SSA News
6 : Col.Moengzuen's ceasefire news
Date or other details about it.
1. New Light of Myanmar
2. Shanland.
3. Mizzima
4. The Irrawaddy
5. AP
6. VOA
7. DVB
8. People's Daily Online
9. The China Post
10. ISG photos of Col.Moengzuen's forces.
11. Bangkok Post (26/07/06)
848 members of Shan State Army-South group return to legal fold
NAY PYI TAW, 7July
Realizing the national development endeavours and sincerity of the government, the entire people and the Tatmadaw, 848 members of Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) (Ywet Sit) group led by Mein Sin with the rank of deputy chief of staff and brigade 758 commander, returned to the legal fold yesterday after making contacts with Eastern Command.
The SSA-S members brought with them 24 various kinds of heavy weapons, 834 assorted small arms, 1,990 magazines, 157,971 rounds of ammunition, 55 hand grenades, 63 mines, 15 communication sets and 120 walkie talkies.
Officials led by Commander of Eastern Command Brig-Gen Thaung Aye warmly welcomed them. The commander allocated a region for them to live, earn their living and carry out regional development undertakings. Moreover, he made arrangements to provide food, clothing and shelter for their convenience.
The entire national people including all the national races in southern, northern and eastern Shan State and the Tatmadaw, who wish to see peaceful progress of the nation, have warmly welcomed the SSA-S members with great pleasure as they returned to the legal fold in a large group with correct outlook and realization. MNA
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SHANLAND
Col Moengzuen
No.08 - 07/2006
9 July 2006
Politics
| Other names |
Kawsanla, Mawk Zeng |
| Age |
44 |
| Place of Birth |
Tonhong Village, Kholam Tract, Namzang Township |
| Parents |
Sai Kham Hsai, Nang Nawng |
| Siblings |
Ingta 41, Tawna aka Kherhzuen 39, Nang Yen 35 |
| Education |
8th standard (Burmese), 3rd standard (Chinese) |
| 1984 |
Joins resistance, enlists with Yawdserk, Commander,
Battalion 404 |
| 1986 |
Instructor at Mong Tai Army base camp, Homong |
| Circa1994 |
Own command |
| 1996 |
Refuses to surrender, Joins former commander Yawdserk, designated Commander, 758th Brigade |
| 2004 |
Holds Peoples Conference in Namzang, decides to form government and declare independence. |
| 2005 |
(25 April) throws in his lot with the Interim Shan Government (ISG) .
- Burma Army launches offensives
- Negotiation begins |
| 2006 |
- Shan State Army South HQ dispatches Lt-Col Pawng Kherh (300 strong) to replace him, invites him to return to base
- (7 July) Rangoon announces Moengzuen returning to the legal fold with 848 men, 24 heavy weapons and 834 small
arms. |
Rebel leader ´did not surrender, only made peace´
No.04 - 07/2006
5 July 2006
Politics
Former Shan State Army (SSA) brigade commander Col Moengzuen denied yesterday that he had capitulated to the Burma Army as reported by S.H.A.N. Saturday (1 July), according to a source in northern Shan State.
"He called me up today and said he had only made peace with the Burma Army," recounted the source who spoke on condition of anonymity. "He would still be allowed to keep his arms and given an area where he could operate."
The source said Moengzuen had held a meeting with a "G-1" officer at Panglaw village, Mongnim tract, Kehsi Township, 3 days after he had "gone over". According to the preliminary agreement, pending approval by Rangoon:
Mongzuen and his men would be assigned either to Laikha, 79 miles northeast of Taunggyi, or Kehsi, 69 miles further.
His group would be renamed Shan State People´ Army (SSPA).
"He had refused to adopt the label Shan State Army South (Splinter Group) as suggested by the G-1,"said the source.
It is still unclear whether Moengzuen´s little band would be recognized as a pro-Rangoon militia force or as a ceasefire group like the Wa, Kokang and SSA-North.
