The agency is targeting readers living on the Sino-Burma border like Kokang, Wa and Mongla including Chinese people. Most people living in United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) and Shans living in China are more familiar with Chinese language, said Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of the agency.

“It is therefore essential that they have access to the current situation in Burma and ethnic states,” he said.

The reports will include current news and feature articles covering politics, war, culture, history, human rights, environment and drug problems taking place in Shan State and the rest of Burma, according to him.

“If they can access to what’s happening here, we hope they will have more understanding and interest in ethnic peoples like we are getting from the Thai people after we launched the Thai version,” he added.

In 2009, the agency launched its Thai web page www.khonkhurtai.com, aiming for Thai awareness conflicts and situation in Shan State and other states.

“More Thai people have come to understand the historic and linguistic bonds between Shans have become more active in providing support for Shans living in Thailand. Likewise, Shans living in Thailand who don’t read Shan are also informed about what is going on in their original homeland,” said Kheunsai Jaiyen.

Apart from SHAN news, it also translates reports from other news groups like Irrawaddy, Mizzima and Burma News International for its Thai readers. It is widely known among Thai youth, activists, observers, monks, politicians and media groups like www.matichon.co.th and www.prachathai.com.

Until now, the Shan Herald has been publishing reports and periodicals in Shan, Burmese, English, and Thai, featuring politics, literature, human rights and opinion columns since it establishment on 27 December 1991.

People who are interested in receiving the Chinese version, please contact [email protected]