February 12, 2006 is a historical day in Burma as this day is the 59th anniversary of the day on which the Shan, Kachin and Chin leaders signed the Panglong Agreement, with General Aung San. The signing of this agreement led to the Independence of Burma from the British Government. Shan leaders and other ethnic groups signed this agreement with the genuine spirit of the Union in which rights and privileges for the ethnic groups were to be equal and respected as equally as the Burmese. After signing of the agreement, Shan leaders and Shan people tried to maintain the agreement and protect the Union at all costs, but they were betrayed and cheated by the successive Burmese Governments.

The worst of this was the military coup led by Ne Win in 1962 and the Panglong Agreement was destroyed, with most of the Shan Saophas and Shan leaders being arrested and killed by the Burmese army.

Since then Shan people and other ethnic groups in Burma have lost their rights and civil wars have been prevalent in the country. Shan people have been suppressed, tortured, killed and Shan women have been raped by the Burmese army. The Shan language has been barred from being taught and learnt in state schools.

Various kinds of human rights such as forced relocation and forced labour have been committed by the Burmese soldiers in Shan State. The current ruling SPDC junta is using a policy of genocide (ethnic cleansing) in Shan State and removes Shan people from their own land systematically.

One year ago, 9 Shan leaders were arrested and sentenced to life in prison by the junta, with sentences ranging up to 106 years. Until this day, the military government of Burma still oppresses Shan people and other ethnic groups.

The SND believes that peaceful co-existence is impossible and the Union cannot last long if there are no equal rights, mutual respect and mutual understanding among the citizens of Burma. Peace and lasting union cannot be achieved as long as the rights of the Shan people and other ethic groups are denied and abused. Shan people have no choice but to fight through taking arms and through peaceful means to gain our freedom.

The SND demands the SPDC:

1. To respect the Panglong Agreement
2. To release the detained Shan leaders immediately
3. To release all the political prisoners
4. To allow the Internal Displaced people and Shan refugees to return home safely.
5. To find a political resolution to the political problems.
6. To allow the UN Human Rights Commission to investigate freely and independently the human rights abuses including raping Shan girls by the Burmese soldiers in Shan State.

The SND appeals to Shan people and other ethnic groups of Burma to unite and continue their struggle for freedom with the spirit of Panglong in their hearts until the restoration of democratic government and the rights of ethnic groups have been achieved.

Sai Mong
Chairman
Shan National for Democracy (Japan)
Email: sndjapan2003@yahoo.com