Humanitarian training nipped in the bud

Humanitarian training nipped in the bud

Ceasefire groups 

An ongoing obstetrics training course organized by a Shan ceasefire group had recently been prohibited from continuing by state-level authorities, said one of its commanders this morning. 

"They said what we did was illegal and ordered the private clinics with which we had prior agreement on 10 December not to accept our trainees," complained the officer from Shan State Peace Council, who requested anonymity. "Col Gunyawd our secretary general, immediately went to both the administrative and intelligence officials to protest. He said he wasn't doing anything against the military government, so why should he be stopped. But so far his efforts were of little avail." 

According to the source, the SSPC, which is the joint command center of the Shan State Army "North" and Shan State National Army, both of which enjoy truce agreement with Rangoon, had begun training 48 women to become midwives since June last year. "After a few more months internship with private clinics, they would be assigned to help the people in our areas," he explained. 

This is the second time the SSPC has been obstructed by the junta in their "humanitarian projects". "The first time was a few years ago, when the group's drug rehabilitation program in Muse was ordered to stop abruptly. Maybe Rangoon don't want it to do anything politically effective," said a source close to the SSPC who is on a visit to Thailand. 

The SSPC was formed in 1996 following warlord Khun Sa's surrender. All Shan groups: Shan State Army 'North', Shan State National Army, Shan State Army 'south' and the exiled Shan Democratic Union have declared their solidarity with Khun Toon Oo's Shan Nationalities League for Democracy that had won the most seats in 1990 elections in the Shan State and have since called for Rangoon to honor the election results.