“The Shan State National Day falls on February 7 so the meeting will be coincided with the ceremony. They can join the ceremony while they are attending the meeting. We submitted the proposal as some leaders wanted to join in the ceremony,” said an official from the RCSS/SSA-S.

After the PPST leaders held an emergency meeting on January 11-12, the UNFC and the PPST met on January 13. They proposed to meet again at the RCSS/SSA-S’s headquarters in Loi Tai Leng in southern Shan State.

During the first meeting between the two groups, the PPST urged the non-signatories to the NCA to sign the NCA in order to build a democratic federal union via concerted efforts.

“During the meeting on  January 13, the UNFC said the current situation is complicated. They can’t negotiate with the government. The KNPP soldiers were killed. The RCSS was obstructed holding public consultations. Clashes are breaking out in the northern Shan State. That’s why we must build relationship for our solidarity. We must meet frequently. They said they want to hold the second meeting in Loi Tai Leng,” said Khuensai Jaiyen, director of the Pyidaungsu Institute (PI).

Although the UNFC and the PPST were meeting for the first time, the UNFC’s delegation team, the Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN), has met eight times with the PPST’s delegation team, the Peace Process Working Team (PPWT). 

The eight signatories of the NCA comprises the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army – South (RCSS/SSA-S), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), the Chin National Front (CNF), the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNLA-PC), and the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP).

The UNFC comprises the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), and the Arakan National Council (ANC).