Shan party members told to quit

Shan party members told to quit, Choose business benefit or else

Another branch of the Shan party that won the most seats in the Shan State in the 1990 elections is being pressured to dissolve itself, confirmed sources from Shan State. 

In response to a report by the Network Media Group on Saturday (2 June), sources said executive members of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (Mongkerng Branch) were given a choice between economic gains on resignation and persecution on refusal. 

"They were threatened with charges of collaboration with the armed resistance," said a source from the Chinese border. 

According to several sources, the SNLD branches in the southern Shan State are being targeted by the military authorities at present. "The northern branches will come later," said another. 

NMG reported that the 7-member EC committee in Mongkerng, 108 miles northeast of Taunggyi, were summoned by the township peace and delvelopment council on 28 May to its office where U Myo Thant, the TPDC chairman, delivered its "ultimatum". 

To which the branch EC replied that its decision would be made known within 20 days (17 June). 
A meeting held by the military authorities in Taunggyi on 26-27 May had taken the decision to "persuade" the SNLD members to resign "on their own accord," reported NMG. 

The SNLD is led by Khun Htoon Oo, who is regarded as the spokesperson for the non-Burman parties. Foreign dignitaries often called on him during their visits to Burma. 

The first branch ordered by the authorities to dissolve was from Langkher, 114 miles southeast of Taunggyi, on 21 January.