We decided to leave Ywet Sit group as we do not like drug trafficking, extortion of money and inhumane terrorist acts of Ywet Sit

I am deputy brigade commander U Sai Ta of SSA-S brigade-758 which returned to the legal fold. We coordinated with vice-chief of staff brigade commander U Mein Sin to return to the legal fold. We decided to leave Ywet Sit group as we do not like drug trafficking, extortion of money and inhumane terrorist acts of Ywet Sit. We received no assistance from Ywet Sit for our existence but all the extortion money and new recruits were to be sent to Ywet Sit. Thus we decided to discontinue joining hands with Ywet Sit.

I had served for many years in Ywet Sit group. During that period, new recruits were mobilized from each household in villages. Those who could not afford to come along as recruits had to pay money, otherwise they were killed. So, all male adults had to move to town and those who could not afford to go to town had to take refuge in monasteries as monks. The villagers had to pay money to satisfy the recruiting group. Otherwise, the villagers would be tortured and given troubles. And, SSA-S grew poppy and engaged in drug trafficking which is totally against the interest of Shan people and establishment of Shan State as they harangued. The Shan nationals had suffered much as new recruits and extortion money were collected by SSA-S. The SSA-S had done nothing beneficial to the Shan State. No bridge or school was built by the insurgents. All the extortion money were for Ywet Sit to womanize and spend lavishly. While we were having nothing and poor in the jungle, Ywet Sit was enjoying all the luxuries in Thailand. Moreover, Yewt Sit is anti-Bamar racist. A large number of Meethwaygon villagers, road construction workers and passengers were killed under the orders of Ywet Sit. They robbed passenger buses and killed Bamars randomly. They also raped women and robbed all the valuables. Such terrorist acts were truly atrocities. They also torched Pa-O villages including schools by accusing that those villages provided information to the Tatmadaw. They drove out Pa-O nationals from Shan State. Such acts were narrow-minded racism and we wanted to break away from Ywet Sit a long time ago. Our genuine desire is to see prosperity of Shan State and Shan people. In practice, our acts troubled Shan people. Thus finally we decided to return to the legal fold and joint hands with the Government to carry out development of Shan State. Thank you all.