Press Conference 3/2005 on causes of declaring the group led by renegade Sao Hkam Hpa and related groups which posed grave danger to the Union of Myanmar and the entire national people was held by the Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council at the Ministry of Information in Yangon Friday.
It was attended by Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan, Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Maung Oo, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Maung Myint, Deputy Minister for Labour Brig-Gen Win Sein, Maj-Gen Khin Aung Myint of the Ministry of Defence, Director-General of the Myanmar Police Force of the Ministry of Home Affairs Brig-Gen Khin Yee, departmental officials, U Sein Win from Kyodo News Agency, Patron of Foreign Correspondents Club U Hla Htwe, Chairman U Sao Kai Pha, Secretary U Nyunt Tin and members, journalists and invited persons.
First, Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan made an address saying that, he will clarify points relating to the causes of declaring the group led by Sao Hkam Hpa and related groups which posed grave danger to the Union of Myanmar and the entire national people.
As it has already been known by the journalists, the group led by Sao Hkam Hpa who is the son of NyaungShwe SawBwa Sao Shwe Thaike, through exile, declared Shan State independence on 17th April and formed the so-called Shan State Temporary Government.
Thus, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued Notification on 19th April 2005 declaring that the group led by renegade Sao Hkam Hpa, its members and other related groups as Unlawful Association under section 16 and as per interpretation of section 15 (2) of the Unlawful Associations Act.
It can be found that attempts to secede Shan State from the Union as tackled by the lackeys of colonialists with the intention of disintegrating the Union which has been existing for thousands of years, are witnessed not only now but also in many times consecutively in the past. Such attempts are the consequences of activities made on reliance of external elements and as directed by external elements.

In this context, the declaration of Shan State as independent and formation of Shan State Temporary Government by renegade Sao Hkam Hpa and cohorts can be found as connected with and a part of the conspiracies of SURA and SNLD to form nominal Union and later secede Shan State from the Union.
SURA, SNLD and Shan State Intellectuals Advisory Council are launching movements to disintegrate national unity and solidarity as well as disintegrate the Union. Thus, the Government exposed their conspiracies and protected the Union from disintegration in time. As arranged in prior, renegade Sao Hkam Hpa and cohorts made such declarations through exile when their foreign masters directed them to do so.
In review of the above mentioned combination, aims and declarations of SURA and SNLD and Shan State Intellectuals Advisory Council, it is found that the Union will be formed with the emphasis on a genuine Union. The genuine Union means the Union made up of 8 states namely Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Chin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Shan State and Bamar State which will be made up of 7 Divisions. The entire national people might be misled by the beautiful wording “Genuine Union”. In fact, they aimed to form a nominal Union and later secede from the Union. The activities of the groups are very dangerous to the stability of the State, national solidarity and it will lead to disintegration of the Union. Hence, such activities are unacceptable.

