Elder Shan leader: Military saving non-existent union

No.04 - 12/2006
19 December 2006 
Politics
 
Elder Shan leader: Military saving non-existent union
 
Shwe Ohn, who has been involved in Burma's tumultuous politics since 60 years earlier, has again rejected the ruling military council's claim to 'have twice saved the union' as an old joke.
 
"How can a child that is not yet born die?" the 83 year old Shan politician asked S.H.A.N. rhetorically. "How can a union that is not yet in existence disintegrate?"
 

Shwe Ohn with Gen Hsoten leader of the SSA-North, on 7 February 2005

Shwe Ohn, co-founder of Shan People's Freedom League (SPFL) in 1946 and the author of several political commentaries, was referring to the military's contention that it has saved the Union of Burma, formed in 1947 and later again in 1974, "from the disaster of being drowned in shallow waters."
 
"Our country is a Unitary State, not a federation," he said. "Calling it a union is like a jockey who doesn't know whether he's riding a mare or stallion."
 
He pointed out to the military's placement of divisions (Taing) alongside states (Pyi-ne). "That’s putting non-sovereign powers together with sovereign powers," he scoffed. "Forced associations never endure, as can be seen from the experiences of the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia."
 
Nevertheless, he is of the opinion that the Right of Secession, as stipulated in the 1947 constitution, should be scrapped. "Just because it's not written doesn't mean the right has gone away," he insisted. "There have been instances of countries parting ways with each other although the right is not stated in their constitutions. Unbroken partnerships depend on all partners, especially on the magnanimity of its biggest partner".
 
"We must build up a union that is indestructible," he concluded, "and that is by voluntary association, equality, separation of powers and absolute loyalty of the armed forces to an elected civilian government."
 
Shwe Ohn became known far and wide when he wrote "Towards the Third Union of Burma" in 1993, the year Burma's ruling military council called the National Convention to draft the country's third constitution. He was placed under house arrest during the February 2005 crackdown on Shan activists. Nine of them including Khun Tun Oo, leader of Burma's second largest party Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, were given unprecedented long term jail sentences ranging from 75-106 years. Shwe Ohn was freed last February.