The Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), commonly known as the SSA South, is holding a two-day ad hoc meeting of its 47 member Central Leading Committee (CLC) which begins today, according to SSA sources.
The meeting shall examine the report of the negotiation team that has returned to Loi Taileng, the main base of the organization, following its signing of the initial ceasefire agreement on 2 December in the Shan State capital, Taunggyi. It will also discuss future negotiations at the Union level and a review of its future plans. “A press release will be issued on 9 December,” said RCSS chairman Yawdserk. “A press conference is also being planned.”
Fighting between the two sides ceased since yesterday afternoon, 4-days after the signing. “The Burmese side had issued an order to its units to observe the ceasefire on 3 December,” he explained. “But we received a copy of it only yesterday. We have accordingly issued our own directive to our units to adhere to the 2 December agreement.”
A Burmese soldier from Mongton-based Infantry Battalion 133, opposite Chiangmai, was killed during a clash around 12:30, according to local sources. “It must have taken place just before the ceasefire order was out,” said one.
According to the 8 point agreement signed in Taunggyi, Mongton, 53 miles (85 km) north of Chiangmai border, is one of the 5 towns where the SSA will be setting up its liaison offices. Its 727th Brigade, commanded by Lt-Col Teun Kherh, is active in the area.
Despite the temporary ceasefire agreement, real peace will come to the Shan State and its people only after the two sides’ political differences are peacefully resolved, according to Yawdserk.
Naypyitaw’s special envoy, during the meeting on the Thai-Burmese border on 19 November, had declared a 3 stage roadmap towards lasting peace: Ceasefire, Development and “Panglong like” conference. But it has yet to be publicly announced.
