By Burma's Chinese

    19/04/2005

    Sao Surkhanpha,the eldest son of the first president of Burma Saw Shwe Thaike, and 48 delegates that represented 48 townships of Shan States, have been so angry and disappointed with the oppression of the military regimethat they declared on Sunday the Shan States Independence.

    The last Shan State independence had been declared by Khun Sa’s Pan Tai organisation in 1993. The militar regime then pooled its resources and destroyed the movement, bringing Shan people the catastrophe.

    the Shan State Army "South" leader of Col Yawdserk, who is in deep water fending himself against joint Burmese-Wa attacking forces since 13 March,denied he had anything to do with this latest development. "I certainly have no time for it," he replied.

    The militar regime supports the Wa people to attack the Shan people. It is a Divide-and-Rule policy plotting one nationality to kill the other.

    Harn Yawnghwe, director of Euro-Burma Office and younger brother of Sao Surkhanpha,already pointed out last week that what ethnic people need is genuine fedrelism, not independence.

    According to Harn, what ethnic people of all nationalities demand are national equality, peaceful co-living and reconstrution in peace. Disintegration, war or independence does not benefit any ethnic people (please read our article “for genuine federalism or Shan independence?").

    NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi declared also that her party accepts the genuine federealism, but disagrees to form a parallel government or disassociation of Union of Burma.

    The exiled Shan Nationalities League for Democracy in Thailand said,”We are shocked and worried”.

    "We stand by the resolutions of the Ethnic Nationalities Council" ,said Sao Sengsuk, Chairman of the exiled Shan Democratic Union.

    The ENC which claims to represent the majority of the non-Burman nationalities reported in its 5 March 2005 statement it was committed to finding a political solution to the crisis in Burma through a Tripartite Dialogue as called for by the United Nations General Assembly since 1994.

    · Non-disintegration of the union

    · Non-disintegration of the national unity

    · Stability of national sovereignty

    · Development of a genuine multi-party democracy

    · Promotion of social truths such as justice, freedom and equality

    As for the military rulers' sixth demand for a leading role in Burma's future politics, it allowed that the military should have a role "in the transition period", but not for ever.

    He blamed the latest development in Shan politics as the result of Rangoon's inflexibility, as demonstrated by the arrests of 11 Shan politicians. At the same time, he saw the latest move by the radical Shans as 'ill-advised'.

    All nationalities of Burma, including Burma’s Chinese, understand what have recently happened in Burma is beneficial neither to our people nor to our country.If the inhumane generals intensify the civil war, the most suffering one are the people. Burma’s people have been already enough suffering in the 50-year civil war.