Speaking to SHAN yesterday, Maj Lao Hseng, spokesman for the movement, said there were 3 main points to present:

• The resolution of all political issues in the Union by political means (as opposed to military means)
• Having fought each other for so long, a certain period for confidence building is necessary
• The RCSS/SSA will also like to know what role Naypyitaw has in mind for the RCSS/SSA to play in the resolution of political issues by political means

“We will then discuss and decide how best to go about it,” he explained.

Asked whether the Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), better known as the SSA North, will take part in the talks together with the SSA South, with which it had reached an agreement in May for a merger, he replied:

“It will of course produce the best results, if we do it together. But it is entirely up to Wanhai (SSA North base) decision. We’ve been waiting since May for it to ratify the agreement. However, whether we are doing it together or separately, we will keep each other informed and will present same propositions.”

The SSA North is reportedly preparing to hold its annual conference to decide on the agreement soon, though no date and venue have been disclosed.

Thailand and the local People’s Militia Forces (PMFs), particularly the Markkieng and Homong PMFs, have been liasing between the two sides since August, according to SSA sources.

The new government issued an announcement on 18 August inviting all armed movements fighting against it for peace talks. So far, it has signed ceasefire agreements with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), two groups that are non-members of the 12 party United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). The alliance, formed in February, has rejected Naypyitaw’s proposed “group wise” negotiations and instead demanded that Naypyitaw deals with it directly.

The SSA North is a member of the UNFC, while the SSA South is not.