A two-day quarterly meeting of the Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) at an undisclosed venue along the Thai-Burma border which concluded yesterday had welcomed last month’s formation of another ethnic alliance, United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), according to sources returning from the meeting.

“The ENC, as a proponent for political and social action, has been weak on the military part of the struggle,” a participant told the meeting. “The emergence of an alliance that will focus its efforts on military actions therefore is to be welcomed.”

Nevertheless, the two sides must meet to discuss and agree on a common strategy. “The best course is a merger,” said another participant. “But the next best thing would be common goal (s) and diverse actions.”

‘Common goals, diverse actions’ was a principle introduced by the late Chao Tzang Yawnghwe (1939-2004), who was the principal adviser to the grouping.

The ENC was formed in 2001. The UNFC came into being on 16 February, the result of the Border Guard Force (BGF) program, which aimed to combine all the diverse armed groups that had concluded ceasefire pacts with Naypyitaw under a central command. It has 11 member organizations, of which 2 are from the ceasefire groups: Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP).

The other group Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP / SSA) better known as the SSA ‘North’, that had initially agreed to become a member of its military wing but not of its political wing, later backed off.

“We are for a state-based setup,” Col Perng Fa, leader of the SSPP / SSA delegation later told SHAN. “Since we cannot accept the UNFC’s indifference to the concept, it’s better to be just an associate partner for the time being.”

The SSA North meanwhile is under heavy military pressure by the Burma Army to surrender. Bloody clashes have begun since Sunday in Monghsu and Tangyan townships.