Ceasefire congress endorses new leadership
The Third Congress of the Shan State Peace Council, a joint
meeting of
two ceasefire groups, Shan State
Army (SSA) "North" and
National Army (SSNA), held Oct. 3-5 in northern
township, virtually re-elected
previous leaders to guide the alliance
for the next four years, reports a
Thai source returning from
"There are only two noticeable changes," said the
Thai of Shan origin,
currently employed by a Thai
firm. "The new general secretary is
Sai Du
and the new head of military affairs is Col. Sai
Yi. The rest
remain the same."
Pangyang-born Sai
Du, who in 1973 had been assigned by the
Army to liaise with Luo Xinghan, then proclaimed by anti-narcotic
agencies as the opium king, was
nabbed by Thai police and extradited
to
release. He was also one of the
participants at the May 17-July 9
National Convention.
Col. Gaifah, acting general
secretary since the sudden death of its
former office holder, Col. Gunyawd, on March 14, was re-elected vice
president-2, a post he had held
since the Second Congress in 2000.
Col. Sai Yi, the new leader of the
SSNA since Gunyawd's passing, and
acknowledged as the most capable
military strategist in the group,
succeeded Col. Pangfah,
commander of the SSA First Brigade, as chief
of military affairs. He had joined
the resistance in 1976 together
with the SSA South leader Col. Yawdserk. "Sai Yi loves
politics,"
commented a senior SSNA officer,
"but he is only at home with martial
subjects."
The source also said that, contrary to a S.H.A.N. report
Sept. 20, the
SSPC had yet to make any final decision whether or not to
attend the
next session of the National
Convention until a meeting of 13
ceasefire groups that co-signed the
federal proposal at the last
session is held in the near future.
"The prevailing undercurrent, no
doubt, is to attend it," he
added.
S.H.A.N. had reported then that the SSPC would be sending
its
representatives to the next session
of the National Convention,
causing some concerns among its
other allies.
During S.H.A.N.'s last interview
with Gaifah, he quoted officials
from "one of
go on with firm principles and
flexible approaches."
The National Convention, according to
coming open season but the exact
date is yet to be announced.
The SSPC which was formed in 1996, held the Third Congress
in the
second and third week of August to
elect its leadership. It elected -
Maj. Gen. Hsoten as president,
Maj. Gen. Loimao vice president and
Col. Gaifah
general secretary.
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