Monday, March 13, 2017

Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

Commentary on Aung San Suu Kyi's view on Panglong Agreement

Posted: 13 Mar 2017 07:00 AM PDT

An opinion piece that was published on February 24, 2017, which emphasizes on what Aung San Suu Kyi might possibly be driving at, needs to be looked at closely.


The crux of the problem in defining the Panglong Agreement, Promises and Spirit is the inability to accept the fact that that the said agreement is a founding historical document and genesis of the birth of the new political entity the "Union of Burma" in 1948.

The Panglong Agreement has to be read together with the 1947 Union of Burma Constitution and the 1961 Federal Amendment Proposal of the ethnic nationalities, as they are correlated and interconnected.

No one in his or her right mind would disregard a founding historical document and rewrite a new one to replace it.

As an example just look at the United States Constitution of 1787, it was a 4 page document with just 7 articles in it, and since then has developed with leaps and bounds to be the most modern constitution of our time.

The Bamar leaders should also treat the Panglong Agreement as such, as a country's founding, historical document and should not try to nullify it, or replace it with a new document that reinterpret the history according to their preconceived ideas, but should add up innovations to be in tune with the modern time only.

It is time to give due respect to the country's founding historical document, if the federal form of government envisioned by our founding forefathers should be realized.

Link to the story: http://frontiermyanmar.net/mm/news/4168

Civilian beaten by Burmese soldier in Mong Khark

Posted: 13 Mar 2017 03:42 AM PDT

A man was hospitalized in eastern Shan State's Mong Khark Township after he was beaten by a Burmese soldier at a checkpoint last Monday, according to a local source.

Three villagers were beaten by Burmese soldiers in Lashio Township in November last year.

The incident happened at Nam Moi Ahkhue, a Burmese military checkpoint, the source told Shan Herald on condition of anonymity because of his fears of retribution. The victim has been identified as Sai Yi, a Mong Noong villager, who was passing through the checkpoint when the soldier on patrol, identified as Lieutenant Sithu, stopped him. Apparently, because he could not understand the lieutenant's language – Burmese – the soldier beat him.

Sai Yi was taken to the hospital in Mong Khark, the source said.

Consisting of no more than 200 households, Mong Noong is located 20 miles west of Mong Khark Township, which is in Kengtung District.

"The Burmese armed forces set up two checkpoints between Mong Noong and Mong Kar village, which lie just 12 miles from each other," said Nang Ai Keng Kham, a resident in Mong Khark. "People have to pay them money to pass through the checkpoint. For a motorbike, we have to pay 1,000 kyat (US$0.75) and for a car we must pay 5,000 kyat.

"If people do not speak nicely with them, they get beaten up," she said. "It's very difficult to travel in this area. Sometimes, we are too afraid to pass there.

"People in this area are farmers. We only rely on local crops," she added. "Right now, there is a temple festival in Mong Noong, and villagers go there to sell their wares. But the Burmese soldiers at the checkpoint always ask for money. It distresses us."

There are regular reports of human rights violations against civilians perpetuated by Burmese troops across Shan State. On December 7, Shan Heraldreported that three villagers from Mong Yen in Lashio Township were beaten and another was shot by Burmese soldiers for no reason.

Many incidents are either not reported or the soldiers involved are invariably not brought to justice.

"Members of the [Burmese] security forces continued to violate human rights with near-total impunity. Investigations into human rights violations by the security forces were rare, and when they did occur they lacked transparency and independence," said a 2015-16 Amnesty International annual report.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

To Hopeland and Back: 27th trip

Posted: 13 Mar 2017 12:39 AM PDT

Day Four. Wednesday, 15 February 2017
KNU delegation meets SMJH, 
15 February 2017, in Laiza. (Photo: PI)

