As part of the effort to persuade the Shans to support the draft constitution, a junta township chief recently told a meeting in northern Shan State that Shan leaders had participated in the drafting of the charter.
 
"Shan leaders from the ceasefire groups like Sao Gaifah (vice chairman of the Shan State Army-"North") and others had attended the National Convention (where the constitutional principles had been laid down)," Namkham township chief Tin Hlaing told a public meeting held at Wanhawng village, Wanhawng tract on May 2. "If the people support the draft, it would be approved, and many Shan leaders would be able to participate in the political process."

The township chief's said this at a time when the public sentiment in Namkham, 132 miles of Shan State North capital Lashio is largely against the draft. Trial polls in the north had resulted in most people voting against it, especially in Wanhawng.
 
In addition, leaflets were distributed on 30 April by youths in the Mao valley, where the Mao-Shweli runs through, urging people to say No to the draft charter.
 
The Shan State Army (SSA) north is one of the major anti-junta armed groups that concluded ceasefire agreement with Rangoon in 1989. It was one of 13 ceasefire groups that had jointly presented a demand for greater say in the state affairs in 2004 at the National Convention. Their demand was dismissed by the Convention's organizers.