A personal message from President Thein Sein urging both sides to “tie up the loose ends as soon as possible” so the peace process could go forward was relayed by him to Sai La and Sai Ngeun.

The two sides has yet to agree on what the SSA calls a “Special Development Zone”, where it will be able to move freely and launch its rural development projects.

The first pre-meeting since 2 December, when a preliminary ceasefire agreement Wa signed, was held in Tachilek on 17 December.

The SSA’s attack on a Burma Army-controlled militia group on 23 December in Laikha township, Shan State South, resulting in the haul of massive precursor chemicals, though not widely publicized, had also greatly embarrassed the top brass, according to a highly placed source. “It proves the Army, at least the local units, are working hand in glove with the druglords,” he said.

The seizure from the Wanpang militia, headed by Kaling Htoi, included 32 pails of ether, 82 gallons of “acid”, 10 bags of soda, 3 crates of ammonia, 5 bags of cooked opium and 35 kg of huangpi, among others.

For good or bad, the SSA is not apparently in a hurry to expose the Burma Army’s underhand dealings with the militia groups whose involvement in the drug trade have been reported by SHAN, Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO) and others. “With so much at stake, especially the political negotiations, Loi Taileng (the SSA’s main base on the Thai-Burmese border) is not going to do anything to rock the boat, at least for the time being,” he explained.

U Khin Maung Soe, who is also Minister of Electric Power #2, has yet to fix a date for the Union level meeting between the two sides. “But it will be some time this month,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President’s chief negotiator is due to meet the Karen National Union (KNU) delegation on 12 January.

Some of the conditions to be set by Naypyitaw reportedly include:

• Not to secede from the Union
• Agree to non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national unity and perpetuation of national sovereignty
• Agree to cooperate in joint economic programs
• Agree to cooperate in anti-narcotics programs
• Formation of political party or to contest elections
• Accept 2008 constitution and legally amend it as necessary
• One national armed forces

The SSA has already made it clear that it would not agree not to secede from the Union unless the Panglong treaty enshrining the principles of Full Autonomy, Democracy and Human Rights are honored in turn by Naypyitaw.