“Many people had equated a ceasefire with surrender or becoming a regime stooge,” said a former resistance leader who had participated in the Shan New Year festival held there on 25-26 November.

U Aung Min had told Yawdserk as far as Thein Sein government was concerned, the Border Guard Force (BGF) program to have ceasefire groups to transform themselves into ethnic units run by Burmese officers was over.

The program was rejected by all major ceasefire groups: Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), United Wa State Army (UWSA), New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Shan State Army (SSA) North. “But you may need to consider becoming a People’s Militia Force (PMF),” he said.

Harn Yawnghwe, who was referee-ing the meeting, then reminded U Aung Min: “The name Pyithu Sit (People’s Militia) has been misused so much, it has become very unpopular.”

As for Yawdserk, he said he didn’t have any problem with the “one country, one national army” stance. “But the Union belongs to the people of all national races and they all have the duty to defend it. What we would like to know is the role we will have to serve (in the defense of the nation).”

To which Aung Min replied, “For this, you will have to look up in the constitution, that I didn’t take part in the writing. But if it was written by men, it can be amended by men. If you mean you want to have a Shan military force, what you can do is to submit it (as a bill) in the parliament.”

The two sides agreed to hold a state-level meeting in Taunggyi before the end of the year. The RCSS has accepted Naypyitaw’s 4 point First Stage Proposal: ceasefire, opening of liaison offices, freedom of movement without arms (in Burma Army-controlled territory) and designation of date, time and venue for the union level meeting.

According to the special envoy, Naypyitaw has planned 3 stages for national reconciliation: ceasefire, development and a national conference to discuss politics.