No.13 - 02/2006
21 February 2006

Politics

Imprisoned Shan commander goes on trial

A commander of the Shan State Army 'South' and his 31 colleagues who surrendered to the Burma Army on 2 January have been on trial at the Lashio prison since 14 February, according to an insider source from the border.


Lt-Col Khun Kyaw

Lt-Col Khun Kyaw aka Than Gyaung, 40, alone faces 11 charges which include drug abuse, drug trafficking, murder, rebellion, destruction of public property and conscription of child soldiers.

Five lawyers have been assigned to defend the SSA men: Maung Maung Aye, U Aung Myint, Daw Mabel and two others, all of whom are said to be former Special Bureau officers.

"He is being advised by his defense counsels to plead guilty to all the charges in exchange for a meeting with the media, an early release and an amnesty for his parents in Moenyin," said the source.


Soe Naing

According to the source, Khun Kyaw had earlier refused to cooperate with Rangoon authorities and was not allowed to appear before the press conference held on 17 January. Among those shown to the foreign media was Maung Soe Naing, a 13-year old boy, alleged to be a member of the SSA 'South'. However Col Yawdserk, the leader of the SSA 'South', had dismissed the charge as a ploy to discredit his group. "This is not a Shan person. It is clearly a Burmese boy," he told Reuters, waving a photo of Soe Naing printed out from the Internet. "They are trying to fabricate, but not doing good enough job to get people to believe them."

The defense lawyers have also reportedly counseled 3 young members, "over 18 but look younger", to testify they are under 18, so they could win an early freedom.

Khun Kyaw, formerly a leader of the All Burma Students Democratic Front, surrendered after a 4-month chase by the Burma Army across northern Shan State.