Thailand’s prestigious Chulalongkorn University will be holding its first ever 3-day International Conference on Shan Studies (ICSS), 15-17 October, announced its director of the Institute of Asian Studies yesterday.

“Most of us think of Shans in connection with war and refugees,” said Dr Sunait Chutintaranond. “Little do we know that they are not a minority, that they have a distinguished identity and a homeland which are their own.”

The next speaker Sao Kham Harn Fah, a scion of the Shan States’ once noble house of Hsenwi, speaking for the Chiangmai-based Shan Literary and Culture Society, told the audience that the objective of supporting the Shan conference was two-fold:
•    To promote Shan identity
•    To promote kinship among the 100 million Tai speaking peoples in Asia that include Shans, Thais and Laotians

“I don’t know to what extent our objective will be achieved,” he added. “But I’m sure the Shan community here is going to do its best.”

The two-hour press conference was attended by the local media, academics and students.

The Shan conference, to be held during the closure of the semester, is expected to draw thousands of spectators.

The issues and themes to be covered include Shan in Thailand, belief and religions, politics and governance in Shan State, art and archeology, literature and music, architecture and palaces and indigenous wisdom and knowledge, conference, during which performances and exhibition on Shan art and culture will also be included, according to the flyer distributed at the press.

For more information, please visit www.ias.chula.ac.th or www.chula.ac.th or call 662-218-7463-4.