The latest meeting took place from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm, 16 January 2012, at the Office of Shan State Government in Taunggyi, the capital city of Shan State and 10 representatives from each side attended the meeting, said Maj Lao Hseng.
The two sides signed the 11 point agreement and they are as follows:
- SSA will set up its main offices in Ho Mong, southern Shan State, and Monghta, eastern Shan State.
- SSA and the Burmese government’s negotiating team will continue to discuss on the resettlement and accommodation arrangement of SSA members and families.
- SSA will be responsible for the administration of its forces. Burma government and SSA will work together in the administration at the township level.
- Burma army will cooperate with SSA for the security of the two towns where SSA main offices will be established.
- SSA and Burma army will work together for the security of border checkpoints.
- There will be advance notification of troops carrying arms on entering another side’s controlled areas.
- Liaison offices will be opened as soon as possible at Taunggyi, the capital city of Shan State; Kholam, where the Central Eastern Command is based; Kengtung, Tachilek and Monghsat, eastern Shan State; and trading offices in Muse and Namkham, northern Shan State.
- Shan State local governments will be responsible for the support of education and to set up legal trade firms for economic development.
- SSA and Burma government will continue to discuss for the regional economic development.
- SSA and Burma government will work together on the elimination of drugs.
- Burma government agrees in principle SSA proposals at the meeting on 16 January and further topics will be discussed during the upcoming meetings.
According to Maj Lao Hseng, they will implement the 11 point agreement and will continue to discuss with the government for any problems that arise. The date and time of next meeting has not confirmed yet.
One snag at the meeting was over the withdrawal of Burmese troops from towns designated for SSA main offices.
“Although the government has agreed to hand over Homong and Monghtar to the SSA the Burmese representatives said it is impossible to withdraw the Burmese troops right away as they will need to discuss with the army first,” said Lao Hseng.
“Burma government has also demanded SSA to withdraw its troops in Kengtung and Tachilek areas. For that we also need to discuss with our own army chief.”
According to the SSA, the representatives from Burma government’s peace negotiation team were Railway Transport Minister U Aung Min; U Win Tun, Minister of Forestry; No 2 Electric Power Minister, U Khin Maung Soe; Sao Aung Kyat, Chief Minister of Shan State; Deputy Minister of Defense, U Zaw Win; Attorney General, U Tun Tun Oo; Minister of Shan State Border Security, Col Aung Thu; Col Kyaw Soe Lin (Defense ministry); Triangle Region G1, Col Zaw Tun Myint and Central Eastern Region G1, Col Zaw Min Aye.
