Statement from:
President, Interim Shan Government, Federated Shan States.
On the evening of 8th February 1947, General Aung San and his cabinet members comprising U Aung Zan Way, Bo Khin Maung Gale, Bo Htun Hla and U Pe Khin were invited by Shan Government to sign the Panglong Treaty and to witness the Shan Flag raising and the Union Jack lowering ceremony. This marked the beginning of a mile-stone for our Independence virtually a whole year before the Burmese Independence on January 1948 that we jointly celebrated with them when Admiral Lord Mountbatten, last British Viceroy and Governor General of the British India Empire handed over to my father, Sao Shwe Thaike, Saopha of Yawnghwe as the First President of the Union.
The auspicious occasion at Panglong in 1947 was lead by Sao Hkun Panseng, Saopha of Tawngpeng and Chairman of the Shan State Council. This official ceremony was conducted in the presence of the British Government representatives led by Mr. Arthur Bottomley, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. John Leyden and Mr. Bernard Ledwidge. Shan Independence, as we see here, took place a year ahead of the Burmese Independence, which was jointly claimed on 4th. January 1948.
On 29th April 1959, the 34 Ruling Princes relinquished their executive powers to the Shan People and the Shan Government and not to the Burmese Government. This was done in good faith and sincerity in the hope that the flawed “Unitary Federal Union” could be salvaged by peaceful resolutions in accordance with the historic "Spirit of the 1947 Panglong Agreement".
With hindsight, the other option could have been to exercise the Right of Secession after a lapse of 10 year period as was explicitly stated in the 1948 Federal Union Constitution under Chapter X, Section 201. That hard-won Constitutional Right was frittered away, apparently through misplaced trust. According to a senior Shan political analyst, the Ruling Princes (or Saophas meaning Celestial Rulers or Lord of Sky) thought that they could regain their political power-sharing by running in the next General Elections due in 1964 under U Nu’s democratic environment. This never happened as the Union Government was usurped by Ne Win in collusion with U Nu in a secret letter of 26th September 1958. This collusion was devised under the pretext of a “Caretaker Government” on 29th October 1958; and “promising” constitutional reforms as was proposed by the Shan leaders and that he (U Nu) could no longer control the state of affairs of the nation. It turned out to be a lame excuse.
No one foresaw Ne Win's 1962 military coup involving the "clean" AFPFL (Anti Fascist Peoples League) of U Nu. As the events unfolded later, the September 1958 coup - the so called "Caretaker Government" was a covert pre-arrangement
between U Nu and his "trusted" man Ne Win whom U Nu had appointed as his Defense Minister and C-in-C from BIA officer ranks. Bo Shu Maung, as he was known earlier, was a Major then, to replace the Karen General Smith-Dun in 1949 that had risen by merit from the ranks in British service.
Then again, on January 18, 1996, the Shan people – who had put so much hope in Khun Sa - as well as the international community were taken by surprise when Khun Sa’s Mong Tai Army (MTA) surrendered to the State Law & Order Restoration Council (SLORC) following 30 years of armed resistance, rebellion and insurrection against successive Burmese military dictatorships – (not to mention Khun Sa’s stigma with his failed declaration of Independence for Shan State in 1993. Who would have thought that MTA was led by imposters and traitors?)
Nonetheless, our Shan people were severely devastated and shocked by both incidents, believing this to be our eventual enslavement by the Marn forever. Our dreams of freedom from the yoke of neo-colonialism were shattered. But time and again our Tai resilience and the will to survive proved to be stronger than ever and we have risen from the ashes of our dashed hopes, with Col. Moung Zern's recent peace deal with the Marn, being no exception.
The Shan People through their Representatives of our Se-viengs (54 out of 56) in a majority of 54 to 2 have now exercised their Right relinquished to them by the Ruling Princes in 1959 and by their Treaty Right of 1947 Panglong and the 1948 Constitution of the Union of Burma. The current (Interim) Shan Government was appointed and established legally and legitimately by the Shan People in exercise of their Treaty & Constitutional Rights as distinct from Khun Sa’s SSRC and Col Yawd Serk’s RCSS.
Shan people love peace and dream of it. They will always work for peace, stand for peace, strive for peace, sacrifice for peace but will never surrender for peace. No matter how long it takes, we will fight to total victory. History will prove it.
One may never know the real reason why Col. Moung Zern chose the path he did, but nonetheless he did and we can only wish him the best. For those of us who chose to pursue the road to a free federated democratic Shan States, the fight goes on. We have a vision, a clear picture of our destination to achieve. We shall not and will never lose sight of that. The journey will be bumpy and rough at times and we may even have to detour but in keeping our vision before us, distraction, obstacles and hurdles, twists and turns along our road to freedom will not matter. Such difficulties will serve to develop our character, to
renew our zeal, and strengthen our resolve – making us stronger and more determined in pursuing our freedom with purpose and endurance.
Recent hiccup is just a small step backward in our giant strides forward that will follow. We have fought this far and paid dearly; and many of us have made ultimate sacrifices. It would be utter irresponsibility and recklessness for us not to learn from our experience and press forward. We must leave the sad episodes behind and press on ahead – regretting the past misfortune that we cannot control is a fool’s game. Ahead of us is a noble cause. No nation or people can become great again just by taking their calling and responsibility lightly without concerted effort to emulate the past greatness.
What legacy do we want to leave for our future generations? Will it be a legacy of bravery, endurance, sacrifice and patriotism that will free our people from Marn's yoke? We have been proven to be a strong nation and capable of confronting the fiercest of our enemies in the past. Lest we forget, the names of our forefathers Surkhanpha the Great down to Hkun Sarng Toanhoong, just to name a few, should ring bells to all Tai patriots. We have no doubt whatsoever that we will prevail over SPDC in our end game. We must know who our enemy is and to be always alert, vigilant and not to be deceived by them again.
We call on all members of all freedom loving ethnic nationalities in Shan States to join hands with us, as we drive out the occupying SPDC forces from our lands; and to build a nation where peace, harmony, unity, mutual respect, law, order and justice will prevail – a nation where our citizens will thrive and prosper in freedom from oppression and coercion.
We assure you Pi Naung Tai that we are not leading you into an abyss or a dead-end road. We lead you to a road of hope, of life and liberty – of which we have been deprived for more than half a century. We want to say to you that there is light at the end of the tunnel and we see it.
Let us walk on a journey together of no return to past miseries and enslavement – Pi Nong Tai. Each day that we labor for our cause puts us a day closer to that goal of liberty. The fruits of our strivings bring us ever closer to our aspiration for a free federated Shan State.
Is this not worth fighting for?
Is it not worth staying the course?
Is it not worth putting our minds and spirit into one voice and under one flag?
By staying UNITED we will be a formidable force to be reckoned with by our friends, and not to mention, by our foes.
May the Lord Buddha protect us and keep us from all evils.
Signed & sealed by:
Hsokhanpha Yawnghwe
President,
Interim Shan Government,
Federated Shan States.
Dated: 18th July, 2006.
