Shans sorry they missed the princess

Shans sorry they missed the princess

Thai-Burma relations

Shans on the Chinese border regretted they were not able to welcome Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in person when she arrived there on 11 March, according to sources in northern Shan State. 

"The authorities ordered all the buildings on the road closed", said a businesswoman in Muse (pronounced Moozay), opposite Ruili (Shan name: Moengmao) of Yunnan. "Only a few number of authorities and selected school children went to receive her." 

Still, 5-6 people who lived opposite the town's branch office of Yoma Bank were arrested after they were caught watching the cavalcade from an open window on their top floor. The source however failed to obtain their identities. 

"We know Thais and Shans are kin to each other," said an elderly Shan, "and that they still have their royalty while we have lost ours. All of us naturally were eager to give her a warm welcome. I don't understand why the Burmese authorities should begrudge us this opportunity." 

To which a source from the Thai border in the south explained: "In 1994, the princess was treated to a most enthusiastic reception on her visit to Kengtung by the local populace in eastern Shan State, much to surprise and wrath of the Burmese military. One officer berated us later, 'When we wanted you to attend a meeting, it was so easy for you to find us several excuses even though we had demanded one person from each household. Now you came by the whole village even though nobody asked you to. What's she to you?' Maybe the Burmese don't want to suffer more indignations like that." 

H.R.H. Princess Sirindhorn then proceeded to Selan (Zaylarn), 10 miles west of Muse, to visit the old capital of the Mao Empire that flourished in the 14th century. Zao Mawnla, known to the Burmese as Saw Moon Hla, who was wedded to King Anawratha of Pagan (1044 - 1077) had her palace there. So had King Hso Khanfah (1314-1364), who conquered most of present day Burma, Assam in India, southwestern Yunnan, western Laos and northern Thailand.