Prominent Shan leader Sao Seng Suk, also known as Khun Kyar Nu, has died at the age of 72 in Thailand following a lengthy battle with lung disease.

Below is an article written by Htet Aung Kyaw and published by the Democratic Voice of Burma:

Prominent Shan leader Sao Seng Suk, or Khun Kyar Nu, died at about 4pm at a hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Monday [13 August 2007] aged 72.

Sao Seng Suk’s wife, Nang Layen, said that he had succumbed to lung disease after a long battle with poor health.

“He said he knew he was dying. He had been sick since March [2007] and had been sent to hospital about four or five times since then,” Nang Layen said.

Born in 1935, Sao Seng Suk was the sixth son of Shan leader Khun Kyaw Pu, who signed the Pang Long agreement in 1947. In 1959, he joined the Non Sit Han Shan revolution and in 1960 became the commander of the Shan State Army’s third brigade.

He later became chairman and commander in chief of the Shan State Progressive Party before becoming involved in the Ethnic Nationalities Council. U Shwe Ohn, who was also involved in the Pang Long agreement, said on Tuesday that he was deeply saddened by Sao Seng Suk’s death.

“He and his siblings used to be my students and his father was a close friend of mine. His death is a great loss for Shan State,” U Shwe Ohn said.

Sao Seng Suk is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.