Other sources however argue that since Moengzuen had made a de facto surrender, the likelihood of being accorded the same status as the Wa, Kokang and others is slim, "unless Rangoon believes he is as strong as he claims and thus can serve as an effective tool in its war against Loi Taileng (SSA-South base on the Thai-Burma border)."
Moengzuen´s force, according to himself, was 2,727 strong when he announced his support for the Interim Shan Government (ISG) formed by a group of expatriates that declared independence last year.
Meanwhile, the ISG members in Thailand have rebuffed the reports of Moengzuen´s surrender as a propaganda exercise by Loi Taileng. "If he had really surrendered, why have we not heard it from Rangoon´s media?" retorted one senior member when questioned yesterday.
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Mizzima News
Southern Shan army fighters surrender
July 9, 2006- Thirty five members of the Shan State Army-South have surrendered to the Burmese military, a spokeswoman for the group told Mizzima yesterday.
While state-run newspapers have reported that more than 800 members of the group had "returned to the legal fold", spokeswoman Nam Khur Hsen said only 35 had quit the SSA-S.
Nam Khur Hsen said the fighters, led by commander Mein Sin, had been involved in secret talks with the junta.
"Basically these people are [Mein Sin]'s personal body guards. Other fighters in his command returned to the headquarters," she said.
Yesterday's New Light of Myanmar reported that 848 SSA-S members from the 758th brigade had surrendered themselves and their weapons to authorities.
Nam Khur Hsen told Mizzima Mein Sin had failed to communicate properly with SSA-S leaders for more than three years and had been charged with
illegally taxing Shan citizens of more than 90 million kyat.
"We have sent representatives from headquarters to discuss with him but
he does not want to discuss, and that may be one reason for him to
surrender," she said.
The New Light of Myanmar also printed a photo of the Burmese military's
eastern commander brigadier general Thaung Aye giving Mein Sin 30
million kyat.
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The Irrawaddy
Shan Rebels Dismiss Claims of Mass Defections
By Aung Lwin Oo
July 10, 2006
Armed ethnic group the Shan State Army-South has rejected claims by Burma´s ruling junta that hundreds of its members have recently defected.
"Realizing the national development endeavours and sincerity of the government, the entire people and the Tatmadaw (Armed Forces), 848 members of Shan State Army-South … returned to the legal fold," official The New Light of Myanmar reported on Saturday.
The SSA-S disputes these figures. "According to our early reports, the numbers were about 60," said the group´s spokeswoman, Nam Khur Hsen. "It later turned out to be around 30," she added.
Burma´s official press reported that the group of defectors, led by SSA-S Col Moengzuen, commander of Brigade 758, surrendered to the State Peace and Development Council with scores of arms, including heavy weapons, following peace talks with the Burma Army´s eastern command last week.
"We haven´t seen the numbers of SSA-S members and weapons that have been claimed by official media," Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of the Shan Herald Agency for News, told The Irrawaddy on Monday. He added that the defectors who allied themselves with the junta have done so amid pressure from the military government and disputes with the SSA-S.
Col Moengzuen was previously involved with a group of Shan in exile conducting a preliminary census prior to forming an independent Shan State in 2004. The following year, he support the Interim Shan Government, which declared a Federated Shan State in April 2005.
These actions, taken independent of the SSA-S leadership, led government troops to respond with increased military campaigns in the region.
According to Khuensai Jaiyen, Col Moengzuen was summoned in recent weeks to SSA-S headquarters, while a 300-strong contingent of Shan troops was deployed in central Shan State.
Group spokesperson Nam Khur Hsen said that Col Moengzuen had been stationed in central Shan State for years, but had kept only minimal contact with SSA-S headquarters.
Official press reports claim that Brig-Gen Thaung Aye, head of the military´s eastern command, provided Col Moengzuen´s group with land and 30 million kyat (about US $22,500) for rural development.
Unlike previous armed Shan groups who´s ended their resistance to "exchange arms for peace"—a phrase that amounts to surrender—Col Moengzuen´s group of defectors appears to have been awarded ceasefire status, under which they would retain their arms, Khuensai Jaiyen said.
