Shan MPs among arrested

[shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

<bold>


9 Sept 1998


<color><param>ffff,0000,0000</param><bigger>Shan MPs among arrested

</bigger></color>

</bold>Unconfirmed reports have reached S.H.A.N. that the elected MPs of
the Shan Nationalities league for Democracy ( SNLD ), the biggest party
in the Shan States, were also detained by the State Peace and Order
Council.


Only Khun Htoon Oo, the SNLD?s president, was left alone. The seeming
grace was, however, not exclusive for the Shan party. The NLD?s
leadership, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was still left out by the
SPDC?s henchmen also. It was believed that the custody of the SNLD?s MPs
was due to its announcement that it would also participate in the
Parliament called by the NLD.


The SNLD is fully supported by the Shan States Army, the combined Shan
armed group, that boasts more than 12,000 strong. It is also backed by
the Shan Democratic Union, the overseas Shan group, led by Sao Hsohom of
Mongpawn, whose father, Sao Sarm Htoon, was assassinated along with Aung
San in 1947.

<bold>

<italic>S.H.A.N.

</italic></bold>