Shan politician succumbs to disease

Shan politician succumbs to disease

Shan affairs 

Sao Thiha Thint of Haiwo, General Secretary to the recently resurrected Shan State National Races League for Democracy, passed away on 11 December in Rangoon after suffering from diabetes for a number of years, reported a source yesterday. 

Sao Thiha Tint was son of Sao Shwe Tint, former ruler of Haiwo (Heho in Burmese), a sub-principality of Yawnghwe. A nephew of Sao Shwe Thaike, first president of Burma and prince of Yawnghwe, he nevertheless became known as an anti-feudalist and a political writer, penning under several pseudonyms, having teamed up with Htoon Myint of Taunggyi, former general secretary of Shan People's Freedom League, the political party that was "held responsible" by rival parties for the Shan-Burma pact in 1947 that created the Union of Burma a year later. 

Until his death, he was known to be a great admirer of Htoon Myint, who married his sister Sao Ohn Kyu. Htoon Myint was also "held responsible" for his political writings, that included "Whither Shanland," "The Secession Issue", "Shanland's Grievances" and "Equal state within the union," that "drove" several Shan students to the countryside to take up arms against Rangoon. [Please find "The Secession Issue" and "Shanland's Grievances" in www.shanland.org] 

The chairman of the SSNRLD is U Shwe Ohn, also a former member of SPFL and author of the widely-acclaimed paper: ''Towards the third union'. 

Sao Thiha Tint, 61, left a wife and 5 adult children (4 sons and 1 daughter). He was cremated at the Hteinbin cemetery on 13 December. One of the mourners at his funeral was Sai Nyunt Lwin aka Sai Nood, General Secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, the party that won the most seats in Shan State. "I liked him real well, although we were from different parties," said he. "He was one of those people, who were so likable it was difficult to dislike them. Until his death, he remained a staunch fighter for democracy and state rights." He added that SNLD and SSNRLD had agreed to work together.