Shan spokesman

Shan spokesman: Preparations for war run afoul of national reconciliation

Conflict on the border 

Rangoon's current exercises in preparation for a new offensive against Karen, Karenni and Shan rebel positions along the Thai border merely served to hamstring substantive dialogue as called by the international community, said Shan spokesman Sao Sengsuk yesterday. 

"It demonstrates the junta's innate cynicism for the ongoing efforts of (UN special envoy) Razali Ismail, who has been trying to rally all the stakeholders to the negotiating table," commented the 67-year Sengsuk a.k.a Khun Kya Nu, spokesperson for the Shan Democratic Union and son of the late Khun Kya Bu, a signatory to the historic Panglong Agreement of 1947 that joined the hitherto separate territories under British lordship into what became known as the Union of Burma. 

"It is also an insult to the United States, EU (European Union) and China, that wish to see an emerging peaceful and re-united Burma," he added. "The generals seems to think they can capitalize on Thailand and Asean's prevailing policy of indulgence towards them with impunity." 

On 9 June, during the height of Rangoon's offensive against Col Yawdserk's Shan State Army "South", the Shan Democratic Union, the umbrella organization of Shan exiles, had issued a statement calling for a "stop (to) this ongoing war and senseless killings." 

A passage from the announcement reads: While the SPDC has repeatedly uttered the need of reconciliation among all the ethnic groups and nationalities and non-disintegration of the union, its gross human rights violations, forced labor, forced relocations and its top priority to subjugate ethnic resistance forces through armed suppression are contradicting its own "reconciliation and unity" principles. 

Meanwhile, Thailand's Burma watchers in Chiangrai also confirmed Burma's forces in eastern Shan State were training intensively under the command of the Kengtung-based Triangle Region Command. "The (newly formed) artillery battalion # 382, based in Tachilek, is going through a course on 120 mm heavy mortars in Mongkhark (a town north of Kengtung) at present," said one with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. "The Burmese have opened up the border but they have yet to withdraw their restrictions on many import and export items. They had also scrapped a regional level meeting with us due this month. Both these and other pointers have kept us up on constant edge." 

All Thai sources along the border agreed that they had been instructed to exercise extreme discretion if and when Rangoon's campaign against the rebels started. "So by the time the Burmese army comply with our demands to pull out of Thai territory, the Shan positions may already have fallen," said an "old hand" border watcher. 

"We are in a difficult position," said a Shan commander. "If we attack first, we are sure to be accused of disturbing peace along the border. On the other hand, if we wait for the Burmese army to attack us, we will no longer be in a position to defend ourselves when it comes."