Burma Ethnic Politics Watch Network (BEPWN)

Press Release No.1

22 May 2010
In building a genuine democratic system in Burma, some politicians among those
representing ethnic political parties or organizations are found to be self-sacrificing while
some are seeking self-interests. In order to let pro-democracy activists and people both inside
and abroad aware of their deeds and stands, we are now naming them and publishing their
political standpoint.
The self-seeking politicians are as follows:
1. Harn Yawnghwe (Shan) member of Board of Directors of Euro-Burma
One of the executive directors of Brussels-based Euro-Burma in Belgium, Harn Yawnghwe
has long been out of touch with Burma's politics. Since he is neither knowledgeable of
Burma's domestic politics nor familiar with military dictators' nature and is in need of money
for his survival, he has been asking for funds from EU member states on various pretexts and
is getting assistance from those states which have faith upon the Euro-Burma Board of
Directors, one of his close associates informed us together with photo and document
evidences. Some political parties which have applied for registration disclosed that he has
embezzled funds donated for humanitarian assistance by providing party registration fees at
the Elections Commission office for those ethnic groups which favor running for 2010
elections and is also going to help pay election candidate fees of Kyat 500,000.
We are worried for Harn Yawnghwe's action leading to differences and misunderstanding
between domestic pro-democracy forces and EU member states. Besides, rifts could also
come up among internal ethnic groups. Hence on account of being an accomplice to
perpetuation of SPDC military tyranny and helping with SPDC acquiring international
legitimacy, the BEPWN strongly denounces Harn Yawnghwe and put him on the Black List.
2. Dr. Salai Lian Hmong (Chin) member of ENC in exile
Dr. Salai Lian Hmong was General Secretary of the Chin National League for Democracy
which had won seats in 1990 General Elections. He had also been a member of the
Secretariat of the United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD) which was an alliance
of 23 ethnic parties. When he realized after the 1990 election that the SLORC was not going
to hand over power to elected MPs, he fled abroad fabricating that the SLORC regime was
going to issue an arrest warrant for him. Once among exiled pro-democracy forces, he lied to
them that he has been to jail on account of his pro-democracy activities, and brazenly
collected the Martin Luther King Jr. Award. Dr. Salai Lian Hmong is Euro Burma Office
Director Harn Yawnghwe's collaborator, and both of them are striving to get rich and
powerful by exploiting Burma's democracy issue. Lian Hmong is an ethnic renegade assisting
in perpetuation of pro-democracy Burmese people's enemy SPDC military rule, a close
associate of him informed the BEPWN together with concrete evidences.
Since Dr. Salai Lian Hmong is found to be opposing emergence of genuine democracy
favored by Burmese people and assisting in continuation of SPDC military rule, the BEPWN
strongly repudiates him and puts him on the Black List.
3. Sai Aik Pawng (Shan) General Secretary, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy
Sai Aik Pawng was the General Secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy
(SNLD) which had won 23 seats in 1990 General Elections. He had also attended the
National Convention during 1993-1996.
When the National Convention resumed in 2004, Shan leader SNLD Chairman Khun Htun
Oo and Joint-General Secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin were arrested and given heavy sentences by
the SPDC for refusing to attend the convention, along with SSA-North's Patron Maj. Gen.
Hso Ten and leaders of Shan New Generation Youth. Some of the imprisoned Shan leaders
passed away in the jail. While Shan nationalist political leaders were sacrificing their lives or
freedom thus, we BEPWN find Sai Aik Pawng planning to register his Shan Nationalities
Democratic Party at the Elections Commission to run for elections in 2010 based on 2008
Constitution unilaterally adopted by the SPDC. Sai Aik Pawng is paying no attention to the
future of Shan nation's politics while assisting in continuation of military tyranny and
acquirement of international legitimacy. These facts are presented to us by a Shan activist
with concrete evidence so that the BEPWN strongly repudiates Sai Aik Pawng and puts him
on the Black List.
4. U San Tha Aung (Arkanese Chin) Chairman of Mro-Khami Solidarity Organization
U San Tha Aung's party was a member of 23-party alliance known as the UNLD set up
before 1990 elections. He was also a Presidium member of the UNLD. He had been a
candidate for Arakan State Kyauktaw Constituency in 1990 elections, but when the SLORC
detained Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) candidate U Oo Tha Tun seven days before
the elections, all Arakanese people casted their votes for ALD's ally Mro-Khami Solidarity
Organization Chairman U San Tha Aung. In this way he became an MP for Kyauktaw
