Shan State Army holds graduation ceremony amid looming offensive

Shan State Army holds graduation ceremony amid looming offensive

The Shan State Army yesterday held a graduation ceremony for cadets as reports about imminent Burmese attacks continued. 

An hour long ceremony that began at 09:00 was chaired by Sao Htun Aye, one of the first university students that joined the resistance in 1959 and at present an adviser to the Restoration Council of Shan State that was formed on 27 May. It was attended by approximately 1,000 people, among whom were 214 "students" and guests from villages around the Shan base, opposite Pang Mapha District, Maehongson Province. 

"It was a top security affair," remarked a Thai newsman afterwards, "because the group's top fighting commanders, Maj. Khamleng and Lt-Col. Aung Kham together with their troops failed to appear at the ceremony". 
Yawdserk, Chairman of the RCSS and Commander-in-Chief of the SSA, told the graduates to become "pillars that the people can depend upon". 

Subjects taught at the Leadership Institute, as it is known, were Early Shan History, History of Shan Resistance, Leadership, Administration, Management and Strategy and Tactics, among others. 

The ceremony was witnessed also by Gen. Aung Than Lay and Col. Phone Naing from the Karenni National Progress Party, Khaing Soe Naing Aung from the Arakan Liberation Party and Mahn Nyein Maung from the Karen National Union. 

A Shan officer disclosed later that the SSA ambushed a 20-truck convoy between Kharngpa (west of Homong) and Monghta on the previous day (14 November) afternoon. 

"According to the reports, one of the passengers was none other than Brig-Gen. Tin Htun, Chief of Logistics. The ambush destroyed 2 vehicles but he was said to have got away unharmed." 

The presence of a high ranking officer responsible for military supplies has raised speculations that the expected drug season offensive is indeed close at hand, he added.