Fickle friends ["At the end of August 2009, media across the globe covered stories of the heavy fighting between the SPDC and the Kokang army on the northern Shan border, which broke the 20-year-long ceasefire and drove more than 30,000 refugees into neighbouring China. In a rare admonishment, the junta?s longtime ally China urged SPDC to safeguard stability in the border area and protect the rights of Chinese citizens living there..."]...Reaching out to our neighbours ["...we regard the Chinese as our close neighbours, and understand the importance of developing friendly relations with those living beside and among us. Regrettably, however, national political interests over the past half century have often served to drive a wedge between us and our neighbours..."]...Renewed scorched earth campaign in Central Shan State October 2009 # 10 • Reaching out to our neighbours INSIDE • Renewed scorched earth campaign in Central Shan State ["...Burmese military regime launched a new scorched earth campaign in central Shan State, the largest since the mass forced relocations in 1996-1998 which uprooted over 300,000 villagers..."]...Developing Shan language textbooks ["Over the past ten years SWAN, together with other Shan community groups, has been setting up educational opportunities for the Shan refugees and migrant children living along the Thai- Burma Border. Currently SWAN is running fifteen schools for 2,200 students along the Thai-Burma border. Seven of the schools are based in Shan IDP areas. In these schools, which go up to grade nine, Shan is the main language of instruction. One of the main difficulties in operating the schools has been to establish a standardized school curriculum and upgrade the skills of the teachers. Every year we have tried to organize at least two teacher training workshops, which have promoted child-centered and democratic teaching practices..."]...Community based projects...Regional advocacy on socio-economic issues...?Girl Power? on Air...