Dear SHAN,

A lot of people find it offensive that a reporter at S.H.A.N. chose to disparage the Tai (Shan) civil societies while reporting on a very newsworthy item, by comparing our civil societies to King Canute trying to stop the tide.

If the reporter wants to express his opinion of the news, he should identify himself by name and give his OPINION, making it clear to your readers it is his commentary.

In any case King Canute and the tide is not what is at issue here. Beijing with the agreement of the Bumma military has denuded our Tai country of forests and is seeking to use all our natural resources. We must voice our objection to the Bumma military-business complex now out to get MORE billions with Chinese private sector investment in our Tai country.

Surely, S.H.A.N. knows our people who are the owners of our land end up violated and exploited. Aung San Suu Kyi has said foreign investment should help us, not hurt us.

Do you think the Bumma military-business class intends for Chinese and other foreign investment in our Tai nation to help the people who live in the Shan country?

I see nothing wrong, and everything right about standing up to forces trying to crush us. We speak truth to power.

Sincerely,
Princess Ying Sita of Yawnghwe State, Shan State