Pado Mahn Shar
Encyclopedia
Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan (July 5, 1943 – February 14, 2008) was the secretary general of the Karen National Union
(KNU), which is the largest insurgent
group in Burma.
. He studied at the University of Yangon
, receiving a degree in history. After graduating, he joined the Karen resistance in Burma, and it was then that, like many other members of the Karen resistance movement, he changed his name to Mahn Sha Lah Phan, which in Karen
means "Mr. Star Moon Bright". He chose star and moon (Sha Lah) to represent the light of the future, and bright (Phan) in the belief that the future would be bright.
, has been fighting against the Burmese Government for autonomy for the Karen people
since 1949. It operates in both Burma and Thailand
. He served as the Secretary-General of the KNU. Sha Lah Phan was against any form of surrender to the Burmese government.
and Nant Bwa Bwa Phan
, are both political activists in the United Kingdom
, and Bwa Bwa is currently the United Kingdom representative of the Karen National Union
.
In 2005, Phan allowed two Burmese children posing as refugees to stay in his house at Noh Poe
. The children were really child soldiers who were sent to assassinate both him and Zoya; however, before they could carry out their plan, they admitted their real reason for coming to him. In return, he permitted them to stay at Noh Poe to prevent them from being forced back into the Burmese army.
of Mae Sot
, Thailand, Sha Lah Phan was sitting in the veranda of his home when two gunmen approached him bearing gifts, which were reportedly fruit baskets. One attacker shot Phan twice in the chest
while the second gunman shot him as he lay on the ground. The attackers escaped in a pick-up truck
. His house was approximately five kilometres from the Thai-Burmese border
. He died instantly and was reportedly 64 years old at the time of his death.
Phan had predicted an increase in violence ahead of a Burmese constitutional referendum
in May 2008, in an interview
with Reuters
the week of his death. His adopted son, Say Say Phan, blamed a Karen splinter group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
(DKBA), for carrying out the attack on behalf of the Burmese military rulers.
Karen National Union
The Karen National Union is a political organisation with an armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army that represents the Karen people of Burma. It operates in Eastern Burma, and has underground networks in other areas of Burma where Karen people live. In Karen, this Karen area is called...
(KNU), which is the largest insurgent
Insurgent
Insurgent, insurgents or insurgency can refer to:* The act of insurgency-Specific insurgencies:* Iraqi insurgency, uprising in Iraq* Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, uprising in India* Insurgency in North-East India...
group in Burma.
Early life
Mahn Sha Lah Phan was born and raised in Taw Gyaung, Maubin DistrictMaubin District
Maubin District is a district of the Ayeyarwady Division in south western Myanmar. It contains 4 cities: Maubin, Pantanaw, Nyaungdon, and Danubyu.-Townships:The district contains the following townships:*Maubin Township*Pantanaw Township...
. He studied at the University of Yangon
University of Yangon
Yangon University , located in Kamayut, Yangon, is the oldest and most well-known university in Myanmar. The university offers mainly graduate degree programs in liberal arts, sciences and law...
, receiving a degree in history. After graduating, he joined the Karen resistance in Burma, and it was then that, like many other members of the Karen resistance movement, he changed his name to Mahn Sha Lah Phan, which in Karen
Karen languages
The Karen languages are tonal languages spoken by some three million Karen people. They are of unclear affiliation within the Tibeto-Burman languages. The Karen languages are written using the Burmese script. The three main branches are Sgaw, Pwo, and Pa'o. Karenni and Kayan are related to the...
means "Mr. Star Moon Bright". He chose star and moon (Sha Lah) to represent the light of the future, and bright (Phan) in the belief that the future would be bright.
Activism
The KNU, through its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation ArmyKaren National Liberation Army
The Karen National Liberation Army is the military branch of the Karen National Union , which campaigns for the self-determination of the Karen people of Burma. The KNLA has been fighting the Burmese government since 1949....
, has been fighting against the Burmese Government for autonomy for the Karen people
Karen people
The Karen or Kayin people , are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma . The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people...
since 1949. It operates in both Burma and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. He served as the Secretary-General of the KNU. Sha Lah Phan was against any form of surrender to the Burmese government.
Personal Life
Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan married a former KNU soldier, Nant Kyin Shwe, and had three children in addition to adopting a boy named Say Say. Despite frequently moving back and forth across the Burma-Thailand border, he insisted that his children receive the same education he did, and had adopted Say Say to give him a better education than what would have been available to him in his home village. His two daughters, Zoya PhanZoya Phan
Zoya Phan is a high profile exiled political activist from Burma of Karen descent. Currently, she resides in the United Kingdom, where she is International Coordinator of the human rights organization Burma Campaign UK...
and Nant Bwa Bwa Phan
Nant Bwa Bwa Phan
Nant Bwa Bwa Phan is the United Kingdom representative of the Karen National Union, a political organization representing the Karen ethnic people of Burma. She is also Vice-Chair of the Karen Community Association – UK, and on the board of the European Karen Network...
, are both political activists in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and Bwa Bwa is currently the United Kingdom representative of the Karen National Union
Karen National Union
The Karen National Union is a political organisation with an armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army that represents the Karen people of Burma. It operates in Eastern Burma, and has underground networks in other areas of Burma where Karen people live. In Karen, this Karen area is called...
.
In 2005, Phan allowed two Burmese children posing as refugees to stay in his house at Noh Poe
Noh Poe
Noh Poe or Nu Po is a refugee camp of approximately 14,000 people in the Amphoe Umphang district of Tak Province in Thailand. Located near the Thai border with the Karen state in Burma, it was set up in 1997 to accommodate Karen refugees fleeing fighting between the Burmese and the Karen...
. The children were really child soldiers who were sent to assassinate both him and Zoya; however, before they could carry out their plan, they admitted their real reason for coming to him. In return, he permitted them to stay at Noh Poe to prevent them from being forced back into the Burmese army.
Assassination
On February 14, 2008 at about 4:30pm in the border townBorder town
A border town is a town or city close to the boundary between two countries, states or regions. Usually the term implies that it is one of the things the town is most famous for. Border towns can have highly cosmopolitan communities, a feature they share with port cities...
of Mae Sot
Mae Sot
- External links :* * : an audio documentary.* *...
, Thailand, Sha Lah Phan was sitting in the veranda of his home when two gunmen approached him bearing gifts, which were reportedly fruit baskets. One attacker shot Phan twice in the chest
Chest
The chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals. It is sometimes referred to as the thorax or the bosom.-Chest anatomy - Humans and other hominids:...
while the second gunman shot him as he lay on the ground. The attackers escaped in a pick-up truck
Pick-Up Truck
"Pick-Up Truck" is a song written and recorded by Belgian acid house musician Praga Khan. It is the third single from Praga's eighth studio album, Soundscraper....
. His house was approximately five kilometres from the Thai-Burmese border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
. He died instantly and was reportedly 64 years old at the time of his death.
Phan had predicted an increase in violence ahead of a Burmese constitutional referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
in May 2008, in an interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
with Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
the week of his death. His adopted son, Say Say Phan, blamed a Karen splinter group, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
Democratic Karen Buddhist Army
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army is a breakaway group of Buddhist former soldiers and officers of the Karen National Liberation Army , one of the larger insurgent armies in Burma...
(DKBA), for carrying out the attack on behalf of the Burmese military rulers.