Armed struggle only means to solve political imbroglio in Burma: SNPLF

Written by Khun Aung Myat.

02 July 2007.

'There is no way to solve the stalemate in Burmese politics except through armed struggle', said a statement by the splinter Red Pa-O or Shan Nationalities People's Liberation Front (SNPLF) which broke a 13-year ceasefire agreement with the military junta today.

The splinter SNPLF held a press conference on the Thai-Burma border and explained why they returned to liberated areas to revive their armed struggle.

Col. Khun Thu Rein, secretary and spokesperson of the SNPLF, said, " We left for the liberated areas to revive the armed struggle because we had no opportunity to solve the political problems by peaceful political means with the State Peace and Development Council. For our ethnic armed groups, there is no other way to solve the political imbroglio except through armed struggle."

In today' statement it urged the ceasefire groups and the people to fight the SPDC's unrealistic national convention and democratic system it was trying to implement in various ways.

The SNPLF returned to the liberated area on June 10 because the SPDC was mounting pressure on them to relinquish their weapons.

Col. Khun Thu Rein said, "all ceasefire groups singed ceasefire agreements with SPDC because they wanted political rights and to solve the problems by peaceful means. In practice, the SPDC wanted us to surrender our weapons after the National Convention concluded. We disagreed with them. We don't accept it."

Col. Khun Thu Rein added that even if the SPDC does not order ceasefire groups to hand over arms, it might use ceasefire groups as their toys and make them do what they want it to.

The SPDC might use them as militias, special police, among other such functions. Therefore, we cannot work as a special force until we get democracy, solidarity of nationalities, genuine federal union, and usurp dictatorship. We cannot serve under their military commanders and follow their orders. Therefore we have to continue our armed struggle."

SNPLF was founded on Dec 11, 1949 and was based in southern Shan State. They fought consecutive military dictatorships and singed a ceasefire agreement with SPDC on October 9, 1994.

SNPLF's vice chairman and commander in chief Col. Khun Te Saung, and Secretary Col. Khun Thu Rein attended the National Convention. Over 100 men, led by Col Khun Te Saung and Col. Khun Thu Rein, left their base in Naung Tao, Sei Hsai Township on June 10 and took shelter wit the Karenni Army.