The union formed with independent states

The union formed with independent states, says Shan academic

Shan national day 

A noted Shan scholar and political activist yesterday told the gathering at a dinner party held to mark the 55th anniversary of Shan State's national day that the union in 1947 was created out of independent entities and not of states subordinate to Burma.

"On that day, Shan princes and the people successfully established an administrative body (Shan States Council) independent from the federal council chaired by the British," said Dr. Chao Tzang Yawnghwe. "It was on this basis that the union agreement was signed in Panglong (on 12 February)."

He urged his listeners among whom were members of the Burman "ethnic group" to keep in mind the said fact if they were to shape a new union that "is equal and genuine."

The next speaker, Sao Sengsuk, spokesperson for the Shan Democratic Union, bluntly reminded his Burman audience that it was absurd of some Burman leaders to try to lecture the non-Burmans, particularly the Shans who had formed a federation out of 33 princedoms in 1922, about the blessings of a genuine federal union when they had never experienced one in their whole history. "It would be more fitting for them to educate their own people," he said in his usually candid style.

He informed the gathering of two schools of thinking in the Shan State concerning the Panglong Agreement that unified Burma, Shan, Kachin, Chin and eventually the rest of British Indochina in 1947.

"One school of which I term negative thinking was led by Sao Khun Kyi (the Pao prince of Hsatung State)," he said. "He thought the agreement was all one big mistake and that we were in for trickery and treachery by the slick Burmans ... And what the non-Burmans have experienced so far only helps to strengthen their point of view."

According to another school of thought, he said, experience since 1922, when the Federated Shan States was formed, had shown it was to the best of all "tiny countries" to join hands with each other. "There is a strong need to demonstrate to our people this positive way of thinking is not just wishful thinking but it works," he warned.

The ceremony was presided over by Khun Markoban, M.P., Faikhun (Pekon) of Shan State. Present on the occasion were Dr. Sann Aung, National Coalition Government; Soe Aung, National Council of the Union of Burma; Aung Naing Oo, National Reconciliation Program; Daniel Aung (Lahu), Kya Aye Maung (Lahu); Phra Tan Tetlu (PaO); Nai Shwe Thein (Mon); Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong (Chin) and U Tha Noe (Rakhaing) among others.

It was the first Shan pageant of a political nature held outside Burma to which activists of Burman origin were invited, according to a Thai Burma-watcher who attended the meeting. "In the past, Shans rather tended to stay aloof, not even mixing with their own people from the same state," he commented. "It's a sign that they have started to open their doors."