Township.
He attended the National Convention from beginning to end, that is, from 1993 till 2007,
serving as one of convention presidents in drafting a constitution to legalize evil dictatorship.
He is now leading his party to register again at the Elections Commission so as to enter 2010
elections. A Khami activist reported to us that U San Tha Aung is betraying his voters,
Arakanese people of Kyauktaw Township, and actively assisting in perpetuation of SPDC
military dictatorship.
Therefore, the BEPWN strongly denounces and put on the Black List U San Tha Aung for
going against the wishes of Arakanese voters, undermining democracy and assisting in
military despots' legitimacy.
5. Saw Philip aka Philip Sam (Wa) Patron of Wa National Development Party
The party was a member of the UNLD alliance formed in 1989 and he had been a member of
its Presidium. Like U San Tha Aung he also has attended the National Convention from start
to finish.
While striving for attainment of a Wa State by holding on to arms, the United Wa State Army
(UWSA) is being pressured by the SPDC using various means, to become a Border Guard
Force but the UWSA, the biggest armed ethnic group in Burma, is resolutely refusing to
accede. In such a time of grave importance for Wa people, Saw Philip is supporting the 2008
Constitution and has registered his Wa National Unity Party at the Commission office to
participate in 2010 elections. His stand and deeds are found to be contributing toward
international legitimization of military dictatorship. A member of Wa national revolution
reported to us hard evidence of Saw Philip aka Philip Sam's disregard of democracy and
freedom desired by Wa people, and his political careerism oriented to self-interest.
Therefore the BEPWN strongly repudiates Saw Philip aka Philip Sam and put him on the
Black List.
6. Dr. Saboi Jum (Kachin)
Dr. Saboi Jum is a go-between for SPDC with KIO, the Kachin armed group. He has been an
executive member of the Kachin Baptist Convention which has sacked him for embezzling
more than Kyat 100 million donated by foreign Baptist missions. Using appropriated money,
he established an NGO called Nyein Foundation and got on friendly terms with SPDC
military chiefs. Opposing democracy and liberation desired by Kachin people, he has been
advising SPDC leaders on how to deal with KIO/KIA top leaders in addition to constantly
providing the regime with information about KIO leaders' weaknesses, a KIO leader
informed us together with concrete evidence.
Since Dr. Saboi Jum is paying no heed to Kachin people's future and democratic cause but is
collaborating with the SPDC regime for self-interest by assisting the regime with all means to
get international recognition for 2010 elections, the BEPWN strongly denounces him and put
him on the Black List.
7. Dr. Simon Tha (Karen) Neurologist
Dr. Simon Tha has attended the National Convention held in Nyaung Hnapin during 2004-
2007 to draft 2008 Constitution.
People of Burma as well as the international community are well aware of SPDC army
launching military offensives everywhere inside Karen State, raping Karen women, killing
and burning Karen villages, causing the Karen people to flee to jungles and live in hidden
hamlets facing all sorts of troubles. In such a time, Dr. Simon Tha is a Karen traitor standing
by the side of military despots torturing and oppressing his own people, and assisting in
various ways to perpetuate the evil tyranny.
In 2002, he personally called on pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to invite her
to the Karen New Year festival which would be held in Kha-wel Chan, Rangoon. However,
when she turned up for the festival, she was stopped at the festival entrance by SPDC army.
When she showed them Dr. Simon Tha's invitation letter, authorities called and asked him for
confirmation but he barefacedly lied to them that he didn't invite her, prompting her to turn
back without attending the festival.
Dr. Simon Tha has also travelled many times to Thailand to persuade KNU leader Gen. Mya
to make peace with the SPDC. He has deceived and tricked Gen. Mya in accordance with
SPDC's instructions. Realizing this later, Gen. Mya commented, "This guy, he's a liar doctor
for the SPDC." He is now trying again to exploit politics for self-interest by registering a
Karen People's Party to run for 2010 elections under the 2008 Constitution. As his party's aim
is to work for Karen people living outside Karen State—in other States and Divisions—he is
in fact sowing dissension between Karen people of Karen State and Karens of other regions.
He has turned a blind eye toward the plight of Karen refugees the world is paying attention
to, and shamed pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Because he is working as a main pillar for dictators' survival and international legitimacy,
Karen organizations inside Burma have sent us evidences about his collaboration, prompting
us BEPWN to strongly repudiate Dr. Simon Tha and put him on the Black List.

(List of ethnic traitors will be continued.)

Burma Ethnic Politics Watch Network
Rangoon