'Panglong is Important'

Wednesday, 10 November 2010 18:53 -

Lt-Gen Yawd Serk is the commander of the Shan State Army-South (SSA-South) and also the
chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State (the SSA’s political arm), talks The
Irrawaddy  about the recent fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese junta troops, the
elections and the federal concept of government proposed by ethnic political groups.

Question: In the regime's general election, people from Shan State voted for the White Tiger
party, the only Shan party in the election. What about the election results?

Answer: In our view, this election will not bring any good for anyone, because it wasn’t free, fair
or creditable. It can’t solve any problems inside Burma. The regime held the election only
because it wanted to legitimize its hold on power. The junta will only change their
uniforms—their activities, their morality will still be the same. If there is a parliament, it will
continue the military government’s activities. I want the people to understand that the situation
in Burma is not yet stable. Although the government held an election, there will be no
democracy.

Q: What did the Shan people think about the election?

A: I have nothing to say about the people. We didn’t tell them not to vote. They could freely
choose to vote. We don’t need to tell them that the regime is no good, because they know what
the regime is.

Q: Many observers say that the military government will crack down on the ethnic armed groups
after the election. Are you prepared for this?

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A: We are still analyzing what the government might do. The armed groups always have to be
prepared. It really depends on the government to start the fighting or not.

Q: What if they attack?

A: Then we are ready. We are not a cease-fire group. We clash with government troops every
day in Shan State.

Q: Some ethnic armed groups formed a military alliance recently.

A: We are not part of any alliance. I just know that some cease-fire groups formed an alliance.
That’s all I know.

Q: What about the border fighting in Myawaddy?

A: It happened because the regime put too much pressure on the DKBA. The holding of an
unfair election might be another reason.

Q: Will you have any involvement with the DKBA fighting?

A: We haven’t decided to help the DKBA because of the geographical situation.

Q: Why do you advocate an independent Shan State?

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A: It is based on the Panglong agreement. It's important to work for a Federal State. Without it,
our problems will never end. If we have a dialogue with the government based on the Panglong
agreement, it might help to find a solution.

Q: Some ethnic leaders and politicians have called for a second Panglong conference and
released a statement.

A: That is the best idea and the right approach to our current political situation.

Q: What about human right abuses and the forced labor that  still occurs in Shan State. What
can the SSA- South do to solve such problems?

A: It's becoming worse in Shan State. We can't solve all these problems, but if our troops see
such human rights violations, we can take action against them. That's what we can do.

Q: Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be released soon. Will that have a
positive effect on the political situation?

A: Although she will be free soon, nobody knows what the regime will do after they release her.
The government can detain her again under a new pretext. We have to try to prevent the regime
from doing whatever it wants. We have to support Suu Kyi more. The regime should recognize
her and her activities if it really wants a democratic country. We really need a tripartite dialogue.
Without Suu Kyi, nobody is going to believe the junta.

Q: What do you think about the regime closing the border recently? Can you get more pressure
from the international community to reopen it?

A: It was closed by the military government. They didn't want human rights activists and news
agencies to get inside Burma and report on the election and other matters. It means that the

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Wednesday, 10 November 2010 18:53 -

election was not creditable. To have transparency, you have to let people inside. They don’t
need to close the borders.

Q: Do you think economic sanctions can move the regime toward democracy?

A: If the government really wants a democratic country, it must open up. They have to make the
media free, which is a very basic fact of human rights. Though there are economic sanctions on
the military government now, I still see the generals grow richer day by day.

Q: Do you think that the regime will use the new Russian MI-24 helicopters to crack down on
ethnic armed groups?

A: Using such aircraft to attack ethnic groups would be very cruel. If they do that, they will bear
the blame.

Q: What can you do about the drug issue in Shan State?

A: We have defined drugs as our first enemy. The military government has overall responsibility
on the drug issue because it has the power. They govern the country. Drug prices have risen
because of the governing system.
The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) has defined four main problems regarding the
drugs issue.

1. The economic: prices have to be stable.

2. The political situation has to be stable.
3. The government has to publish information regularly.
4. The government has to educate people about drugs.

Many drug dealers participated in the election as candidates. How can we get rid of drugs when
those kind of people get a seat in the parliament? We have had an anti-drug committee under

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Wednesday, 10 November 2010 18:53 -

the RCSS for 10 years.

The Irrawaddy

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