Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 1 Information Department of Shan Government, Federated Shan States 2 Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 Country Profile Size: Lies between 19 and 24 degrees latitude North, and Stretches from 96 to 101 degrees longitude East, covering approximately 64,000 square mile; shares boundaries with Burma, China, Laos, Thailand and the Karenni. Topography and Drainage: Bisected north to south by the Salween, one of the longest rivers in Asia. It lies at an average of 2,000 feet above sea-level, and the highest point, Mount Loilaeng, is 8,777 feet. It is composed of broad valleys, thickly wooded mountain ranges and rolling hills forming scenic landscapes. Jong- ang, the biggest waterfall (972 feet) can be found near the town of Kengtong in Mongnai State. Climate There are three seasons: Raing (May to October), cold (November to January) and Warm (February to April). Annual rainfalls average between 40-60 inches. The overall temperature is agreeable: not too cold and not too hot. Information Department of Shan Government, Federated Shan States Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 3 Vegetation Pine and evergreen forests can be found in abundance. Teak and various kinds of hardwood cover over 47,210 square miles. Minerals The bulk of the so-called Burmese natural resources are in the Shan State: silver, lead, gold, copper, iron, tin, wolfram, tungsten, manganese, nickel, coal, mica, antimony, fluorite, marble, gemstones and even uranium. Mines well known are: the Mogok (Mognkut in Shan) and Mongsu ruby mines, and the Namtu Bawdwin silver mines discovered by the Chinese traders and renovated in 1904 by none other than Herbert Clerk Hoover (1874-1964) who became the 31st President of the United State. A study of Indian geological reports made by Drs Cogging and Sondhi in 1993 reveals Northern Shan States incredible mining potential...As for Southern Shan’s remarkable resources, they can be studied from the reports made by a G.V. Hovson (Shanland’s Grievances, by Htoon Myint of Taunggyi,) People: The population of these multi-racial people, described by ancient travelers as the most peace loving people who trust everybody and envy nobody is estimated at 7-10 million, the majority of whom are Tai, of the same ethnological stock as Thai and Laotion, plus several other racial groups including Pa-o, Palaung and Wa of Mon-Khmer stock; and Kachin, Akha and Lahu of Tibeto-Burman stock. All in all, it various indigenous races have lived harmoniously together for centuries. This fact is supported by the Burmese analyst Josef Silverstein, who say’s. Although the Shans dominated the people in the area both politically and numerically, they never assimilated the minorities; as a result, cultural pluralism existed through out the Shan States’ (Politics in the Shan State, The Question of Secession from the Union of Burma, 1958). The Shan stand on the racial question is best described by Sao Shwe Thaike, who in his capacity as the Speaker of the Constituent Assembly, countered the objection that Muslims could not be considered as being indigenous by saying : Muslims of the Arakan certainly bilong to one of the indigenous races of Burma. If they do not belong to the indigenous races, we also cannot be taken as indigenous races. Culture: Shan is still the first language of the majority, though due to 60 years under British protection and 40 years under Burmese colonialism, usage of English and Burmese has become fairly common. As for attire, Shan men, unlike the Burmese, who wear longyis or long skirts, don long baggy trousers. Theravada Buddhism is the pre-eminent faith, and perhaps due to this tolerant religion, Hinduism, Christianity, Islamism and even animisms flourish in this land. Agriculture: Primarily a self-sufficient agricultural economy, being blessed with fertile soil, it produces rice, tea, cheroot leaves, tobacco, potatoes, oranges, lemon, pears, and opium. Cattle-and horse- breeding is also a common sight in low grasslands. Added to the fact that it is rich in mineral resources and abundant in timber, there is no reason why the Shan State could not become one of the richest and most economically dynamic countries in Southeast Asia, given a favorable political climate. Information Department of Shan Government, Federated Shan States 4 Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 National flag 1. The design of the national flag is as sanctioned at the Panglong Treaty conference in 1947. 2. The size of the flag is ( 5ft. x 3ft) 3. Diameter of the Moon is (1.½ ft) 4. The breath of the three colors: yellow, green and reddish (1 ft) each. Example The meaning of the color: 1. Yellow means religion and Race 2. Green means forest, rich in natural resources, people and peace 3. Red means bravery 4. White means purity Information Department of Shan Government, Federated Shan States Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 5 Information Department of Shan Government, Federated Shan States 6 Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 Representatives seen in the first meeting to sign Panglong Agreement (1/12/1946) and took a memorial photo together Aung San, the Burmese representative and The Representatives of Hill People Information Department of Shan Government, Federated Shan States Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 7 Information Department of Shan Government, Federated Shan States 8 Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 THE PANGLONG AGREEMENT Dated Panglong, the 12th February 1947 THE PANGLONG AGREEMENT, 1947 A conference having been held at Panglong, attended by certain Members of the Executive Council of the Governor of Burma, all Saohpas and representative of the Shan States, the Kachin Hills and the Chin Hills: The Members of the conference, believing that freedom will be more speedily achieved by the Shans, the Kachins and the Chins by their immediate co-operation with the Burmese Government: The Members of the Conference have accordingly, and without dissentients, agreed as follows:- 1. A Representative of the Hill Peoples, selected by the Governor on the recommendation of representatives of the Supreme Council of the United Hill Peoples (SCOUHP), shall be appointed a Counsellor for Frontier Areas shall be given executive authority by similar means. 2. The said Counsellor shall also be appointed a Member of the Governor's Executive Council, without portfolio, and the subject of Frontier Areas brought within the purview of the Executive Council by Constitutional Convention as in the case of Defence and External Affairs. The Counsellor for Frontier Areas shall be given executive authority by similar means. 3. The said Counsellor shall be assisted by two Deputy Counsellors representing races of which he is not a member. While the two Deputy Counsellors should deal in the first instance with the affairs of their respective areas and the Counsellor with all the remaining parts of the Frontier Areas, they should by Constitutional Convention act on the principle of joint responsibility. 4. While the Counsellor, in his capacity of Member of the Executive Council, will be the only representative of the Frontier Areas on the Council, the Deputy Counsellors shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Council when subjects pertaining to the Frontier Areas are discussed. 5. Though the Governor's Executive Council will be augmented as agreed above, it will not operate in respect of the Frontier Areas in any manner which would deprive any portion of those Areas of the autonomy which it now enjoys in internal administration. Full autonomy in internal administration for the Frontier Areas is accepted in principle. 6. Though the question of demarcating and establishing a separated Kachin State within a Unified Burma is one which must be relegated for decision by the Constituent Assembly, it is agreed that such a State is desirable. As a first step towards this end, the Counsellor for Frontier Areas and the Deputy Counsellors shall be consulted in the administration of such areas in the Myitkyina and the Bhamo Districts as are Part II Scheduled Areas under the Government of Burma Act of 1935. 7. Citizens of the Frontier Areas shall enjoy rights and privileges which are regarded as fundamental in democratic countries. Information Department of Shan Government, Federated Shan States Shan States Gazette - Volume 03/2009 9 8. The arrangements accepted in this Agreement are without prejudice to the financial autonomy now vested in the Federated Shan States. 9. The arrangements accepted in this Agreement are without prejudice to the financial assistance which the Kachin Hills and the Union Hills are entitled to receive from the revenues of Burma, and the Executive Council will examine with the Frontier Areas Counsellor and Deputy Counsellors the feasibility of adopting for the Kachin Hills and the Chin Hills financial arrangement similar to those between Burma and the Federated Shan States. Shan Committee Kachin Committee Chin committee Burmese Government (Signed) (Signed) Signed) (Signed) Saohpalong of (Sinwa Naw, (U Hlur Hmung, Falam) (Aung San Tawngpeng State Myitkyina) (Signed) (Signed) (Signed) Saohpalong of (Zau Rip, Myitkyina) (U Thawng Za Khup, Yawnghwe State Tiddim) (Signed) (Signed) (Signed) Saohpalong of North (Dinra Tang, (U Kio Mang, AMT Hsenwi State. Myitkyina) Haka) (Signed) (Signed) Saohpalong of Laihka (Zau La, Bhamo) State. (Signed) (Signed) Saohpalong of Mong (Zau Lawn, Bhamo) Pawn State (Signed) Signed) Saohpalong of (Labang Grong, Hsamonghkam State. Bhamo) (Signed) Representative of Hsahtung Saohpalong. (Hkun Pung) (Signed)