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AP
SHAN GUERRILLAS
Shan guerrillas march at their jungle headquarters of Loi Tailang in Myanmar's Shan state near the border with Thailand on May 21, 2005. Nearly 900 Shan ethnic rebels have surrendered their weapons to Myanmar's military regime, turning in hundreds of guns, grenades and mines, state media reported Saturday, July 8, 2006.
AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) AP - Jul 08 6:41 PM
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Yawd Serk, leader of Shan State Army is photographed under the backdrop of Shan national flag during a news conference at his headquarters of Loi Tailang in Myanmar's Shan state near the border with Thailand on May 20, 2005. Nearly 900 Shan ethnic rebels have surrendered their weapons to Myanmar's military regime, turning in hundreds of guns, grenades and mines, state media reported Saturday, July 8, 2006. But Yawd Serk remains hostile to the junta and is opposed to the truce.
(AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) AP - Jul 08 6:42 PM
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Yawd Serk, leader of Shan State Army, front, sings Shan national anthem along with his comrades-in-arms during the Shan Martyr's Day celebration at the rebel headquarters of Loi Tailang in Myanmar's Shan state near the border with Thailand on May 21, 2005. Nearly 900 Shan ethnic rebels have surrendered their weapons to Myanmar's military regime, turning in hundreds of guns, grenades and mines, state media reported Saturday, July 8, 2006. The majority of the Shan State Army, led by Yawd Serk, remains hostile to the junta and is opposed to the truce. The junta had previously estimated the size of the rebel's army at about 5,000 troops.
(AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) AP - Jul 08 6:41 PM
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VOA
Hundreds of Shan Rebels Surrender Weapons to Burma Junta
VOA News
Washington
08 July 2006
Burma's state media say nearly 900 Shan ethnic rebels have surrendered their weapons to the military regime. The reports said the 848 men from a breakaway faction of the Shan State Army turned over small arms, grenades, mines and communication equipment at a ceremony Thursday in the northeastern Shan states.
In return for their surrender, the military junta allocated a region for them to live, earn their living and carry out regional development.
The military also pledged to provide the rebels with food, clothing and shelter.
Shan rebels have been fighting the junta for autonomy in the eastern Shan state near the border with Thailand.
The group is one of Burma's largest ethnic rebel armies with about five thousand members.
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DVB
SSA-S commander surrenders to Burma army with 800 followers
Jul 08, 2006 (DVB)
The state-run news paper of Burma´s military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Myanmar Alin daily issue of 8 July reports that members of Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) led by its 758th Brigade Commander Col Moeng Zuen ´returned to the legal fold´ on 6 July.
Col Moeng Zeun and over 800 of his followers surrendered to the Eastern Military Command. DVB tried to contact the SSA-S but to no avail. When DVB contacted Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.), office in charge Khun Seng confirmed that the news were true.
"They started discussing about the matter in November 2005. We believed they had four rounds of talks, with the last one on 26 June. Then, we heard that Col Moeng Zuen gathered his followers and surrendered to the SPDC on 29 June in Ke-hsi Township."
He continued to say that Col Moeng Zuen was instrumental in forming the Shan State Government and declaring Shan State independence in 2005.
"He received confirmation to declare Shan State's independence and to form a Shan State Government at a public meeting. He then contacted some Shan expatriates and formed the Interim Shan Government (ISG) on 25 March 2005. The ISG declared Shan State's independence on 17 April 2005. After that, the SPDC launched huge military offensives against Col Moeng Zuen. Then in late 2005 the talks began. The offensives were carrying on while they were discussing the issue."
Khun Seng said Col Moeng Zuen surrendered to the SPDC because the SSA-S had already planned to replace him with another commander for talking with the junta.
"The SSA-S believed that Col Moeng Zuen has been left alone for too long and their objectives have not been achieved while the people are facing more difficulties. So, the SSA-S decided to recall him first and then replace him. The SSA-S sent Maj Aung Khern, to replace Col Moeng Zuen, together with 300 troops to central Shan State in late April. Maj Aung Khern told Col Moeng Zeun that he did not come to attack him but to take care of matters during his absence. Since Col Moeng Zeun did not trust Maj Aung Khern, he made a deal with the SPDC."
