Lt. Gen. Yawd Serk: We Have To Stand On Our Own Two Feet
Lieutenant General Yawd Serk,
chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA),
is the leader of an organization that is one of the eight ethnic armed groups
that signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in October last year. In
late November 2015, the RCSS/SSA clashed with the Ta’ang National Liberation
Army (TNLA), a member of the United Nationalities Federate Council (UNFC).
Unlike the RCSS the TNLA did not sign the NCA.
In an interview conducted with Lt.
Gen. Yawd Serk in Shan on March 23, 2016, the veteran leader discussed his
opinion on the role of the new government led by Aung San Su Kyi’s National
League for Democracy (NLD), the party that won a landslide election victory
last November.
Q: What are your
thoughts on the newly elected government and the on-going conflict in Shan
State?
A: Even though this government was
elected by the people, there will be a lot of difficulties for them. This is
because Burma's military remains superior in the country. However, we have to
wait and see how much they can do. Now, the ethnic armed groups and the people
are waiting to see the policies of the new government under the leadership of
Aung San Su Kyi. We want to see how much power she will have over the military.
Q: Before the
election, Aung San Su Kyi was denied a chance to meet with Burma's military
leaders but after the election she met with them. With regards to their
meeting, will there be any benefits for ethnic groups?
A: I think there will be very
little benefits for ethnic people. Now the NLD and military became one group
with the president being from the NLD and Vice president from the military.
This shows unity amongst the groups. Even though U T Khun Myat [a Kachin ethnic
MP from Shan State’s Kutkai Township] was selected as one of the parliament
speakers, he is from a military-backed party.
Q: Aung San Su
Kyi once said that when she was released from house arrest that she would lead
a hold the 21st century Panglong Agreement. But when fighting
broke out between the Burmese military and the Kokang Myanmar National
Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), she said that the Burma military was right to
step in. What do you hope for the solution of the issues surrounding the ethnic
group?
A: We, the ethnic people, have to
rely only on ourselves. It’s very hard to ask for others to help us. We have to
stand on our own feet. Don’t wait for others to help, this should be our
priority. Should we also rely on Aung San Su Kyi? Yes, we should because her
party is serving as the country’s government. They have the responsibilities to
solve the ethnic problem.
The problems that have been occurring in our country are
not only about politics, but it’s about ethnic problems as well. Therefore, in
order to solve the political problem we have to solve ethnic problems. I was
once told that we have to build trust amongst us. When we trust each other we
can build unity and with unity we can build peace. Until now, ethnic problems
have not yet been solved.
Q: When we look
at the new cabinet of this government, will the ethnic problem be prioritized?
A: It’s not prioritized; it will be
put at a fourth or fifth level.
By: Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
Tags: Interview
