Aye Myat Khaing, Narinjara News, 3 May  2022

At least four Rakhine political  parties, including the Arakan National League (ULA, the politicalwing of Arakan Army) have sent the condolencemessages over the demise of Shan leader Khun Tun Oo.

Arakan National Party (ANP), Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) and Arakan Front Party (AFP) have also sentthe message of grief.

ULA’s message reads, “An indispensable guide for the oppressed Shan people fighting for self-determination, Khun Tun Oo  has left everyone in the middle of the road before attaining thepolitical goal. It is an invaluableloss not only for the Shan people but forthe entire oppressed Burmese communities.”

ANP said in a statement, “Arakan/Rakhine National Party  pays tribute to Khun Tun Oo and sympathises with thebereaved family and Shan NationalitiesLeague for Democracy (SNLD).”

AFP's message said that Khun Tun Oo  has been at the national level for the past three decades working notonly for the Shan people but forthe nation’s democracy and equality.

The leader suddenly died at his residence in Rangoon at 10 am of 30 April. SNLD was formed by Khun Tun Ooin October 1988 and he remained inthe office till the end of 2020.

In the 1990 national election, Khun Tun Oo fought from  his hometown Hsipaw (constituency number one) andalso won. However he did not run inthe 2015 and 2020 general elections.

He was sentenced by the military junta in 2005 to 93 years in prison for his initiative to form the ShanState Advisory Council. However, hewas released during an amnesty in January 2012 under the Thein Sein-led regime.

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