ESSA

ESSA: A Shan Promoted To Replace Aborted Coup Leader

A source close to a renowned Chinese Shan warlord told S.H.A.N. recently that a Shan officer had been promoted to become his deputy replacing the coup leader who was found guilty and later executed.

Khun Sanglu, Commander, Brigade 369 of the Eastern Shan State Army, a.k.a. Myanmar Democratic Alliance Army, Special Region No: 4, was elevated to become Deputy Commander-in-Chief at a meeting held in mid-December 1999, said the source. He succeeded Kham Maw, who was convicted guilty of treason in August and executed together with his co-conspirator, Hsiao Jiu, Commander of Brigade 911.

Khun Sang Lu's former office was filled by Oon-mao, a veteran Shan commander.

The ESSA is commanded by Lin Mingxian a.k.a. "U Sai Lin" an ex- CPB (Communist Party of Burma) commander who since 1989, had made a ceasefire with Rangoon. Until recently, he had been among the ten persons blacklisted by the United States as drug dealers. However, according to this year's report of the State Department, the reputed warlord is no longer a druglord.

The ESSA has three brigades. Two other brigades, the 815th and 911th, are commanded by Lo Chingpao and Sai Htoon (Lin's brother) respectively.