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Shan State Conference



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Subject: Report on the Shan State in Exile Conference (long)
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Report on the Shan State Conference
21-22 January 1995
New York, USA

The Shan State Association The Shan State Association (USA) was founded on
4 July 1994. The objective of the SSA/USA is to seek international
assistance for the people of the Shan State, to aSsist in finding a
political solution to the problems in the Shan State, and to promote bet
ter relationships between the various groups working in the Shan State and
Burma. THe SSA/USA convened the Shan State Conference to enable
non-governmental organizations to examine the current situation in the
Shan State and together develop a common stra tegy for the future. 

			SATURDAY, 21 JANUARY 1995:  

The conference was opened by the Secretary of the SSA/USA. Delegates from
Canada, Germany, Shan State and the USA (CT, New Jersey, NY, Maryland,
Minnesota, Vermont and Washington DC) attended.  Letters of
congratulation, expressions of regret for not bein g able to attend were
received from Australia and Thailand. Delegates were urged to seriously
examine the problems in the Shan State today and to explore possible
solutions together. 

CULTURE IN THE SHAN STATE 
Presentation by Nang STM. Shan culture,
especially its written language must be preserved. The Shan language is
being suppreSsed. Gen. Ne Win's Revolutionary Council collected all Shan
textbooks and locked them away like political prisoners.  Without Shan
literature, Shan culture will disappear. Only when people become aware of
how the Shans are oppressed will they become interested in helping the
Shan people. The Shan need to rebuild their self-confidence, self-reliance
and self-esteem. (NOTE: the new Sh an-English dictionary is now available)

SHAN STATE TODAY 
A letter was read from the President of the Tai Union requesting that the
next SSA Conference be held in Thailand.  The Shan Human Rights Foundation
(SHRF) is currently working with other Shan organizations on the border
such as the Shan Herald Agency for News, and the Volunteers for Displaced
Shans.  The land may have been taken over by the Burma Army but the people
have not been conquered. The Shan nation will be lost only when the people
give up. In the SHAN STATE, it is impossible to separate the issu e of
human rights from the issue of politics. 

ETHNIC PEOPLES OF THE SHAN STATE
Presentation by the Lahu Development Organization. The Shan State is the
biggest state in Burma. It has the richest resources, the largest
population and the most problems. The Kokang, Wa, Lahu, Akha, Lisu, Pa-O,
Palaung and other ethnic peoples in the Sh an State want peace,
development and security. A political solution can be found with good
leadership, an inclusive policy and good organizational skills. The people
in the Shan State have been enslaved because of narrow self-interest and
disunity.  To be united, each part of the body must know its own place and
specific function. A head cannot be the foot, etc.  People should not be
led astray by SLORC's current strategy of dividing up the Shan State into
numerous ethnic sub-states. SLORC does not own th e Shan State. Therefore,
the Tai should take the lead in resolving the many internal problems
through dialog with the various ethnic groups. 

SHAN STATE AND BURMA 
The Shan Revolution of 1958 was started by the Shan and Lahu working
together. The people of the Shan State have been fighting the central
government for over 30 years. Many have worked hard and many have given
their lives, but the people are still oppres sed. Goals and objectives
must be re-examined and strategies reassessed.  The Burman people are not
our enemies, nor is the Burman Army. Killing a foot soldier does not
achieve much.  The poor uneducated farmers on both sides are killed.  The
real enemies are the government leaders who decide policy.  We should
analyze who those power holders are, and decide how that knowledge can be
used to achieve freedom for the people.  Unity should not be sought along
ethnic lines across those lines to achieve a comm on objective. 
Discussing problems will not solve them.  Financial resources and action
are needed.  Expecting external actors to resolve problems is naive. 

SHAN STATE AND THE WORLD 
Presentation by Burma Alert.  Most people think that the international
community would act if they understood the issues and could see who is
right or wrong. Others believe that some countries will help the Shan
people because they feel an affinity. There are no "friendly" nations. All
governments act in their own interest. The people of the SHAN STATE must
convince other nations that it is in their own interests to help us
achieve our objectives. This takes a lot of research and hard work. This
same prin ciple can be applied in dealing with special rights for the
Shans in Burma. The Burmans and other ethnic groups will not support such
"special" rights. However, if they can be convinced that these rights are
not "special" but the same basic rights that th ey want, too, they will
support the Shan cause. 

A letter was read by a member of the Sampson Cree Nation of Alberta from a
son of the late Sao Shwe Thaike, urging the delegates to actively work for
the Shan People. 

INDEPENDENCE VS. A FEDERAL UNION 
There was an active debate on the subject. Most felt that Burmans cannot
be trusted, and that it would be best to opt for independence. Others
countered that trust is irrelevant, that a Federal Union does not mean
subjugation. A consensus emerged which ac knowledged a desire for
independence from Burma, but not ruling out the possibility of a federal
union. 


		SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 1995

A declaration based on the previous day's discussions was presented,
discussed, amended and endorsed unanimously. This document is available
upon request. 

Discussion centered on how it might be implemented. Plans for cooperation,
financing and implementation were proposed. A standing committee was
formed to: 
     a). Implement the Declaration, especially those provisions calling
for cooperative action with allies and potential allies; and
     b). Coordinate the activities of all member groups.

For further information, or for a copy of the New York Declaration, write
to: 

One again, for security purposes, correspondence can be channelled through
Cliff Sloane at cesloane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx