Statement from the children of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan

by Phan Foundation on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 5:59am

Statement from the children of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan

5 September 2011

We are aware of the release of a US Embassy diplomatic cable in which Dr Simon Tha claims that there are rumours about the involvement of Ner Dah Mya in the assassination of our father.

We know that the dictatorship wanted our father killed, had encouraged the assassination, and we hold the dictatorship responsible for the assassination. We are deeply saddened that our father was killed by our own Karen people, acting as agents for, and on behalf of, the dictatorship in Burma.

The dictatorship has always tried to divide our people. They have done this through a variety of tactics, including trying to sow mistrust between us. There is no evidence that Ner Dah Mya was involved in the assassination of our father. Dr Simon Tha himself is reported as stating that the source for this information is a Burmese military officer.

To pass on gossip and rumour without evidence is irresponsible and only benefits the dictatorship. We urge people to pay no attention to gossip and rumour. We must not allow ourselves to be divided.

Our father always worked for unity of the Karen people, and unity of all the people of Burma in opposing oppression, and bringing about peace, human rights and democracy to our homeland.

The tribute we should pay to his memory is to stay united, to trust each other, and work together to fulfill his dream.

Saw Say Say Phan
Nant Bwa Bwa Phan
Nant Zoya Phan
Slone Phan

CABLE FROM US EMBASSY IN RANGOON – RELEASED BY WIKILEAKS

http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/02/08RANGOON139.html

MAHN SHA ASSASSINATION

6. (C) Simon Tha cited evidence that implicated the DKBA in KNU Secretary General Mahn Sha's assassination on February 14. Many people he spoke with on a recent trip to Karen State believed that fighters from the DKBA's 999th regiment, under the command of Major Chit Thu, carried out the attack in Mae Sot. Simon Tha relayed that a few hours after the assassination, witnesses reportedly saw three men abandon a black pickup truck and cross into an area of Karen State controlled by the 999th regiment of the DKBA. However, he acknowledged that he had not spoken with anyone who had actually witnessed these men cross the river and was relying on hearsay testimony from his Karen contacts.

7. (C) Simon Tha also told us that an officer from Burmese Military Affairs Security informed him that KNU official Nada Mya, son of deceased KNU leader Bo Mya, telephoned an unnamed DKBA official a few days before the assassination. Simon Tha relayed rumors that Nada Mya was interested in pursuing dialogue with the regime and was displeased with Mahn Sha's unwillingness to do so. Most of the people with whom he has spoken thought that the assassination was carried out in retaliation for the January 29 killing of Ler Mu, a colonel in the breakaway KNU Peace Council, but some speculated that Nada Mya might also have played a role. Still others thought the Burmese regime was involved, although Simon Tha acknowledged that he had not yet seen any conclusive evidence to establish who was responsible and why.