Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RANGOON1013
2006-07-20 07:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
SURRENDER OF SHAN STATE ARMY-SOUTH BRIGADE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001013
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR PINS BM
SUBJECT: SURRENDER OF SHAN STATE ARMY-SOUTH BRIGADE
RANGOON 00001013 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Classified by Acting P/E Chief Mark B. Taylor; for reaso
ns 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001013
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR PINS BM
SUBJECT: SURRENDER OF SHAN STATE ARMY-SOUTH BRIGADE
RANGOON 00001013 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Classified by Acting P/E Chief Mark B. Taylor; for reaso
ns 1.4 (b, d)
1.(C) SUMMARY: The SPDC has claimed its
carefully-choreographed July 17 surrender of a major faction
of the SSA-S as its latest success in their ongoing campaign
to bring insurgent forces into its collection of cease-fire
groups. As in the past, the breakaway SSA-S faction was
lured into the regime,s embrace through a combination of
autonomy promises, business concessions, and the right to
remain armed. The SSA-S is well known for its role in the
Shan State drug trade; the breakaway faction,s professed
reforms may be little more than media gloss. END SUMMARY
2.(C) In early July, the GOB announced the surrender of the
758th Brigade of the Shan State Army-South, based in the area
of the Shan State near Loi Lem. The brigade,s 848 troops
appeared for a formal July 17 surrender ceremony in Laikha.
SPDC Secretary 1 Lt.Gen. Thein Sein joined the Eastern
Division Commander (based in Taunggyi) to receive the
Brigade,s weapons and communications gear and welcome the
group &into the legal fold8 of ethnic groups with whom the
government has forged cease-fires.
3.(C) Government newspapers July 18 carried extensive
coverage of the surrender ceremony, which was also attended
by leaders of 15 other ethnic ceasefire groups in the Shan
State, members of the diplomatic corps, and media. The
SSA-South Brigade Commander, U Mein Sin, formally announced
the Brigade,s decision to join the government and renounced
the drug trafficking and &inhumane terrorist acts8 of SSA-S
leader Ywet Sit (aka Yord Serk),who still controls 1,000
troops and has not surrendered. According to the media
accounts, the surrendering SSA-S Brigade was presented with
gifts of several cars, trucks, farm equipment, and other
gifts at the ceremony.
Re-arming the Shan Militia
--------------
4.(C) Media reports did not highlight another important
aspect of this &surrender:8 the regime,s rearming of the
same SSA-S Brigade. While Commander U Mein Sin and other
SSA-S officers symbolically handed individual weapons to the
regime,s Eastern Division commander, he immediately returned
the weapons to the SSA-S leaders so the surrendered group
will be able &to carry out security, stability, and regional
development tasks.8
The Taunggyi &peace8 tax
--------------
5.(C) During a July 14 meeting, the Chairwoman of the NLD's
Taunggyi Township Committee, Dr. Than Ngwe, told poloff that
the Eastern Division Commander recently tasked his security
personnel with collecting 100,000 kyat (approx. $80) from
each store-front vendor in the town. This tax was explained
as needed to fund &gifts8 for the surrendering brigade of
the SSA-South. Dr. Than Ngwe claimed that the Commander's
goal was to raise $24,000.
Attempted NLD Linkage
--------------
6.(C) The state media tried to link the NLD with SSA-S leader
Ywet Sit. These reports claim that Ywet Sit assigned a Shan
political figure, Khun Kyar Nu, to make contacts with the NLD
in Rangoon. (Note: Khun Kyar Nu was jailed in 2005 for his
links with the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and is
RANGOON 00001013 002.2 OF 002
the brother of the late Sabwa (Shan ruler) of Hsipaw and the
cousin of imprisoned SNLD Chairman Hkun Tun Oo. He has
obvious ties to the SNLD, but no known NLD links. End Note)
7.(C) COMMENT: This latest surrender adds one more party to
the 17 major armed groups and 15 smaller groups in the
regime,s &legal fold8 of ceasefire groups, reducing the
threat presented by the remaining SSA-South insurgent force.
