The various groups of people living in the Shan State, each group wearing their traditional costumes.

UNITY IN DIVERSITY - The Shan State

The Shan State is a cosmopolitan country, each group with its own tradition and culture. The Tai Long or Tai Yai is the most numerous inhabitants living along the river valleys. There are other groups: the Kaw, Lahu, Lisu, Tai Nuer, Tai Loi Tai Khae (Shan Chinese) and Wa who live along the Thailand/Shan State and China/Shan State borders. The Palaung, Pa-O, Daung Yo, Da Nu, Tai Nawng occupy various parts while the Chinese, Indians, Karens and Burmese live in the big towns like Taunggyi, Kalaw, Lashio and Mayumyo.

The Shan State is a reasonably big country, big enough to accommodate a lot more people. Those who lived in the Shan State pre-1958 remember it with love for its simplicity, beautiful natural environment and peaceful atmosphere.

Sadly, in the last fifty years Shan Society has disintegrated and with it the tolerance and trust that people used to have for each other has also disappeared. Now nobody can tell whether they are associating with friends or enemies, and all live in fear and terror.

Can the Shan State ever be the same again? Yes, with aspiration and determination. It can even be better if we adopt the concept of working for the commongood of all concerned. We can make ours a great nation, for it is the people that make a nation and not the other way round.

We can set our goal on building a nation that believes in democracy and freedom to determine our own future; a freedom that will enable us to elect members that will serve as our government, a government that will stand for honour, justice and fairness.

'Tai Long' - Men with long baggy trousers, and tattooed on the thighs and arms - fashion and way of life a century ago.