Issue No.12 act of selling one's own country.

Think Pieces of the year

It is far from building a genuine union when we cannot even hold a gathering for dinner. Pu Cin Sian Thang, Chairman of Zomi National Congress and spokesman for United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), after authorities ordered it to call off the Union Day dinner party, Irrawaddy, 12 February 2007 ---------------------------------------------Dominance is the root of the conflict, not the differences. The differences between us could be worked out rather easily without the dominancesubordination structure and conditioning in which they are imbedded.
Dr Naing Aung

Hkun Tun Oo, leader of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), quoted by an SNLD member, 1 July 2007 ---------------------------------------------What's most frightening is the regime's utter incapacity. Experts doubt it can properly run a research reactor, let alone a WMD program. Newsweek, 11 June 2007 ---------------------------------------------The SPDC is acting like a wolf in the children's story book, where he accuses the little lamb of muddying the water.
President Saw Ba Thin Sein, Address on 57th anniversary of Karen Martyrs Day (Text)

Roberto Chene, Southwest Center for Intercultural Leadership, quoted by Dr Naing Aung, Forum for Democracy in Burma, 7-8 March 2007 We know they are going to divide us. But if we are agreeing to the scheme because we fear resistance would only place ourselves in danger, that is an

---------------------------------------------We need unity but not uniformity.

Harn Yawnghwe, Director of National Reconciliation Program (NRP) and Euro-Burma Office (EBO), reported by Chinland Guardian, 16 October 2007

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Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

Events of the year

4 6 January 2007 Shan State Army South holds annual meeting. Among the resolutions:

against "unlawful conviction for treason and other offenses" of 8 Shan politicians who were arrested in 2005. The AHRC states main problems in the case that invalidate the conviction:

Continued fighting against drugs Readiness to settle political issues with SPDC by peaceful means (SHAN)

15 January 2007 Charm Tong Shan activist teacher Charm Tong awarded Student Peace Prize by Norway. (Statement) 17 January 2007
Shwe Ohn

Treason: "As the government was not established by any constitution, the men could not be prosecuted under this section" The court lacks authority Non-reappearance of prosecution witnesses Photocopies used as evidence

The Commission urges all those concerned to write to the Attorney General and Chief Justice of the supreme court to demand their release. (Statement) 22 January 2007 Lao Hseng Newly appointed SSA spokesman Lao Hseng says the group is ready to engage the SPDC politically. (DVB) 25 January 2007
Col Yawd Serk

Shwe Ohn, elder Shan leader, calls on the National League for Democracy (NLD):

To confer with allied parties before making important decisions To form a consultative council for the purpose To formulate short-term, longterm plans in consultation with the said council To continue placing priority to holding dialogue with the SPDC (Statement)

The SSA is ready to enter talks with the junta, says Col Yawd Serk, who claims he has 10,000 heavily armed troops. (Bangkok Post) 25 January 2007 Lawyer Aung Thein says arguments

18 January 2007 Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) launches appeals program

Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

for special appeals for 6 Shan leaders will be presented on 8 February.(DVB) 29 January 2007
Dr Lian Hmung Sakhong

February. It is attended by Burma's exile government leader Dr. Sein Win. (S.H.A.N.) 7 February 2007 People of Shan State mark 7 February 1947, the date of their declaration of independence from the British. (S.H.A.N.) It is held simultaneously in the Shan State Army's two main bases: Loi Taileng and Loi Kawwan. (Mizzima) In Rangoon, it is being celebrated as the day for "Shan Traditional Dance of Youth". (S.H.A.N.) The National Day of Shan State, Panglong treaty Day and Independence Day are inseparable, declares statement by Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC). 7 February 2007 Col Yawdserk of Shan State Army (SSA) predicts more than half of the 160,000 square kilometers of his land will be retaken in 3 years. He also hope to cooperate with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) one day. (The Nation) 7 February 2007 Traveling around northern Thailand it is hard not to be struck by the enormous contribution of migrant Shan workers to the service sector, construction projects and agricultural enterprise. Relatively cheap Shan labor seems to be playing an increasingly important role in Thailand's labor insufficient economy. (http://respas.anu) 16-17 February 2007 Groups from Shan State hold meeting. Resolves to form a council representing Shan State. (SHAN) 23 February 2007 Charm Tong, 25, receives Norway's Student Peace Prize. The ceremony is held at the International Student Festival in Tronheim (ISFIT).

