Friday, May 9, 2014

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

Police accuse SNLD member of violating Unlawful Association Act

Posted: 09 May 2014 05:33 AM PDT

CHIANG MAI-May 9. Burma police have charged Sai Aik Keng, head of the Namlinmai village sub-office of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy in Keng Tung, with violation of the Unlawful Association Act.

On May 9, the police took Sai Aik Keng to court. When SNLD members visited him, they found that he had been arrested and tortured. Since he was arrested on May 5, he had not been provided with any food by the Burma Army.
ann-ethnic
A group of ethnic Ann in Keng Tung taking a photo with Khun Thun Oo and Sai Nood when SNLD opened a branch office in Keng Tung, in December 2012. (Photo: SNLD) 

Sai Aik Keng was arrested by Burma Army Battalion 245 on May 5. He was taken to the battalion and was threatened to be shot to death. The Burma Army repeatedly asked him, "Where is your gun?" Sai Aik Keng replied, "I have no gun, I have never had a gun." He told the Burma Army that he was a civilian, and requested to be released. The Burma Army hit his face with a gun causing his face to become bruised.

On May 8, the Burma Army transferred Sai Aik Keng to Military Affairs Security for interrogation. Then, MAS and the Burma Army transferred him to the police. At the police office, the police charged him with the Unlawful Association Act, article 17/1, for contacting the Shan State Army (SSA).

The police in Keng Tung said: "We are in the process of interrogation. We can't provide any information."

SNLD spokesperson Sai Leik said: "Sai Aik Keng was charged with violation of the Unlawful Association Act because of contacting SSA. Which SSA? Both SSAs, north and south, have signed a ceasefire with the government. Burma Army should not abuse people who want to build peace. If this is the case, then this means the country has no rule of law."

Sai Aik Keng was the member of SNLD. He is the leader of ethnic Ann in Keng Tung.

RCSS asks Naypyitaw to clarify raid on liaison office

Posted: 09 May 2014 05:33 AM PDT

CHIANG MAI-May 9. Lt-Gen Yawd Serk, the chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) has appealed to Naypyitaw to clarify the Burma Military Affairs Security (MAS) and police raid on its liaison office in Keng Tung on May 6, 2014.
Military Affairs Security and the police searching and taking photos of the RCSS/SSA liaison office in Keng Tung. (Photo: Sai Latt) 

On May 8, 2014, Lt-Gen Yawd Serk sent an appeal letter to the Union Peace Working Committee (UPWC) to clarify the raid on its liaison office by about 20 personnel, including MAS, police and soldiers.

Major Sai Lao Hseng, spokesman of the RCSS said: "Our office was legally established under bilateral agreement between the government/Burma Army and RCSS. They detained our officers, and raided our office. The raid was not about solving problems and building peace. Now, we are uncertain whether the government/Burma Army is really committed to peace building."

Sai Soe Mong, head of the RCSS liaison office in Keng Tung, was summoned to the MAS office to meet with Major Nay Lin, an MAS officer. When he was at the MAS office, his office was raided by the MAS, police and soldiers.
office-rcss2
Military Affairs Security and Burma Army taking photos at RCSS/SSA liaison office in Keng Tung. (Photo: Sai Latt)
 
When the MAS raided the RCSS office, the RCSS staff at the office was ordered at gunpoint by the soldiers not to move. They then searched every single room at the office. The RCSS staff requested the MAS, police and soldiers to take off their shoes before entering the house, but the raid team ignored the request.

RCSS/SSA has opened 6 liaison offices across Shan State after it reached a ceasefire with Naypyitaw in late 2011.

Shan army publication: More than 200 clashes since ceasefire

Posted: 09 May 2014 05:31 AM PDT

The Shan State Progress Party/ Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has already fought more than 200 battles, big and small, with the Burma Army that had launched campaigns against it, according to its Golden Jubilee publication.

sspp-ssa-operares "Not only failing to keep its word that Burmese forces would be withdrawing from areas around the SSPP/SSA, the Burma Army has expanded its control into SSPP/SSA areas, and had launched military campaigns against it," it says on P.142. "The result is that clashes between the SSPP/SSA and the Burma Army have taken place more than 200 times since the signing of the (state level) ceasefire agreement."

One example was in July 2012 when the two sides fought for 17 days after the Burma Army launched an offensive to seize the SSPP/SSA's Hwe Zawd, Tawng Hio and Zed Lak (Seven Miles) outposts.

"The government of U Thein Sein then requested, in the name of peace, to withdraw temporarily. We complied with and since then the outposts are being occupied by the Burmese forces."

Less well known than its sister organization the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) that is based along the Thai-Burmese border, the SSPP/SSA is led by Lt-Gen Pang Fa, who is Chairman of the SSPP as well as Commander-in-Chief of the SSA.
The SSPP is led by a 31 member Central Committee, 23 permanent and 8 alternative. Its Vice Chairman is Maj Gen Kherh Tai and General Secretary Col Khun Hseng.

The SSA has 3 divisions: 999th (with 3 brigades, 1st, 153rd and 612nd), 918th (with 3 brigades, 27th, 36th and 702nd) and 909th (with 2 brigades, 72nd and 74th). Its Chief of Staff is Col Khemin.

The RCSS/SSA has also claimed to have fought more than 50 clashes during the same time.
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