Statement from the Office of the President of the Federated Shan States
His Royal Highness Prince Hso-khan-pha of Yawnghwe

Dated: September 26, 2007

We the Shan People and our Government stand shoulder to shoulder with the Sanghas & Peoples of Burma in protests against the brutal SPDC regime in Burma . We also stand hand in hand with all the Peoples of the former Union of Burma in the Arakan, Chin, Kachin, Karenni, Mon and Karen States in seeking freedom from the shackles of the Burmese generals who commit and continue to cowardly commit all manners of human right atrocities and genocide against defenseless and unarmed People.

Burma has plunged into deep political crisis brought on by the intransigence of a handful of power thirsty generals. Peaceful demonstrations by the Sanghas and the excommunications of the generals are a reflection of acts of desperations necessary to protect their roles in Sarsana, ;the Buddhist traditions and culture.  We strongly believe freedom of faith as the pinnacle of our democratic society.

We have received reports of the regime’s movements of their crack troops to bloodily attack peaceful marching Sanghas, nuns and their civilian supporters. I understand too that General Than Shwe and his generals of the military regime are infiltrating pseudo-monks into the ranks of the Sangha to incite the peaceful demonstrators to acts of violence to give the army the excuse they need to fire on and to murder peacefully marching protesters and their supporting by-standing civilians.

The Shan Government and the Shan People stand firm with our Burmese brethrens in seeking justice and freedom and sincerely look forward to working with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also of Shan and Karen heritage. My father Sao Shwe Thaike and her father General Aung San arrived at an understanding and a peaceful solution at Panglong in 1947 that unfortunately went astray.

Circumstances have changed since then and though our Declaration of Independence and the Mandate given to us by our Shan People are not negotiable, I believe we can work together to restore  peace and prosperity through genuine reconciliations to the region that was once the I948 Union of Burma.

For distributions to all institutions, media & NGOs.
By Office of the Prime Minister
Federated Shan States,
Exiled Shan Government.
Dated: 27th September, 2007.