STATEMENT ON SSA SOUTH SURRENDER TO SPDC

 
Shan Democratic Union (SDU), on behalf of the people of Shan State, would like to bring the attention to the recent surrender of Shan State Army South (SSA-S) – part of the Brigade 241 – on January 2, 2006 to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) or the Burmese military regime.

While there could be a dispute on the term of whether it is an “international” or “internal” conflict, due to the abolition and breach of contract of the Panglong Agreement and the 1947 Union of Burma Constitution, which are the only legal bonds between the Shan State and Burma Proper, the fact remains that these SSA–S troopers have surrendered and as such, should be treated as Prisoners of War (POW) according to the Geneva Convention.

Reports reaching international media indicate that the SSA–S’s POW might not be properly treated as prescribed by the Geneva Convention.

Furthermore, the SDU is worried and concerned that the SPDC may not adhere to the Geneva POW guidelines and thus would like to urge the United Nations and concerned international bodies to look into this case so that it could be handled according to international norm and in an appropriate way.