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People's Daily Online
Anti-govt ethnic armed group returns to legal fold in Myanmar
A total of 848 members of the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S), an anti-government ethnic armed group in Myanmar have returned to the legal fold, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Saturday.
Having brought along with them 24 various kinds of heavy weapons, 834 assorted small arms, 1,990 magazines, 157,971 rounds of ammunition and 63 mines among others, the group of the SSA-S, led by deputy chief of staff and commander of 758 brigade Mein Sin, made peace with the government on July 6, the paper said.
Commander of Eastern Command Brigadier-General Thaung Aye allocated a region for them to live, earn their living and carry out regional development undertakings, it added.
Myanmar government forces surrounded Brigade-241 of the SSA-S, led by Thangyaung (alias) Sao Khun Kyaw, in the Namkhan-Namphatka area near the Myanmar-China border at the end of last year with 11 of them finally surrendering in January this year and 37 others being captured.
The government charged Ywet-Sit-led SSA-S with drug trafficking, masterminding of terrorist acts, manufacturing of counterfeit notes, arson and rape.
SSA-S was among four anti-government organizations declared as unlawful associations in August last year. The other three are the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), the Federation of Trade Union - Burma (FTUB) and the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF).
Since the government adopted a policy of national reconciliation in 1989, 17 main anti-government armed groups have made peace with the government, returning to the legal fold under respective ceasefire agreements.
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The China Post
Shan rebels surrender weapons to Myanmar
2006/7/9
YANGON, Myanmar , AP
Nearly 900 Shan ethnic rebels have surrendered their weapons to Myanmar 's military regime, turning in hundreds of guns, grenades and mines, state media reported Saturday.
The 848 men from a breakaway faction of the Shan State Army relinquished over 800 guns, 55 hand grenades, 63 mines and communication equipment at a ceremony Thursday in the northeastern Shan States, said the Myanma Ahlin newspaper. Shan rebels began turning in their arms after a government crackdown on Shan organizations, including the arrests of at least a dozen Shan politicians since February and heavy shelling of the Shan State Army's headquarters in April.
Those who surrendered came from a breakaway group led by Commander Mein Sein, the newspaper said. In exchange for their surrender, the rebels were given "assistance for their livelihood" and land, the newspaper said. "The people and all ethnic minorities from southern, northern and eastern Shan States along with (the army) warmly welcome those who realized the goodwill of the government and returned to the legal fold," the paper said.
The majority of the Shan State Army, led by Yawd Serk, remains hostile to the junta and is opposed to the truce. The junta had previously estimated the size of the rebel's army at about 5,000 troops.
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Col.Moengzuen´s armed forces.
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SHAN STATE ARMY
Ex-Khun Sa aide defects to Burma's junta
Mae Hong Son _ An internal rift in the rebel Shan State Army (SSA) has led to a former aide-de-camp of drug warlord Khun Sa surrendering to the Burmese junta, a Thai security source said. Maj Moengzuen, former commander of the SSA's 758th infantry battalion, and 60 armed troops under his control, surrendered to the Burmese government several days ago amid reports he had fallen out with the SSA leader, Col Yod Suk, the source said.
The Burmese junta reportedly threw a welcome party for Maj Moengzuen in Taunggyi, a city in Shan State.
The major was once a close aide to Khun Sa when their stronghold was based in Burma's Ban Hua Muang, opposite Mae Hong Son province. Following Khun Sa's surrender to the junta on Jan 7, 1996, Maj Moengzuen refused to give in and defected together with nearly 500 guerrillas to the SSA under Col Yod Suk's control.
According to the SSA leader, Maj Moengzuen harboured a strong ambition to set up a new government with another liberation group and disagreed with his principles.
However, Col Yod Suk yesterday denied there was any personal conflict between them. They only had different ''political perspectives' ' and Maj Moengzuen would be welcome if he returned to the SSA.
Col Yod Suk maintained his army still dominated their stronghold. Many young people had joined the SSA following brutal suppression by Burmese troops, he said.
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