The ceasefire that was agreed Friday, 2 December, between the Shan State Government and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) was “in principle” and further communication between the two sides is needed to implement it at the ground level, said RCSS leader Lt-Gen Yawdserk yesterday.
As a result, there were still clashes reported in three townships: Namzang and Mongkeung, southern Shan State, on 3 December and Mongpiang, Eastern Shan State, on 4 December. “However, they were not pre-planned engagements, just accidental encounters,” he explained.
On the other hand, there are no reports of clashes between the Burma Army and other groups that had previously signed ceasefire agreements: United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), renamed Kaloh HtooBaw.
The first two were not not in actual combat with the Burma Army prior to the September agreements. With the Kaloh Htoo Baw, the agreement specified that the ceasefire, signed on 4 November, was to be affected on 6 November. “We are still waiting for the Burma Army’s ceasefire instructions to its units before ordering our troops to follow suit,” he said. (Regime sponsored media reported the Taunggyi meeting on Sunday, 4 December)
The delegation led by Sao Sai Lu that had met the Shan State Government in Taunggyi was back in Loi Taileng, the RCSS HQ, where its armed wing the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ is also based, on 4 December, two days after the signing.
“We will be meeting tomorrow (6 December) to receive the delegation’s report and assess the situation,” he said.
According to U Aung Min, who heads President Thein Sein’s newly formed committee to oversee negotiations at the state level, Naypyitaw’s 3 step peace roadmap includes Ceasefire, Development and “Panglong like Conference.”
However the said roadmap is yet to be publicly announced.
