A tale of true lies

A tale of true lies:

How a confirmed report was a forged report
(Re: 70 merit-makers blown to death in southern Shan State, 27 October 2002) 

Dear reader:
Last month, we really disgraced ourselves. Three sources, two women and one man, came to Thailand separately with identical reports about a bomb blast in the southern Shan State town of Mongnai that killed 70 people and injured 21 more on 14 October. 

After we had released our report, yet another source came to us with a letter telling him his aunt was among the dead. (This letter is in our possession.)

The report, as to be expected, had shaken all the exiles from Mongnai who started to make frantic inquiries to find out whether their beloved ones were among those feared lost. All of them confirmed later that S.H.A.N. had been caught in a web of disinformation by the military intelligence, probably out to discredit S.H.A.N. but most likely to humble the Shan Human Rights Foundation and Shan Women's Action Network whose joint report in June, License to Rape, had "hit them where they live", to quote a regular reader of S.H.A.N news.

Fortunately, SHRF and SWAN were too involved in other pressing matters to have time to report on it. As for S.H.A.N., as soon as the slip was discovered, we notified "those concerned" right away to leave it be until we found out more about it. 

This incident has, I believe, served as a costly lesson for all of us: Merely being confirmed does not make a story true. Furthermore, we can expect more misinformation and disinformation from Rangoon and be ready for them. 
We sincerely hope you will again accept this one more apology from us for all the confusion arising from our mistake. 

Mysoong! (Wishing You Progress & Prosperity) 
S.H.A.N

70 merit-makers blown to death in southern Shan State

Sources coming from across Chiangmai said two Burmese shells killed 70 people observing Buddhist Lent in the southern town of Mongnai, 92 miles southeast of Taunggyi. 

The shells, believed by the sources to be fired from the Light Infantry Battalion #518 command post, at 23:00, on the night of 14 October, coinciding with the 8th Waxing Moon of the 11th Lunar Month, a traditional day of religious observance, also destroyed part of the Sala Kao-hawng (9 room-pavilion) at Pawmong Quarter, Mongnai's northernmost suburb and wounded 21 others. 

The dead included 6 men and 64 women in addition to 2 men and 19 women who were injured. So far, S.H.A.N. could only obtain three names: Zarng Mawng, 62, headman; Heng Yong, 56 and Awng Pay, 36. 

Sources who were in Thailand to inform their relatives working there said they had no idea why the killings occurred. "Our elders have already notified the local authorities but no one has come out to explain or take any action yet," complained a woman. 

There are two Burmese battalions in Mongnai: IB 248, located north of the town and LIB 518 down south. (Another is the newly established Artillery Battalion # 363.)

Regardless of the proximity to IB 248, the townspeople confirmed that the shells came from the direction of LIB 518. "They left a hole 2 cubits (1 meter) deep and 3 cubits (1 1/2 meters) wide," said one. 

Mongnai is a historic town, founded according to palace records in BC. 519 and the former seat of one of the biggest princely states of Federal Shan States, the former name of Shan State.