H.E. Hong Liang, reported by Global New light of Myanmar, 5 February 2017Friends are chosen, but neighbors come with the house.
This morning we have a meeting with religious leaders. I find them speaking quite openly as they know most of their guests are Christians like themselves.
One of them attacks the government for "flouting" the inclusivity principle as adopted by the NCA. Another criticizes it for urging the non-signatories to sign it, but "offering no guarantees." It is also getting more difficult to deal with the new government, because "it has two heads" instead of one like all normal governments do.
Here are the excerpts from the discussions by the visitors:
  • We signed the NCA not because we trusted the government. We may even say that we signed it, because we didn't trust the government.
  • But it has its own advantages:
  1. We continue to carry our arms as long as the peace process lasts
  2. We are no longer unlawful organizations, and people need not be afraid they might be prosecuted for dealing with us
  3. The NCA accepts the principle of federalism
  4. There may still be clashes between the Tatmadaw and the EAOs, due to long standing mutual mistrust plus lack of demarcation and repositioning of troops, but, on the whole, the number of clashes has gone down. Which means the NCA more or less keeps the Tatmadaw in check
  • If the KIA is attacked, there is very little the world can speak for them. But if the KNLA or SSA is attacked, there is a lot the world can speak for them.
  • There are two opposing concepts which need to be reconciled:
Col (ret) Htoo Htoo Lay speaking to the SMJH
, 15 February 2017. Next to him, from left to right,
 are Harn Yawnghwe, author, Padoh Ta Do Moo
, Padoh Hserh Gay, Marcus (standing).
(Photo: PI)
One is that this nation has come into being since the day of Anawrahta (1044-1077) or even before that. That the dominant race has always been Burmans/Bamars. So the ultimate arbiter of this country should be Bamars.
The other is that this nation was brought about by Panglong. Which means we are equal and joint owners of this country. That's why this country needs a federal system to govern itself.
  • If we keep on fighting, in the end we may, like Native Americans, one day be seen only in reservations. So while we still have strength, we need to find new ways so that we may survive and prosper.
  • The government may have two heads now. But these two heads are closer to each other than to us. That's why both signatories and non-signatories should develop closer relations
  • War at the table is like war in the field. If you don't know how to fight, you lose.
  • NCA is created by human beings. It is therefore not perfect. But because it is not perfect, we can do something about it
One religious leader later tells us it is a very informative meeting.
The next session in the afternoon, 14:00-17:00, is with the SMJH, translated into English as Kachin Political Consultative Team (KPCT), made up of 38 members: 10 from KIO and the rest from Kachin State, Shan State "North," Rangoon and Mandalay.
Its purpose is to form a representative body that will speak for the Kachin people in their quest for peace and political future. It became one year old on 23 January.
Here are the extracts from the speech of Gen Gun Maw who speaks for the SMJH:
  • If we want to catch the prey, we must have beaters on every side
  • The TNLA, MNDAA and AA should be allowed to participate in the peace process, with special provisos
  • No decision has been made not to sign the NCA
  • If you can't speak about Panglong (agreement and promises), it's no use using the name Panglong (for the peace conference)
  • We were advised to deal with regional commanders. And we said, "How could we, if these people are lying even to their own superiors?"
The day ends with a lavish dinner party. You may blame the Kachins for anything but never their hospitality, which in my experience, is the unbeatable Number One.
(To be continued)

To Hopeland and Back: 27th trip

Posted: 13 Mar 2017 12:35 AM PDT

Day Five. Thursday, 16 February 2017

You are a reasonable man.
It's just that you've never been approached the right way.
Mareen O'Hara, The Redhead from Wyoming (1953)

The KNU delegation with the cadet 
school faculty, 16 February 2017. (Photo: PI)
The meeting today with the KIO CEC lasts 5 hours, 08:00-13-00, with a 20minute break in-between.

Gen N'Ban La opens the meeting:

·        We had jointly drafted the NCA, but were unable to sign it. The reason was the government had spurned the all inclusive principle
·        When it comes to political matters, we follow the decisions of the UNFC
·        At Mai Ja Yang (July 2016), both signatories and non-signatories were able to adopt the 8 point federal guideline

(For those readers, who are unfamiliar with the guideline, which was first adopted in 2005 by Thai border-based organizations, here it is:

1.     Sovereign powers derive from the people
2.     Equality of all national races, both political and racial wise
3.     Right of Self Determination
4.     Federal principles
5.     Minority rights
6.     Democracy, human rights and gender equality
7.     Secular State
8.     Multi-party democratic system)

·        Other obstacles to negotiations included the resolution by Shan State legislature designating us as terrorist organizations
·        We are disappointed the NLD government has nothing to say about it despite overwhelming support for her during the 2015 polls by the Kachin people
·        Please regard criticisms between us (signatories and non-signatories) as flowers thrown at each other

Other than him, there's only Gen Gun Maw who takes the floor, despite the presence of several prominent leaders like Sumlut Gam, Lanan, and Laphai La, to name a few.

