Ethnic parties unhappy with ceasefire groups

Ethnic parties unhappy with ceasefire groups

Politics

Despite Khun Toon Oo, leader of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and spokesperson for the 9-ethnic party coalition, United Nationalities Alliance, publicly trying to play down the ceasefire groups' surprise acceptance of Rangoon's invitation to the upcoming resumption of the National Convention, he was really disturbed by their unexpected about-turn, said inside sources from Shan State this morning (3 December). 

"He was so upset when Generals Hsoten and Loimao (of Shan State Army "North") called on him last week after meeting (Prime Minister) Khin Nyunt, he said he had nothing to say to them," said a source from northern Shan State on condition of anonymity. "What the two should have done was to meet him first, as an ally if not as their boss, before meeting Khin Nyunt.' 

Khun Toon Oo is also president of the Joint Action Committee, set up by the SNLD, SSA "North" and Shan State National Army on 6 June 1996. 

Another source from Southern Shan State said, "We don't know what the exact terms are between the junta and the ceasefire groups. But it is believed that many of them had got what they asked for in terms of loans and concessions in return for keeping quiet about their 15 October conditions." 

On the said day, three ceaefire groups, namely, SSA "North", the United Wa State Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army "Mongla" of Sai Leun, issued a statement demanding that Rangoon agree to their five conditions before they decide to participate in its National Convention. 

The five conditions were: Freedom of meetings among ethnic leaders, Freedom to choose their own representatives, Participation in the National Convention by "proper" representatives, Freedom of expression in the National Convention and To lay down democratic principles, which observers interpret to mean participation by Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy and 'dumping' the 104 guiding principles laid down unilaterally by Rangoon. 

"We don't like to think that the conditions had been merely a ploy to extract special privileges from the generals," said a source. "But it certainly appears that way to most of us." 

General Secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin a.k.a Sai Nood in Rangoon however was still upbeat about the whole affair. "Khun Toon Oo has already traveled to the north to clear up the confusion," he told S.H.A.N..