Shan Celebrate their National Day

By MIN LWIN

Burma’s Shan community celebrate their national day on Saturday, barred by the regime from organizing public ceremonies.

While Shan communities worldwide celebrate, Shan living in Burma must observe the day clandestinely. Nevertheless, cultural and religious observances are being held at one Shan monastery, in Rangoon’s Mayangone Township. “Plainclothes police will be there,” said one Shan woman.

The Shan national day, known as Shan State Day, commemorates the 1947 Panglong meeting of Shan sawbwas (chieftains) and politicians at which a united front against British colonial rule was agreed on.

Five days after their historic meeting, Gen Aung San and ethnic leaders signed the “Panglong Agreement” demanding independence from Britain. Burma became independent in 1948.

The last time Shan State Day was publicly celebrated was in 2005, when prominent Shan political veterans, younger leaders and Burmese politicians gathered to discuss the formation of a federal union.

Days later, Burmese military authorities arrested several key figures, included Shan politician Shwe Ohn, Sao Hso Ten, president of the Shan State Peace Council, Hkun Htun Oo and Sai Nyunt Lwin, chairman and secretary respectively of the Shan National League for Democracy, the second largest vote getter in the 1990 election.

The Shan political leaders were sentenced to prison terms of between 75 and 106 years. Hkun Htun Oo was given a 93-year sentence.

One month later, Burmese Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw San told a press conference: “The activities of these groups are very dangerous to the stability of the state and national solidarity and would lead to disintegration of the union.”