Shan national day celebrations barred

Shan national day celebrations barred 

Preparations to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Shan State's national day that falls today were stopped short by a quiet directive from Bangkok two days ago, said sources from Chiangmai Shan youth.
"In view of the improving but still delicate relations between Bangkok and Rangoon, said the officer from Bangkok, we were not to hold any political gatherings right in the heart of the second largest city of Thailand," related a member of the organizing team to S.H.A.N..

Invited guests and participants had to be notified that the celebrations at one of Chiangmai's plush hotels had been cancelled, he added.

The agenda of the festivities included a performance by celebrated singer Nga Caravan and his band.
The Shan national day marks the historic day in 1947, when Shans, under the leadership of a Palaung prince, defied their British rulers' order to dissolve their rival government of Federated Shan States, as it was known then.

How the National Day came into being

On 3-12 February 1947, the historic conference of Saophas (princes) and representatives of the people of Federated Shan States was held in Panglong, a town in Laikha State.

Prior to the conference, the Shan States Saophas Council was formed on 21-27 July 1946 under the chairmanship of Khun Pan Sing, Prince of Loilong (Tawngpeng). It had demanded that the Governor of Burma endorse the formation of a new federal council that would also include people's representatives, and to transfer the power heretofore vested in the Governor of Burma and the Secretary of State for Burma to the said council. In addition, the Shans also demanded dissolution of the Federal Council normally chaired by the British Commissioner.

On 7 February, a telegram from the British rulers directed the princes to dump their proposed plans.

In defiance, a 14-men Council was formed after a public gathering in the same evening. It was made up of equal members from the princes and the people under the chairmanship of Khun Pan Sing.

The event was reported by the Burma Broadcasting Service that sent a "bombshell shock" throughout the country.

Four days later, the new federal council, renamed the Shan States Council on 15 February, unanimously decided that the 7th of February be designated the National Day.

It was also unanimously resolved there to adopt the national anthem "as a temporary measure" and the national flag.