Veteran leader honored by young Shans

No.14 - 3/2007
23 March 2007
Politics
 
Veteran leader honored by young Shans
 
More than a hundred young Shan exiles of Chiangmai threw a party last evening in honor of Sao Sengsuk, a 48-year veteran of continuous struggle against Burma's military dictatorship, who turned 72 yesterday.
 

^{Sao Sengsuk}

The silvery haired politician, who is 3 years younger than his leading adversary Senior General Than Shwe, promised to continue with his tireless drive "until freedom is achieved for our people".
 
During her short address to the guests, his youthful looking wife, who has been with him for 33 years, had given him a clean bill of health.
                           

                                              ^{Makhaw Khun Sa}

Makhaw Khun Sa, his Kachin colleague at the Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC), praised Shan youths for remembering to honor their worthy elders. "This should set us all an illustrative example," he said.
 
The party ended with songs sung in honor of him and the Shan struggle for their rights.
 
The sixth of the 10 siblings of Khun Kya Bu, a prominent signatory of the 1947 Panglong Agreement that had united the struggles of Burma's diverse peoples for independence, Sao Sengsuk, also known as Khun Kya Nu, had severed as the Commander in Chief of the Shan State Army (SSA) until 1976. (The present SSA is divided into two factions: The ceasefire SSA "North", commanded by Maj-Gen Loimao, and the non-ceasefire SSA "South", commanded by Col Yawdserk. Both have pledged to fight for the Right of Self Determination and Democracy.)
 
Like many other leading exiles, Sengsuk wears several hats. His Shan State Constitution Drafting Commission (SSCDC) has already published the first draft constitution of Shan State. His Shan State Organization (SSO) Youth has also been reportedly producing hundreds of Shan youths inside Burma to keep up the struggle against Burma's ruling generals. His other hats include, among others, Acting President of Shan Democratic Union (SDU) and Senior Advisor, Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC).