Members of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) met with the Myanmar Peace Centre’s (MPC) technical team in the Chinese city of Shwe Li this past Monday. The meeting was one of several intended to strengthen trust between the ethnic armed group and the government. The PSLF is one of the remaining armed groups that haven’t inked a ceasefire with the government.
“We discussed the prospect of ceasefire negotiations with the government,” PSLF Chairman Tar Aik Bone told the Phopthaw News Association reporter after the meeting.
The PSLF plan to meet again in the next two weeks after reporting to their central committee, the chairman said.
This is the second time the PSLF has met with governmental representatives since participating in similar discussions with the government’s Union Peace-Making Working Committee (UPWC) earlier this year.
Despite these meetings fighting between the political party’s armed group, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and government forces is still ongoing in northern Shan state. These clashes continue to pose a threat towards solidifying any official ceasefire agreements.
According to Mine Bhone Kyaw, PSLF general-secretary, reaching that point will only come once trust has been established between both groups across recurring political discussions.
Just how successful the preliminary discussions have been still remains questionable. Fighting has been reported as recently as Oct. 10. Government forces are also reported to be increasing their activities in Namkham, Namlam and Mongton townships, all in Shan state, Mine Bhone Kyaw said. In Kyaukme township there are about 20 government battalions currently on active duty.
To show its sincerity in ending the conflict the PSLF claims to be engaged in troop reduction in the militarized areas, while actively ensuring that political dialogues like Monday’s meetings happen.
The PSLF and the government’s Union Peace-making Working Committee (UPWC) met in northern Shan State on July 31 for their first unofficial discussion. They had an agreement to meet again at the beginning of August, but the PSLF cancelled after fighting broke out shortly afterwards.
The PSLF is allied with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), another one of the remaining groups in Burma that hasn’t signed a ceasefire with the reformist government. Both groups have supported each other during joint military operations in northern Shan state.
