Burma military intelligence raids RCSS liaison office in Keng Tung

CHIANG MAI-May 7. Burma Military Affairs Security (MAS), formerly known as Military Intelligence, together with police and Burma Army raided the Restoration Council of Shan State’s liaison office in the eastern Shan State capital Keng Tung, on May 6, 2014.

Burma Army and Military Affairs Security searching belongings of RCSS/SSA office. (Photo: Ying Mok Tai Loi)

Military Security Affairs,  police and soldiers, numbering about 20 personnel, raided and searched the RCSS’s liaison office, while Sai Soe Mong, the liaison officer in Keng Tung, was summoned to the office of MAS.

Sai Soe Mong, the liaison officer in Keng Tung said: “I was summoned to the MAS’s office. When I was there, they (MAS, police and soldiers) raided and searched my office. I requested to leave, but I was not allowed to.”

Sai Soe Mong was allowed to leave after 4 hours at the MAS office, when the raid team had finished their mission.

Burma Army and police at the RCSS/SSA liaison office in Keng Tung. (Photo: Ying Mok Tai Loi)

“Such action could affect our trust. In fact, if they would like to investigate, they should give a warrant and inform us. Now, the police, the spies (MAS) and soldiers raided our office while we were building peace. We should solve the matter peacefully and politely,” said the RCSS/SSA liaison officer.

He added: “According to our Shan culture, we take off our shoes before entering a house, but Burma Army did not listen to us.”

RCSS/SSA has opened 6 liaison offices across Shan State after it reached a ceasefire with Naypyitaw in late 2011.

Update (9 May 2014)

For weeks, the Burma Army has accused the RCSS/SSA of abducting (on 22 April) an ex-Burma Army non-commissioned officer who became a village administrator in Mongton township, across from Thailand’s Chiangdao. The latter had denied responsibility, saying its 727th Brigade has not been active in the area for some time.

On 6 May, remains believed to be his were found by a farmer in a paddy field outside the village.

The raid in Kengtung came in the wake of the find in Mongton. A Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in Kengtung was also detained and beaten on the previous day by Burmese authorities.