I will continue to clarify points relating to the background history of insurgencies in Shan State. Just Myanmar has regained independence, multi-coloured insurgencies emerged throughout the Union. In the year 1949, KNDOs shouted to establish separate Kayin State by occupying some regions in southern Shan State. At that time, Shan Feudal SawBwas and followers launched movements to secede Shan State from the Union and establish separate Shan State.
These incidents show that Shan SawBwas have created insurgencies in Shan State in their own interest while neglecting the interest of the nation and the people.
Now, Sao Hkam Hpa and cohorts who are remnants of SawBwas formed the Shan State Temporary Government in their own interests.
However, that group is merely a nominal organization. Politically unknown and having no administrative experience, they are armed only with talent of insurgency and being manipulated by colonialists. Their act is merely self-seeking.
Successive NyaungShwe SawBwa invited colonialists and obviously they suppressed the local people in Shan State in collaboration with the colonialists. The local people were made poorer through assorted gamblings and no development project was implemented for the people.
The last NyaungShwe SawBwa had five wives. He got married with the fourth wife Nam Hein Kham (Mahadevi) in June 1937 and they had four sons and two daughters.
Of them, Sao Hkam Hpa is the eldest and he is also known as Sao Hso (a) Winston Thaike (a) Surkhamhpa (a) Hso Hkam Hpa.
The eldest son Sao Hkam Hpa now formed Shan State Temporary Government and appointed himself as President.
History shows that on the basis of racism, the nation was unstable in the past and the people had to suffer difficulties. Now again, descendents of expatriate Shan SawBwas are firmly sticking to wrong-doings. Altogether 33 national races residing in the Shan State do not accept the expatriate Shan Government and condemn it. The remaining national people residing in other States and Divisions also do not accept and recognize the Shan State Temporary Government but object it. In addition the Union Solidarity and Development Association with membership of over 21 million as well as the Myanmar War Veterans Organization, Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation and Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association opposed and objected the wrongful act of expatriate Sao Hkam Hpa and group.
Likewise, political parties such as National League for Democracy and National Unity Party issued declarations that the wrongful act of Sao Hkam Hpa is absolutely objected by them.
Similarly, 16 peace groups which have returned to legal fold in Shan State as well as 13 peace groups in other States and Divisions have issued declarations that the wrongful act of Sao Hkam Hpa was unacceptable. The daily newspapers have also carried declarations of NGOs, political parties and peace groups to the effect that they do not accept and they oppose the wrongful act of Sao Hkam Hpa.
It can be seen that circa 1960 Shan SawBwas attempted to establish Federal State and parties, organizations and the people of that time did not accept the plot. Now descendent of Shan SawBwa Sao Hkam Hpa’s formation of Shan State Temporary Government, declaration of Shan State independence and creating Shan State as war zone are absolutely objected by the national people, NGOs and peace groups which have returned to legal fold.
It shows that patriotism for ensuring non-disintegration of the Union as well as non-disintegration of the national solidarity is the genuine and proper patriotism. However, while the entire national people and organizations are opposing and condemning Sao Hkam Hpa’s wrongful act, western broadcasting stations such as BBC and VOA are encouraging Sao Hkam Hpa and daily broadcasting instigations. Thus, BBC and VOA will be responsible for consequences.
Since, long long ago, Myanmar has been a Union lived by over 100 national races. For instance, about 50 national races are living in Yangon Division while 33 national races such as Shan, Wa, PaO, PaLaung, LaHu, Akha, Bamar, etc., are residing together unitedly in Shan State. No State or Division is being resided solely by one race. Various national races are residing in all States and Divisions unitedly. Hence, the Union of Myanmar is made up of 14 States and Divisions and each State or Division is the home of various national races.
Circa 1988, the nation’s economy was in decline and politically it was near collapse. Inevitable, the Tatmadaw had to take over State responsibilities. Emphasis was laid on national reconsolidation. At the same time efforts were made for developing border areas and national races. The Border Areas and National Races Development Implementation Central Committee was formed with the Head of State as Chairman. Development plans are implemented with might and main. So far, the State has spent over 65,000 million kyats in developing border areas and national races.
Moreover, to develop the national races which lagged behind in development through various period, 24 special regions development works are also being carried out energetically. Of the 24 Special Development Regions, PangLong, Taunggyi, KengTung and Lashio special development regions are located in Shan State.
In addition, to narrow down the development gap between urban and rural areas, the 5 rural development tasks are carried out throughout the country.
The national people are now enjoying fruitful results of the development endeavours unprecedentedly. It shows that the genuine goodwill of the Tatmadaw Government serving the interest of all national people irrespective of race or location.
Next, queries raised by the journalists were replied to by Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan and the Press Conference concluded in the evening.

Later, the journalists observed the facts and photos on declarations of NGOs, political parties, peace groups which had already returned to legal fold in Shan State and other States and Divisions opposing and objection on clarification of Sao Hkam Hpa, which posed danger to law enforcement, peace and tranquility of the people. Shan State Joint Implementation Committee and renegade Sao Hkam Hpa and cohorts.