It is reported that a series of heavy storms has swept dozens of villages in Kunhing Township, southern Shan State, which turned many houses, monasteries and schools to debris.

The storm first hit the Kunhing Township on 30 April, then 10 and 12 May, altogether 3 times which swept a total of 75 houses, said local news sources from Kunhing.

Shan State Army Task Force 701 requests Chinese authorities to provide temporary shelter for refugees, who have fled due to the recent series of attacks by the Burma Army that had sent thousands across the border.

In April, Myanmar Post and Telecommunication (MPT) unveiled a 1,500 Kyat (less than $ 2) worth CDMA mobile SIM to the public in the country and has reached the countryside recently but the costs has risen many folds, according to local news sources.

Displaced People Assistance Committee, Tangyan Township, Northern Shan State said that it would build shelters for refugees.

“We will build shelters at Wan Wiang quarter, Ward (5) at the former Mong Kao bus station. We will build them in barracks form but they have to use toilets and kitchens together. We estimated that we would aid 70 households. Some of them will be living with their relatives. For them we supported the construction of huts. The committee has already built 4 huts for the rest and those huts include kitchens and toilets. The cost for one hut is about 400,000 kyat ($450),” an aid worker for refugees, Sai Kher, told SHAN.

In response to Myanmar Online News’ claims that Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has ordered Burmese in Monghsu Township to move out the town or face arrest, is groundless and faulty, the SSA official abruptly retaliated.

Shan farmers from Namkham, a Sino-Burma border town in northern Shan State, are voicing concern over the gas pipelines linking to China that have appeared to have some holes or loosely connected, according to local news sources.

A rights report on 22 April by the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) claims that the ongoing clashes between ethnic armed groups and Burma army are due to a flaw in the 2008 constitution that grants an authoritative power to the armed forces over the presidency, in which the former may abuse its power by passing the presidential authority.

A rights group, Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) demands to end the ongoing conflicts between Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA); and Burma army withdraw all units reinforced during the conflicts in March as committing atrocities, abuses and rapes against women and children continue.