Myanmar pledges to thwart Shan rebels

[dArKeR]

Myanmar's military government says it will never allow secession after ethnic Shan rebels declared independence, state-run newspapers reported Saturday.

A group of exiled Shan led by Sao Hkam Hpa, the eldest son of the country's first president, declared independence on Monday for the country's Shan State, which borders Thailand in eastern Myanmar. Hkam Hpa lives in Canada.

"The government will safeguard sovereignty and non-disintegration of the country, and will never permit any part of the country to be seceded," Information Minister Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan was quoted as saying by the Myanma Ahlin newspaper.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/04/24/2003251767

[lenidog]

1. Did you read on the BBC's web site that their is reports from Burma

that the military had used chemical weapons on the Shan. From the sounds of what happened looks they used mustard gas.

[dArKeR]

2. Yes, but I can't find the story now.

[lenidog]

3. Here you go this is the one I read last night

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4467471.stm

[dArKeR]

4. Thanks!

[Danmel]

5. One of the most ignored human rights tragedies of our time

The people of Burma have suffered so greatly for the past 40 years- and their plight attracts virtually no coverage or any sense of urgency. It is really tragic. Too bad they're not sitting on some oil- they really need to be liberated from tyrants too.