“Not only failing to keep its word that Burmese forces would be withdrawing from areas around the SSPP/SSA, the Burma Army has expanded its control into SSPP/SSA areas, and had launched military campaigns against it,” the publication says on p. 142. “The result is that clashes between the SSPP/SSA and the Burma Army have taken place more than 200 times since the signing of the (state level) ceasefire agreement.”

For example, on July 2012 the two sides fought for 17 days after the Burma Army launched an offensive to seize SSPP/SSA outposts at Hwe Zawd, Tawng Hio, and Zed Lak. The “Golden Jubilee” publication further stated that “The government of U Thein Sein requested, in the name of peace, to withdraw temporarily. We complied but since then the outposts are being occupied by the Burmese forces.”

The SSPP/SSA is led by Lt-Gen Pang Fa, who is both Chairman of the SSPP/SSA’s political party as well as Commander-in-Chief of the SSPP/SSA’s armed wing. The SSPP/SSA is less well-known than its sister organization, the Restoration Council of Shan State, which is often referred to as “RCSS/SSA” because both groups lay claim to the “Shan State Army” title. In 1996 the SSPP and RCSS agreed that both groups could use the SSA moniker but they actually constitute two separate organizations. The RCSS/SSA is based along the Thai-Burmese border and claims to have engaged in over 50 clashes with the Burmese army since it signed a ceasefire accord with Naypyitaw in 2011.

The SSPP/SSA’s Chief of Staff is Col. Khemin and is led by a 31-member central committee consisting of 23 permanent and 8 alternative members. The central committee’s Vice Chairman is Maj Gen Kherh Tai and its General Secretary is Col. Khun Hseng. In total, the SSPP/SSA has three divisions: the 999th division, which consists of three brigades; the 918th division, which has three brigades; and the 909th division, which has two brigades.