The Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) vowed to move forward with the peace process in a statement following an annual meeting in its Wanhai headquarters in northern Shan State.

Peace, ethnic unity and regional development and stability were top priorities raised in the meeting, SSPP/SSA spokesperson Maj Sai Phone Harn told NMG. They also discussed why peace negotiations have stopped, he said.

“We analyzed why the peace talks have halted. There are 10 NCA (Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement) EAOs (ethnic armed organizations) signatories and 7 non-NCA EAOs signatories…we discussed how (peace) meetings can be more inclusive,” Sai Phone Harn told NMG.

It’s impossible to move forward with peace negotiations without a clear policy, he said. During the meeting they discussed what this would entail.

Leaders reviewed problems for locals and projects they started last year. Future plans and projects were evaluated.

Discussion with the government about joining the NCA will continue through the Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee (FPNCC), a political negotiation team formed by the SSPP/SSA and six other ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.

The other FPNCC members are the United Wa State Party, Kachin Independence Organisation, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Arakan Army, National Democratic Alliance Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army.

There were 48 representatives at the SSPP/SSA’s annual meeting, 27 central committee members, 5 central committee reserve members and 15 observers.

The SSPP/SSA signed a ceasefire with the government in 1989.

In 2010, the military government pressured it to become a Border Guard Force (BGF). SSPP/SSA brigade 3 and 7 transformed into a BGF but brigade 1, led by Pang Fa, refused to become a BGF.

In 2012, the SSPP/SSA signed a Union level ceasefire with the Thein Sein government.