The Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) leaders refused to sign a state-level ceasefire during the July 31 meeting with the government's Union Peace-making Working Committee (UPWC) in northern Shan state.
Since then, government forces have been bolstering their presence near PSLF-affiliated towns like Kutkai, Nankhan and Namtu. PSLF Chairman Tar Aik Bone said this latest move is a pressure tactic to force them to sign a ceasefire.
"Although the PSLF agreed to discuss the ceasefire at a state level, this did not mean a guaranteed acceptance of conditions. There needs to be more negotiation," Aik Bone said.
During the last month's meeting in Muse government delegates pressured the PSLF to sign the ceasefire by day’s end. Although PSLF declined to sign it, they advocated for continuing peace dialogues to avoid further fighting.
PSLF held a public consultation meeting attended by 15,000 from 30 villages in Sai Lein village in Nankhan Township last Sunday. Most of the attendees supported additional peace negotiations, but they also encouraged the PSLF and its associated armed branch the Ta'ang National Liberation Army not to acquiesce until ceasefire conditions became more agreeable, Aik Bone said.