By rearming the surrendering Brigade, the regime will try to
use the local militia to assist in keeping the remaining
SSA-S forces at bay. It also remains to be seen whether this
SSA-South breakaway faction has truly weaned itself from the
lucrative drug trade or intends to use its new connections to
expand its role in that field. Other ceasefire groups have
profited handsomely from a range of illegal activities. END
COMMENT
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR PINS BM
SUBJECT: SURRENDER OF SHAN STATE ARMY-SOUTH BRIGADE
RANGOON 00001013 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Classified by Acting P/E Chief Mark B. Taylor; for reaso
ns 1.4 (b, d)
1.(C) SUMMARY: The SPDC has claimed its
carefully-choreographed July 17 surrender of a major faction
of the SSA-S as its latest success in their ongoing campaign
to bring insurgent forces into its collection of cease-fire
groups. As in the past, the breakaway SSA-S faction was
lured into the regime,s embrace through a combination of
autonomy promises, business concessions, and the right to
remain armed. The SSA-S is well known for its role in the
Shan State drug trade; the breakaway faction,s professed
reforms may be little more than media gloss. END SUMMARY
2.(C) In early July, the GOB announced the surrender of the
758th Brigade of the Shan State Army-South, based in the area
of the Shan State near Loi Lem. The brigade,s 848 troops
appeared for a formal July 17 surrender ceremony in Laikha.
SPDC Secretary 1 Lt.Gen. Thein Sein joined the Eastern
Division Commander (based in Taunggyi) to receive the
Brigade,s weapons and communications gear and welcome the
group &into the legal fold8 of ethnic groups with whom the
government has forged cease-fires.
3.(C) Government newspapers July 18 carried extensive
coverage of the surrender ceremony, which was also attended
by leaders of 15 other ethnic ceasefire groups in the Shan
State, members of the diplomatic corps, and media. The
SSA-South Brigade Commander, U Mein Sin, formally announced
the Brigade,s decision to join the government and renounced
the drug trafficking and &inhumane terrorist acts8 of SSA-S
leader Ywet Sit (aka Yord Serk),who still controls 1,000
troops and has not surrendered. According to the media
accounts, the surrendering SSA-S Brigade was presented with
gifts of several cars, trucks, farm equipment, and other
gifts at the ceremony.
Re-arming the Shan Militia
--------------
4.(C) Media reports did not highlight another important
aspect of this &surrender:8 the regime,s rearming of the
same SSA-S Brigade. While Commander U Mein Sin and other
SSA-S officers symbolically handed individual weapons to the
regime,s Eastern Division commander, he immediately returned
the weapons to the SSA-S leaders so the surrendered group
will be able &to carry out security, stability, and regional
development tasks.8
The Taunggyi &peace8 tax
--------------
5.(C) During a July 14 meeting, the Chairwoman of the NLD's
Taunggyi Township Committee, Dr. Than Ngwe, told poloff that
the Eastern Division Commander recently tasked his security
personnel with collecting 100,000 kyat (approx. $80) from
each store-front vendor in the town. This tax was explained
as needed to fund &gifts8 for the surrendering brigade of
the SSA-South. Dr. Than Ngwe claimed that the Commander's
goal was to raise $24,000.
Attempted NLD Linkage
--------------
6.(C) The state media tried to link the NLD with SSA-S leader
Ywet Sit. These reports claim that Ywet Sit assigned a Shan
political figure, Khun Kyar Nu, to make contacts with the NLD
in Rangoon. (Note: Khun Kyar Nu was jailed in 2005 for his
links with the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and is
RANGOON 00001013 002.2 OF 002
the brother of the late Sabwa (Shan ruler) of Hsipaw and the
cousin of imprisoned SNLD Chairman Hkun Tun Oo. He has
obvious ties to the SNLD, but no known NLD links. End Note)
7.(C) COMMENT: This latest surrender adds one more party to
the 17 major armed groups and 15 smaller groups in the
regime,s &legal fold8 of ceasefire groups, reducing the
threat presented by the remaining SSA-South insurgent force.
By rearming the surrendering Brigade, the regime will try to
use the local militia to assist in keeping the remaining
SSA-S forces at bay. It also remains to be seen whether this
SSA-South breakaway faction has truly weaned itself from the
lucrative drug trade or intends to use its new connections to
expand its role in that field. Other ceasefire groups have
profited handsomely from a range of illegal activities. END
COMMENT
VILLAROSA