Fewer Shans at Chiangmai's Shan New Year party

No.08 - 11/2006
20 November 2006
Culture/ General
 
Fewer Shans at Chiangmai's Shan New Year party
 
Fear of another surprise crackdown on Shan migrants had sharply reduced the number of participants at the Shan New Year celebrations held at Chiangmai's Wat Kutao temple last night, according to sources.

"Despite the fact that the New Year coincided with Sunday, many had chosen to observe it quietly at their own work sites or lodgings," according to an organizer of the event.
 
On 7 October, more than 500 Shans on their way to make merits in Chiangmai's Shan temples marking the End of Buddhist Lent were arrested in a surprise move by the police.
 
Back in Shan State, the New Year was celebrated a day earlier due to different lunar calendar. In Lashio, where 5 organizers were detained under various charges last year, it was celebrated at the soccer ground at Panglaw following encouragement and subsequent permission by Brig-Gen Aung Than Tut, Commander of Northern Region Command and Chairman of Shan State North Peace and Development Council.
 
"We were a bit concerned at first," an elder told S.H.A.N., "because the last New Year was held after exhortation by Gen Aung Than Tut's predecessor, Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing. It was a serious blow to our enthusiasm when our people were arrested and kept behind bars for 14 days. However, the new regional commander guaranteed what happened last year was history and it would not be repeated."
 
So far, S.H.A.N. has yet to receive any unusual reports from the north.
 
The Shan New Year falls in the First Waxing Moon of the First Lunar Month (called Lern Zieng or Lern Ai by Shans and Naddaw by Burmese).