No. 15 - 11/2005
28 November 2005

General

Junta wants Shans to celebrate New Year

All over Shan State, people are wondering why their military rulers have gone out of their way to urge them to hold their annual New Year celebrations, according to sources inside Burma.

"Every year, we had had to notify and apply for the celebrations, and never once felt sure whether or not it would be granted," said an organizer from Muse, opposite China's Ruili. "This year, with all the clampdown on Shan leaders, their parties and their armed groups, some of us even though may be we should best forget it. But, out of the blue, authorities in every township are exhorting us it's time to celebrate."

Dr Sai Mawk Hkam, Chairman of Shan State Literacy and Culture Committee, was summoned early this month by Maj-Gen Myint Hlaing, Commander of Lashio-based Northeastern Region Command and Chairman of Shan State-North Peace and Development Council, to be informed that he should start preparations for the Shan New Year, the First Waxing Moon of the First Lunar Month, that falls on 1 December this year.

To many, it was rather a shock as they were used to having to apply for permission several weeks in advance and receiving approval at the last minute. "Last year, we received permission only 6 days in advance so we barely had time to get things into shape."
(See Shans mark New Year, 17 December 2004)

In Muse, where Shans from across the border join the celebrations, the preparations are in full swing.

"It will be 2100 according to the Shan calendar, the start of the 22nd century," an organizer told S.H.A.N. "The celebrations therefore bear much significance for us."

Meanwhile, many others are still wondering why the generals have gone out of their style to encourage them to celebrate the New Year. "To anyone who does not know what we do know about the SPDC (the military's ruling council), this mere act will have put them on the side of the angels."

Since the start of the year, Shan activist leaders have been jailed, their ceasefire groups forcibly disarmed, Shan literacy classes banned ("They are only excuses to stir up the youths," one junta official in Lashio was quoted as saying) and a new offensive waged in southern Shan State.

Pressure on the Shan State Army 'North', the main Shan ceasefire group, is still proceeding at the time of the reporting. "The SSA's Hsengkeow headquarters' phones, 02-44603 and 02-44604, were cut off on 16 November," reported a ceasefire source yesterday.

Hsengkeow is in Hsipaw township.