Hsen Pai (Variety), a fortnightly journal, published its first issue on 12 August, 2 months after the publishers’ application received official approval in June, which was followed by its second issue on 26 August and third and latest on 9 September.
Its most distinguished hall mark is that the entire paper, 24 pages, is in Shan. And befitting its name, the paper has been divided into 12 sections: News, Environmental News, Memoirs, Features, Opinion, Entertainment, Interviews, Health, Technology, Education, International Affairs and Business.
The editorial on the first issue was about the unacceptability of the President’s 8 point guidelines, which require the armed resistance movements to adopt the military-drawn constitution, form parties, enter elections and join the existing military-dominated legislature. “According to experts,” it writes, “4 things must come before those mentioned: Adoption of a military Code of Conduct, Setting up of ceasefire monitors, Waiver on the Unlawful Association Act and Holding of political dialogue.”
The interview of political prisoners released by amnesty on 23 July will also be interesting for readers who have been following Khun Kyaw aka Than Gyaung, who was “captured” and sentenced to death by the government in 2006.
“There were 43 of us,” said Sgt Phwe Mai. “11 of them led by Sgt Tun Kyaw Oo surrendered on 1 January (2006). He then radioed us and said everything was okay.” They were treated to a lunch by Brig-Gen Hla Myint, then Deputy Commander of the Burma Army’s Northeastern Region Command, in Namkham. During the night time, they were detained and handed over to the police and taken to Lashio.
Of the 43, only 11 were recognized as “exchanging arms for peace.” The remaining 32 were tried and given varied jail sentences up to death penalty.
Two of them died while serving their terms, one was released in 2008, and 26 were amnestied last July. Three who are still in jail on criminal charges are Lt-Col Khun Kyaw, Lt Sai Phong and Lt Sai Tu.
Then there are memoirs of Sai Nood aka Sai Nyunt Lwin, General Secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), who together with 8 others were sentenced to more than 700 years in prison in 2005. “I was flabbergasted when I learned it,” he wrote.
All of them, except for Than Myint “Math” who died in Sandoway in May 2006, were release in 2011 and 2012.
The latest issue has an interesting item: how 135 “national races” were enumerated. Sai Lake, spokesman for the SNLD, commented on how the number of national races in Shan State became 33: “Shan Gyi and Tai Long are one and the same. So are Shan Galay, Shan Ni and Taileng. That also goes for Tai Nerh and Shan Tayok.” Concerning the issue, the Ta-ang students that released a statement on 30 August has urged that the government review its 135 national races stance before the 2014 census is taken.
After going through Hsen Pai, one member of the Shan Herald, that has been registered on 6 September to publish a monthly bi-lingual (Tai-Burmese) paper, ventured: “Well, if Hsen Pai can get away with them, maybe we can too. After all, we shall be working for peace, not for war. And for unity not for separation.”
We all hope he turns out right. Because that will be not for the good of only Shans, but of all the peoples of the country we all call “The Union.”
N.B. Hsen Pai’s editor in chief is Heun Kayang. It is based in Sanchaung Township, Rangoon. Tel: (95) 10-500-6225.
Another paper Eastern Yoma, Burmese language, is published every Wednesday in Taunggyi. Email: [email protected].
