FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan, 64, a leader of the Karen National Union, one of the biggest ethnic groups fighting Myanmar's military government, was killed by gunmen on 14.02.2008 at his home in Maesot, Thailand.

The tragic death of Padoh Mahn Sha is an immeasurable loss for all freedom loving people of Burma and it indeed is a deadly blow to the entire pro-democracy and human rights movement of all people of all ethnic races in Burma.

Biography:

Secretary-General and spokesperson for the Karen National Union
Born on the 5th July 1943, in Taw Gyaung village, Pan Tanaw Township, Maaubin District, Delta division, Burma.
He is a Buddhist, Poe Karen with have two sons and two daughters.
Padoh Mahn Sha graduated from Rangoon University in 1966 with a degree in History. He then joined Karen Revolution led by KNU in 1966. Before joining KNU, He was one of the KNU – UG from 1963 to 1966.
From 1966 to 1974, He had visited Ethnic revolution in Kareni, Shan and Kachin states several times. During that period, He traveled to China two times to talk with BCP and CPC.

From 1975 to 1984, He became a Joint Secretary of KNU, Nyaung Lay Bin District. In November 1984, He became a member of KNU central committee and moved to KNU Headquarters.

After joining the Karen Revolution in 1966, later he became a personal secretary of General Saw Bo Mya in 1988, the time when Saw Bo Mya was the president of KNU, DAB and NCUB.
In 1995 KNU 11th congress, He was elected as a Joint General Secretary, and in 2000 KNU 12th congress, he was elected as a General Secretary of KNU. Simultaneously he became a member of National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) secretariat.

Mahn Sha was elected General Secretary of the KNU again in 2004 KNU 13th congress and remains in that position until today.