Departed “minister” gets quiet send-off

_{15 January 2009}
 
If was attended by a few close friends, relatives and colleagues.
 
A notification, read out by his childhood friend and “Vice President” Sao Khun Hsarm aka Khun Hsiha, released him from his duties as “Deputy Foreign Minister” and “Member of the Cabinet.”
 
This was in accordance with the directive from “President” Sao Hso Hkan Hpa who is residing in Canada, according to the “information minister” Suwan Soikhamseng. “He told us to make it simple,” he said.
 
A gold medallion presented by the Thai embassy in Rangoon following his retirement from its service was shown to the mourners.
 
Among the other members of the “cabinet” who were present on the occasion were

• Sao Lawn Moeng “Deputy Home Minister”
• Sao Hsaikhong “Deputy Finance Minister”

 
Two others: Sao Tun Aye “Minister for Reconstruction and Development” and Sao Kherh Serh “Home Minister”, due to their age and poor heath, were unable to make it.
 
Members of other Shan movements, especially the Shan State Army (SSA) South that had refused to lend its support for the “Shan Government” when it was set up in 2005, were not present.