Shan Ceasefire Grouping Holds Meeting Elects New Leader

Shan Ceasefire Grouping Holds Meeting Elects New Leader

A joint meeting was held by two ceasefire groups to elect a new leader last month, report sources arriving recently at the border. 

According to the sources, the quadrennial meeting was convened at the Surkhanfah Hall, Hsengkeo Camp, Hsipaw Township, on 4-9 April, by the Shan State Peace Committee, renamed Shan State Peace Council, a joint setup of the Shan State Army "North" and the Shan State National Army. Sao Hsoten, a veteran leader, who was among the first student batch that formed the Shan State Independence Army in 1960, was elected President. Sao Gunyawd, leader of the SSNA "Shan State Army Central", was re-elected as Secretary General. 

Apart from the presidency, Sao Hsoten (meaning Ace Tiger) also heads two other committees, the Military Affairs and the Alliance and Liaison Affairs. 

The meeting was held amid rising dissatisfactions brought about by the reduction of their combined areas in Lashio District, northern Shan State. "The junta told them if they were not going to do anything about Yawdserk's encroachments in the north, they had to move out of the Lashio-Mongkiet and Lashio-Tangyan roads together with the immediate environs," said the source. "These areas were given to Bo Mon's militia unit instead." 

Yawdserk heads the only remaining active resistance group of Shan State Army "South" also know as Shan United Revolutionary Army. The other Shan group outside Rangoon's sphere is the Shan Democratic Union, an umbrella organization of Shan expatriates. 

Bo Mon, known as one of Khun Sa's trusted lieutenants, heads the Wanparng militia force that operates in the latter's former stamping grounds of Loimaw. 

The SSPC advocates the principle of Common Goal and Diverse Action. "It's common goals are Human Rights, Democracy and Right to Self Determination," said a source. 

It has also formed a coalition called Joint Action Committee with the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, the party that won the most seats in the Shan State in 1990. 

21 officials from both groups were chosen as the Central Committee as well as 6 alternate members at the meeting.