East Timorese help sought by Shans

East Timorese help sought by Shans

Shans hoped the newly independent East Timor would not dismiss its former fellow members of a shadow UN-organization formed a decade ago, wrote a Shan leader in his goodwill message to President Xanana Gusmao on its Independence Day, 20 May. 

"East Timor as a former member of the Unrepresented Nations and People Organization (UNPO), we sincerely hope that your administration will continue to help all the other members in their struggles as a principal supporting member like Estonia." 

Estonia, one of the former satellite republics of the defunct Soviet Union, has remained a staunch supporter of the organization, said Sai Wansai, General Secretary of Shan Democratic Union, to S.H.A.N. 
"We sincerely hope that your optimism on the rights of self-determination for all unrepresented and oppressed nations, peoples and minorities will further prevail and the start has been made with the achievement of East Timor's independence,' he revelled. 

Gusmao in June 1994 had promised to pay attention to helping the people of Burma. "That is a moral obligation.... we will (also) try to help Aung San Suu Kyi, whom we admire and who has inspired us," he said. 

A year later Gusmao was reported to have invited the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma to open an office in Dili, the East Timorese capital, after the territory became fully independent. 
Shan States together with Karenni, Mon and Chin are current UNPO members from Burma.