Only one of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ top leaders was present at the 28 February meeting between the junta authorities and the group over the junta’s demand that requires 900 to 1,000 strength quota to form three homeguard battalions, latest reports suggest.
Given the expiry of the junta’s 28 February deadline, only the top leader Maj-Gen Loimao was there to meet Maj-Gen Aung Than Tut, Commander of the Burmese Army’s Northeastern Region Command in Lashio, Shan State North, on the last day of February.
No significant information has surfaced from the meeting. But pressure from the Burmese Army was apparently softened. The commander only repeated their old demand and urged the group to give a response as soon as possible, said a source from Lashio.
“I cannot take a decision by myself even though I am the chairman. It needs to be decided by all leaders and officers,” a source quoted Maj-Gen Loi Mao as saying to the commander. “But now most of our leaders don’t want to come to Lashio because they are worried about their security after Min Ein’s assassination.”
According to Loi Mao, since its ally, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)’s Secretary General Min Ein was assassinated by unknown gunmen in January, almost all the leaders and officials have reportedly become more security conscious.
In addition, the assassination has been strengthening the unity of the group. “We have become more united,” a source quoted Maj-Gen Pang Fa, the SSA's Chief-of-Staff and Commander of the first Brigade, as saying.
The SSA is now reportedly holding a meeting on the return of Maj-Gen Loi Mao.
No details have emerged so far. But it is reported the group will stand by its principles like its allies the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) aka Mongla.
In early February, Chief of Military Affair Security (MAS) Lt-Gen Ye Myint reportedly told the SSA that if the group did not submit the list as requested by the end of February, there would be fighting between them.
However, the deadline to respond was extended for the third time. The first deadline was in October and the second in December.
