Q. What were the reasons for signing a ceasefire agreement with Naypyitaw?
A. We have struggled for 50-60 years and peace is still not in sight. From the beginning, the RCSS had declared that political problems must be resolved politically through peaceful means. Then the new government invited us for talks. They wanted peace. We wanted peace. Our commanders and fighters gave their consent. The people also said it was their deep desire. That was the reason.

Q. Does it mean you have renounced your Independence aspirations?
A. It is not a matter that can be decided by any single group. All the stakeholders must join hands together to make a decision. Whatever it is we want, we will respect the decision of the people.

Q. Many have asked why you didn’t go to the peace talks together with the Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA)?
A. We informed and discussed with each other in advance before responding to Naypyitaw’s offer. The Burmese side then suggested we could continue with our merger process after each had completed the preliminary programmes. So we told them (the Burmese delegation) if there were to be a truce with us, it must also extend to the SSPP/SSA. We didn’t want a truce with us, so fighting could continue against the SSPP/SSA.

Q. You have not joined the UNFC (United Nationalities Federal Council). Why?
A. We believe in unity. We also wanted to join it. However, so far unity is seen only in words, but yet to be seen in deeds. Also although it had adopted a state-based membership principle, several groups from Shan State have been accepted as individual members. Moreover, the SSPP/SSA is already a member. Still, having allies and mutual cooperation are good things and we will continue to lend our support to it.

The RCSS/SSA concluded a ceasefire pact with Naypyitaw on 2 December. The UNFC, an alliance of 11 armed groups, on the other hand, has yet to reach an agreement although many individual members have been holding negotiations with the Thein Sein government’s delegations.