Gandar Mount P.S.O

Khun Sa continued order his gun men to kill his rival, the quality leaders of the SSA Nationalists, 2 years after the killing of Col. Sam Mong and his comrades.

Col. Pan Aung, Sao Boon Dai, President of the Political wing in the party, and Sao Seng Han, Foreign Affairs, were consecutively killed by closerange gun-shot in downtown Chiang Mai.

Soe Zung and Sao Boon Dai, both had frequently denounced Khun Sa’s policy as it was similar to the policy of former Cambodian Leader Bhon Pot.

Similar death occurred in Mae Hong Son when Major Sam Lek and Major Sam Car, SSA section commanders ,were shot near their homes in Kar Harn village outskirts Mae Hong Son.

The last one to be killed was Col.Sai Lek who accepted Khun Sa’s invitation that to work for the combined forces under leaders of KhunSa and Moe Haing, whose Mong Tai Army (MTA) established on 3 March 1985.

After Moe Haing died in 1991, Sai Lek with his men moved to Mong Mai headquarter and stayed there for months- long only, he suffered serious illness for a week under intensive care by a Shan Medical Dr., who is the regular Doctor (forgot his name) at Ho Mong Headquarters.

He had been responsible for the killing of Col.Sai Lek as he was seen to have injected medicine into Sai Lek’s blood-stream.

Sai Lek died at 5 am ,according to his personal guadrs and his friends sitting around him.

VDO camera had recorded the incidence of Sai Lek’s situation, being under ill treatment of the Doctor, until his death.

It was beyond doubt that Khun Sa oredred the killing.

It could not believe that such a man with tough body ,aged a bout 45,was easily died by minor illness.

He, half India-half Shan, as battalion commander had been known as one of the most active in military operrations and wanted by the Government.

His armed struggle in the jungle as long as about 25 year and with much experience of a series of fightings against the Burmese army had always rejected cease-fire talks with the Burmese.

But when the SSA was undermined and in the situation of political turning point, Col. Sai Lek Coincidenly accepted Khun Sa’s offer which he never thought that would be dangerous to his life.

It was also miscount of the victim.

Another top leader wanted by the Burmese and remained to be slain was Sao Wai, the son of first President of Burma Sao Shwe Theik, moved to Canada with his family from Chieng Mai.

He had been also invited by Khun Sa twice to head politics in the party.

He quited the politics since Col. Sam Mong disappeared and living in Chieng Mai long time as ordinary people before leaving for Canada for good.

Between 1978-1996 (in the period of 17 years)

The Shan soldiers, in a dilema, had to make a decisive answer for their future after being no return of their leaders.

Synchronously, some returned to the strongholds in the northern Shan State while others joined the SURA (Shan United Revolution Army) headed by Moe Haing.

The news of brutal assasination of the three behaved by Fa Lung and Khun Sa had to be concealed as could as poosible to save their dignity.

The murder of the three might not satisfy the Burmese Military Ruler so that Khun Sa must carry on the killing.

The top leaders and high-ranking officers active in the SSA’s political wing and military-operation commanders were to be slain.

To carry out this assignment, Khun Sa needed more time to have a good chance for his gunmen who stand up to the enemy and are involed with gun-running as well.

Khun Sa had many chances to fatally shoot the SSA member one by one after the SSA was seperated into four groups.

(1) Group led by Col.Soe Tent made cease-fire with the Government, (2) Group headed by Col.Sam Mai joined Moe Haing’s SURA force, (3) Group of High-Ranking politicians included Sao Boon Dai, Sao Wai, Khun Jar Nu, Sao Seng Han and Soe Zung, all were not only highly educated from Rangoon University but also well talking in English, retired and stayed in Chiang Mai and, (4) Group being the armed soldiers under command of Col.Sai Lek continued armed struggle around Namp Kham and Mu Se aeras closed China border.

Another one, also important in the Shan Revolution Council and Commander in chief, was Sao Soe Leant, graduated in Political Science, with his wife and 5 children surrendered to the Government because of disappointed with disunity in the party as well as its influence had been diminished.

As the members in the Shan group were separated and staying in different places.

Therefore they were the target of shooting and coincidently the victims were negligent in assasination disposed by Khun Sa.

The consecutive assasination carried on in Chieng Mai as Shan leaders were shot down in different ocasions one by one.

The dead were Soe Zung, Sao Seng Han and Sao Boon Dai.

—– Related story to be continued —–