in his leg.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Northern Shan State has been a black zone for travel and a conflict area for decades.\u00a0Fighting in 2019 has created thousands of new internally displaced people (IDPs) who have fled attacks by\u00a0the Burma Army against ethnic groups in Shan State.\u00a0This war is seeping into all aspects of villagers’ lives, so that their home life, work, and daily activities – are indeed carried out in a climate of fear.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n