Nearly 10,000 people attended the opening ceremony of the Shan New Year celebrations in Kengtung, Shan State East capital, presided over by Maj Gen Than Tun Oo this morning, according to SHAN sources.

Than Tun Oo, who donated K 1 million ($ 1,176) for the event, reportedly told the people that since Burma has returned to democracy, they are now free to pursue their cultural and traditional activities.

Four months after the Thai government granted official recognition for the Taiyai Education and Culture Association (TECA) in Thailand, the association opened its office with ceremony in Wat Kutao monastery, Chiangmai, Northern Thailand, on 19 August.

Shan Nationalities League for Democracy leader Khun Tun Oo attended the closing ceremony of Shan Language and Literature summer training on Sunday, according to Kawli news.

The closing ceremony of Shan Language and Literature summer training was held on 20 May in Taik Kyi, Yangon Division.

After nearly three years, Thai-born Shan’s application for a registered association has been approved by Thai authorities, announced the association president Saengmueng Mangkorn yesterday.

The date of approval was 30 March 2012. The association’s founding members were able to hold the first formal meeting only yesterday, due to the Songkran holidays.

The Yawnghwe historical museum, previously the palace of Yawnghwe, has been designated as a Buddhist museum by the Burmese military, according to reliable sources.