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Shan New Year Celebrated in Mao Bas



Subject: Shan New Year Celebrated in Mao Basin:  Shan Vice President Back



2 December 1998


<bold>Shan New Year Celebrated in Mao Basin 

</bold>

The Shan New Year's Day, the First Moon of the First Lunar Month, which
corresponds to 19 November for this year, is celebrated throughout Shan
States. The biggest festivities are held in the Mao (Shweli) Basin that
has two main towns, Muse and Namkham. 


Muse chose to celebrate the occasion on 20 November while Namkham on 23
November, three days after. The ceremony in the former was attended by
Dr. Khamlek, well-known throughout Burma for his songs, and Dr. Sang-ai,
a noted Shan historian, both of whom delivered speeches to their awed
audience. Members of the ceasefire groups, led by Col. Gunyord, Col. Sai
Du and Col. Laogorn, also participated in the celebrations. 


According to Historian Chaichuen Khamdaengyordtai, the Shan Year began in
BE 450, when King Khunyee established the Mao Kingdom. By Shan reckoning,
therefore, the year now is 2093. 


Shan festivities in SPDC controlled areas, however, are not without
trouble, one way or another. Ethnic customs and traditions are by law to
be respected by all. Yet, it was a strange thing to see an SPDC Mobile
Public. Relations Troupe arriving there at the same time. Local
authorities were called for by the troupe to assist them in getting
audience for their performances by using methods such as inspection of ID
cards and driver?s licenses of those going to the New Year festival
ground but not those who went to the entertainments performed by the
troupe itself. 

SHAN (the Edged Blade Team) 


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<bold>Shan Vice President Back From Barcelona: Mission
Accomplished</bold> 


Sai Wansai, Vice President-2 of the Shan Democratic Union, is reportedly
by back from Barcelona in Spain, after attending a week-long Conference
on the Right of Self-Determination, 21-27 November. 


It was also attended by internationally known figures such as Jose Ramos
Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient from East Timor, and Michael Van
Walt, former Secretary General of the UNPO. Mr. Alvaro de Soto, UN Asst
Secretary General, however, cancelled his attendance at the last minute. 


?My paper was well received there?, VP-2 reported from his home in
Germany. ?Mr. Ramos told me he liked my presentation and that it was
nicely argued?. 


The presentation was titled, "Secession as an Ethnic Conflict Resolution:
The Case of the Shan States". His purpose, accordingly, was to explain
that "secession should be regarded as a solution of ethnic conflicts". He
argued that "Maintenance of the former largely European colonial
boundaries as irreversible and sacrosanct national state boundaries
should be reviewed an a case to case basis. This is on unending source of
ethnic conflicts affecting international stability". 


Shan States joined Burma in 1947 on the basis of the right to secede. The
Union Constitution which was abolished by the military in 1962
automatically freed the Shan States from "its contractual obligation both
legal and constitutional, to that union": ?Since then, the conflict
(between Burma and the Shan States) may be defined as international
rather than purely domestic or internal?, he said. 


He proposed that the International Community ?assist in the promotion and
organization of referenda, under UN auspices, which specifically address
claims of self determination? and ?to work for the 

under UN auspices, which specifically address claims of self
determination? and ?to work for the establishment of a court of
arbitration to examine claims of self determination and to provide
binding judgements when the claims are found to be legitimate and
viable?. 


The Conference on its last day recommended that the UN ?create an
effective mechanism to assist in the resolution of self determination
claims and conflicts?. It also recommends that the international
community ?create a permanent forum of peoples within the United Nations
system which would have consultative status with the UN?. 


The Conference was sponsored by UNESCO . 




<bold>The Fear of AIDS</bold> 


She is beautiful. She is desirable. But her late husband died of AIDS and
she can never hope to get someone in her community to marry her. She
changes her name, goes to live in another place, and gets a husband in
time. But she lives in fear of her present husband and relatives finding
out the truth about her. 


Seven years ago ?Mee? used to be one of the most beautiful girls in the
village. She married a hard working nice guy everyone liked. They worked
hard in a lychee orchard which they owned. Bruises  and seratches were
normal occurrences and they did not mind. 


However, one day, ?Kham? -that?s the husband?s name- went to help a
friend who suffered an accident and was soaked with blood. He carried his
friend and put him on his truck. He then drove him to the hospital. A few
months later, the friend died. The malady - AIDS. 


Kham was shocked. He remembered that his friend?s blood had to be washed
off his hands that were full of small scratches. He went to the hospital
for a checkup and found himself HIV positive. 


He know he was doomed, but he was worried about his wife who was pregnant
and his yet to be born son. Several tests at the hospital revealed that
both she and her son were HIV negative. Fortunately, they had decided on
a period of chastity during her pregnancy. 


Kham died three years ago, two years after his son was born. Everyone
regretted his passing away. He was a man without enemies, always ready to
lend a hand to anyone who asked for it. 


But his widow is another question. She is now an outcast in the village.
Her former friends have forsaken her. Her son also lives under this
stigma. She therefore sends him off to live with her parents-in-law who,
luckily for the kid, have a home in a faraway province, and goes off to
find work in a distant town where nobody knows her or care. In time, she
finds a guy who cares for her and accepts his marriage proposal. 


She is happy. But her happiness is not without a cloud that hangs over
her like a bomb that is ready to burst at any moment. 


What if he finds out?  is question that constantly keeps her on her toes. 


SHAN heartily prays Mee finds him an understanding and reasonable man. 


Note:	This is a true story. Only names are changed.