Shan leader Khun Tun Oo is cited by Dr Lian Hmung Sakhong, recent winner of Marlin Luther King peace award, as an example of a true national leader because his actions are meant not just for the Shans but the whole of Burma. (DVB) 3 February 2007 Health is getting worse for Shan leaders who have been imprisoned since 2005:

Khun Tun Oo - piles, gout, short of breath, gastritis and swelling of urinal glances Pe Khin - cataract, malaria and swelling of urinal glances Tun Nyo - left hand numbed, chest pain and heart failure Sai Hla Aung - left ear hard to hear and fester in the ear Sai Nyunt Lwin - High blood pressure and low blood pressure Sai Myo Win Tun - Acute cough Nyi Nyi Moe - Piles

They need immediate medical checkup and treatment, says Sai Lake, spokesman for the SNLD. (VOA) 3 February 2007
Dr. Sein Win

Shan Americans hold pre-Shan National Day that falls on 7

Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

22 March 2007 23 February 2007 Lawyer Aung Thein says a new special appeal will be submitted on behalf of the Shan leaders who had been sentenced from 79 106 years imprisonment in 2005. (DVB) Appeal against 28 charges laid against the men will be lodged in two groups. Khun Tun Oo has the most cases about 5. (DVB) 5 March 2007
Yawnghwe palace Sao Seng Suk

Shan youths hold birthday celebrations for Sao Seng Suk, who turns 72 birthday. (S.H.A.N.) 23-25 March 2007 Chiangmai Shans hold novitiation ceremony. (SHAN) 1 April 2007 Joint SSA-KNPP patrol clashes with 7 truck-loads of LID 55 troops on the Pai, opposite Maehongson. One truck destroyed resulting in a number of injuries. (Statement)

Kengtung palace

30 March 2007

Reports say Burma's minister for culture has recently ordered the overhaul of the Yawnghwe palace: from a historical museum into a religious museum. (SHAN) Kengtung palace was demolished in 1991 Editor 13 March 2007
Sai Leun

Khun Tun Oo with Sai Nyunt Lwin

The SNLD calls for release of Khun Tun Oo, Sai Nyunt Lwin and other Shan politicians sentenced to long term imprisonment.

Sai Leun, leader of Mongla, told by LtGen Kyaw Win, Chief of Shan and Kayah states, to consider having a Burma Army presence in his area. (SHAN) It has already accepted customs and immigration officers since early 2006 Editor

31 May 2006 appeal rejected 28 March 2007 appeal rejected

First Second

A third time appeal can be submitted if it is considered a public concern, says defense counsel Aung Thein. (DVB) 11 April 2007 Letters urging SSA North and UWSA to surrender distributed in Tangyan township's markets. (Mizzima) 15 April 2007

Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

Detained Shan leader Khun Tun Oo, who is being imprisoned in Putao, gives alms to monks. (SHAN) 21-25 April 2007 Shans hold last novice ceremony of the season called Poy Hsanglawng in Piangluang, a Shan village in Chiangmai's Wiang Haeng district. A total of 89 boys participate in the ceremony. (SHAN/Bangkok Post) 9-10 May 2007
Col Yawdserk

23 May 2007
Soe Win

Col Yawdserk, leader of the Shan State Army 'South' calls on Shan monks to stay above politics. Extra-clerical activities are not helping the cause at all, he says at a two-day meeting with 47 monks coming from Shan State. (SHAN) 21 May 2007 Delegates from the Burmese junta and the Shan State Army will be meeting on 23 May over a ceasefire plan, says SSA leader Yawdserk. (The Nation) 22 May 2007 Maj Lao Hseng, head of the SSA delegation says the planned meeting with junta officials is aimed at achieving peaceful settlement of existing problems. The SSA has no plans to surrender. (Network Media Group) Surrender is out of the question. Two basic conditions must be met by the junta: to include Karen and Karenni groups in the ceasefire agreement and it must be followed by talks on political issues.(Irrawaddy) 23 May 2007 Planned junta-SSA meeting fails to take place following disagreement over the choice of venue. (SHAN)

An article written by Min Lwin Shan State claims ailing PM Soe Win and his brother MajGen Tin Tun are of Inlay origin, who had been separated from their parents U Chan Tha and Daw Mya Thi during the antifeudalist movement that broke out in Shan State following independence. (SHAN) 25 May 2007 91 internally displaced people opposite Chiangmai's Fang district forcibly relocated by the Thai Army despite the fact that they are already on the Burmese side of the border. (SHAN) 6 June 2007 Col Yawd Serk, Chairman of Restoration Council of Shan State, burns 1.1 million yaba pills seized from pro-junta militia. (SHAN/ Bangkok Post/ The Nation) 14-15 June 2007 Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Shan State Army (SSA)'s political wing, holds bi-annual meeting, coinciding with the SPDC's tri-annual meeting in Pyinmana. Some resolutions:

To beef up SSA strength To resolve political problems by political means with the SPDC To build up solidarity among Shan State organizations

(SHAN)

Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

23 June 2007 TiTV release report on Shan State Army's seizure and subsequent burning of 1,100,000 methamphetamine pills. It ends with Col Yawdserk's offer to cooperate with Rangoon against drug trade. (SHAN) 2 July 2007 At a press conference held today on the border opposite Maehongson, Khun Thurein, former general secretary of the SNPLO that broke away from the ceasefire agreement with Pyinmana on 10 June, says, "There is no way to win against the military government except through armed struggle." The SNPLO cannot stoop to become pro-junta militia or special police force as offered by the regime unless democracy unity and a federal union are realized. (Irrawaddy/ Mizzima) 8 July 2007 Chit Maung, Chairman of Shan State Nationalities People's Liberation Organization (SNPLO), surrenders to the Burma Army with 80 men. (Network Media Group) 11 July 2007
Gawnzerng

Unity To regroup the SNPLO troops Ceasefire inside SNPLO areas SSA assistance for SNPLO logistics To have liaison officers between the two

(Kantarawaddy Times) 17 July 2007 Wa troops on the Thai-Burma border ordered by Col Than Tin Oo, Commander at Pongpakhem, to withdraw from their bases within 5 days, according to sources; by the end of July, according to others. (SHAN) The Burma Army later backed down from its demand Editor. 26 July 2007 Junta holds "unconditional exchange of arms for peace" ceremony at Hsihseng township for 137 Shan Nationalities Peoples Liberation Organization (SNPLO) led by Chit Maung. The group surrendered on 5 July. (New Light of Myanmar) 27 July 2007 Shan Democratic Union issues statement supporting KIO's 19-point proposal to the National Convention. (SHAN) 7 August 2007 Namkham township chief Capt Aung Min Latt issues order directing local residents to be on guard duty against Shan State Army (SSA) rebels operating the area. Similar order issued by Muse township chief Nyunt Han on 10 August. (Mizzima) This is the first time the SSA South's presence on the Sino-Burma border is reported Editor

Shans remember late leader Gawnzerng who died in 1991. (SHAN) 12 July 2007 Shan State Army "South" (SSA) and Shan State Nationalities Peoples Liberation Organization (SNPLO) that recently returned to the armed struggle reach 5-point agreement:

Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

13 August 2007 20 August 2007

Sao Seng Suk Lt-Col Yabay

Sao Seng Suk aka Khun Kya Nu, 72, passes away in Chiangmai of lung cancer. (Agencies) 14 August 2007
Ellen Bruno

Lt-Col Yabay, 54, of Shan State Army (SSA) North passes away in Hsipaw. He was suffering from lung cancer. (SHAN) 26 August 2007
Bao Youhua

Sacrifice, a film documenting the plight of girls from Shan State working in Thai sex industry, released in 1998, screened in Chiangmai. It is the work of US based filmmaker Ellen Bruno. (Mizzima) 18 August 2007 More than 500 hundred friends and democracy activists attend Sao Seng Suk's funeral held in Chiangmai. (SHAN) 24 August 2007 12-ethnic parties, including Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and Kokang Democratic Party from Shan State, denounce junta handling of the peaceful protests. (Statement) 29 August 2007 Col Yawdserk sets conditions for parley:

Bao Youhua, youngest brother of Bao Youxiang, passes away in Kunma, Pangwai township. (SHAN) 4 September 2007 Shan Democratic Union supports the recent protests, closely identifies with it and hopes it will be translated into a well-coordinated, massive disobedience movement, paving a way for a change, says its statement. (SHAN) 11 September 2007 Chiangmai Shans mark the 64th birthday of detained Khun Tun Oo, the Shans' elected leader in 1990. (SHAN) 13 September 2007 SHAN's Shan language website www.mongloi.org axed. "Now we can reach it only through proxies," report two readers. (SHAN) 13 September 2007 Rice transportation to Shan State South suspended without official explanation. Permission to transport rice to Shan State North long halted. Official

To hold concurrent talks with the armed opposition movements To hold political talks following ceasefire To hold tripartite dialogue(SHAN)

Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

clarification at that time said it was to stop illegal exporting to China. (New Era Journal) 21 September 2007 Col Yawdserk, leader of Shan State Army (SSA) South, voices support for the protesting monks. (SHAN) 27 September 2007 The Shan State Army (SSA) South issues statement:

of an elected government but until such time will preserve the leadership of the present military government. It also welcomes UN as mediator. (Statement) 19 October 2007 More than 300 Shans hold ceremony wishing return of good health for HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. (SHAN) 28 October 2007
Khun Sa

Support for the people and monks of Burma demonstrating against their dictators ("We are ready to help and protect" them) Demand to peacefully address Burma's problems Removal of the junta from UN and Asean

Former Mong Tai Army leader Khun Sa passes away in Rangoon. (SHAN) 29 October 2007

It also informs that it is in consultation with the NLD, NUCB, NCGUB, ENC, KNPP, KIO, SNLD, NMSP, ANC, CNF, ABSDF and KNU in order to find a solution. (SHAN) 11 October 2007 Shans along the Thai-Burma border commemorate the recent killings of monks in Burma as well as those killed in Shan State by the Burma in its war against the resistance. One was tied up in a sack and drowned. Another by driving nails into his skull. (Shan community organizations) 15 October 2007 Peace and Democracy Front that includes Kokang, Wa and Mongla meets. (SHAN) 18 October 2007 The Peace and Democracy Front, formed by Wa, Kokang and Mongla, calls for avoidance of bloodshed and an inclusive dialogue supported by the UN. The front prefers the emergence

Maha Hsang

Wa leader Maha Hsang passes away. (SHAN) 6 November 2007 Ethnic nationalities are not complicating matters, says Harn Yawnghwe, Director of the EuroBurma Office (EBO), citing three reasons:

Theirs is a constitutional problem The military came into power in 1962 using the excuse that it was preventing ethnic states from disintegrating the nation They have been engaged in armed struggle since 1949 and we need to understand what 8

Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

they want if we want peace in Burma He recommends a series of steps which include

A multi-party talks on Burma Core group advising Burma should include SPDC.

the invitation of the Indian parliamentary Forum for Democracy in Burma (IPFDB). They brief Indian leaders of the importance of supporting Burmas dialogue process and argued Indias interest would better served by a federal democratic system in Burma. The delegation includes Secretary General Lian Hmung Sakhong and adviser Harn Yawnghwe. (Mizzima) 27 November 2007 Culture minister Khin Maung Myint, a hardliner, has arrived on the ChinaBurma border to persuade the Mongla, Wa and Kokang to support the juntas National Convention. (Irrawaddy) 3 December 2007

(Text) 9-11 November 2007 Shan and non-Shan representatives hold conference to elect new commission to draw up the second Shan State draft constitution. The meeting also resolves to be a member of a genuine federal union with other states, a departure from the first draft which was silent on the question. (SHAN) 18 November 2007 The Shan State Nationalities Peoples Liberation Organization (SNPLO) faction that recently returned to the armed struggle today changes its name to PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO). Another PaO Group, PaO Peoples Liberation Organization (PPLO) is led by Khun Okker. (Kantarawaddy Times) 20 November 2007 Asean should be ashamed of itself because it had passed on the burden of dealing with Burma to the UN, says Shan activist Charm Tong in Singapore. (SAPA statement) 25 November 2007 Chinas Shans (Dais) hold reunion of former princely families. Participated by academics from Chiangmai and Bangkok. (SHAN) 25-27 November 2007 A 4-member Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) delegate visits India at

Harn Yawnghwe, visiting Seoul, asks Korean businesses not to just focus on making money but to contribute to democratization process in Burma. He did not ask them to stop their work in Burma because companies of countries will fill the empty space if they leave Burma. (Korea Times) 9-10 December 2007 The Shan Cultural Association in London holds Shan Buddhism and Culture Conference. A total of 23 papers read. The event is attended by acclaimed Shan artists Sai Kham Lek and Sai Hti Hseng. (SHAN) 9 December 2007
Nang Noom

Nang Noom, the Shan woman who was paralyzed in an on the job accident at the

Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

Shangri-la Hotel site in Chiangmai last December, has finally received a lump sum payment from her employer. (Bangkok Post) 9-10 December 2007

Shans celebrate New Year. (SHAN) 18 December 2007 Shan State Army (SSA) holds peoples conference in Loi Taileng. Among the resolutions:

committed by its members(SHAN) 28 December 2007 A Tai-Thai studies seminar to be held at Bangkoks Thammasat University, 9-11 January, will be participated by noted Shan scholars: Sai Aung Tun, Sai Hsang Ai and Sai Kham Mong, according to sources coming from Bangkok. (SHAN)

To hold Shan State Congress in 2008 Recognition of the right of the people to lodge complaints with the SSA for excesses

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Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.)

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