Gun Maw strongly supports the cooperation among SMJH and Karen Unity and Peace Committee (KUPC) of which KNU is a member and Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU), of which RCSS is a member.

Altogether, the three EAOs will be working together at least in three areas:

·        Cooperation among SMJH, KUPC and CSSU
·        Panglong Handbook publication
·        The 8 point federal guidelines

The KA 25, produced by 
KIA factory. (Photo:PI)
Gen N'Ban La concludes the meeting with the remark: Signing the NCA means submission to the 2008 constitution.

Which seems to be different what he had said on 20 January. The thought comes to me that maybe he is reflecting the general view of the KIO CEC. (Col Hkun Okker later recalled that at the Lawkhilar Conference in 2015, the matter was already resolved by the decision that signing the NCA would not mean accepting the 2008 constitution.)


In the afternoon, we visit three places:

·        The Cadet Training School, where its 7thintake (65 cadets) are due to wind up their training by the end of the month.  Needless to say, we also visit the spot where 23 cadets were killed by shelling from the Burma Army on 18 November 2014.
·        Forward base facing the Burma Army bases where we see several KIA fighters from Battalion #23 armed with the Kachin version of AK47s, renamed KA 25. They are lighter than AKs and MAs, we are told.
·        School for administrators, where they are training 80 trainees (5 of them women). The KIO has divided the Kachin State into several administrative levels:

5 divisions
20 districts
60 townships
194 tracts

The KNU delegation with the KIA cadets, 
16 February 2017. (Photo: PI)
The day ends with a 3 hour discussion on SSR/DDR between the KNU's JMC expert Ta Do Moo and top KIA officers led by deputy chief of staff Brig Gen Khawng Lum.

The next day we are back in Kunming.

The following day is spent reviewing our trip. All conclude that it has been a rewarding trip that further cements the relations between the signatories and non-signatories.

The problem of being signatories and non-signatories still persists nevertheless. To this, the review session decides to leave well enough alone. That a policy other than the respect for each other's right of self-determination will ruin any progress we have made.

On 19 February, we are back in Chiangmai.

Wa leader orders his troops to withdraw from Mongla

Posted: 12 Mar 2017 11:44 PM PDT

Bao Youxiang, the leader of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), last week ordered his forces to withdraw from the Mongla area, which is considered territory of the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).

One of the UWSA checkpoints in Mongla area
The order was released after a meeting of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) in Pangsang, the UWSA headquarters, from 22–24 February.

In late September last year, the UWSA moved battalions in to take control of Mongla, including strategic bases belonging to the NDAA such as two mountain bases, Loi Kiusai and Loi Hsarm Hsoom, and a checkpoint at Parng Mark Fai. The move was reported to be due to an internal conflict between the two traditional allies.
One of the contentious issues that set off the military maneuver appears to be that the Wa rebels asked the NDAA to only allow a low-ranking official to attend the first round of the 21st Century Panglong Conference (21CPC), which began on August 31, 2016. However, Sai Luen, the leader of the NDAA, also widely known as the Mongla Group, joined the meeting in person.
A second issue that arose was that the Mongla Group proposed the establishment of a self-administered zone for the ethnic Akha at the 21CPC.
According to local sources, Bao Youxiang visited Mongla on March 8 and ordered units to withdraw from the NDAA-control areas. However, the sources said only one base, Loi Kiusai, was handed over to the Mongla Group and that Loi Hsarm Hsoom remained under UWSA control at the time of press.

The sources added that even though the Wa forces withdrew from Loi Kiusai, they are currently camped at Nam Lam village, not far from that base.

"Our leader ordered us to withdraw from Loi Kiusai," said an UWSA official based in the area. "However, we were not ordered to move north to Wa headquarters. Therefore, we only moved to Nam Lam where our division is based."

The NDAA has traditionally maintained close relations with the Wa army, which is considered the largest ethnic militia force in Burma with a troop strength estimated at 20,000.


Based in eastern Shan State's Mongla Township (officially known as Shan State Special Region 4), the NDAA has around 3,000 soldiers, according to data from the Myanmar Peace Monitor.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
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