Meeting Shan State Army (SSA) leader Yawdserk yesterday on the border of Chiangmai, President Thein Sein’s envoy U Aung Min announced his efforts have drawn support, both moral and financial, from foreign governments.
“Several countries have offered funds for the mission,” he said, after greeting Lt-Gen Yawdserk, Chairman of the SSA’s political wing, Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), as an old friend. “In fact, Norway has invited me to speak to the Parliament there.”
He is due to leave for Oslo on 22 February, according to him. His one-year budget for the project which also includes development of ceasefire areas and political dialogue has been projected at $ 66 million. Countries that have pledged support include, Switzerland, Japan and Korea, besides Norway.
“There’ll be a board made up of representatives from the donors and the beneficiary organizations such as yours to handle the project,” he said. “Naturally, I won’t be on the board.”
Yawdserk in turn reported to him that, in accordance with the 16 January agreement, signed in Taunggyi, liaison officers had been appointed and dispatched each to his designated town:
- Taunggyi Seat of the Shan State Government and headquarters of the Burma Army’s Eastern
Region Command - Kholam Headquarters of the Burma Army’s Central Eastern Region Command
- Kengtung Headquarters of the Burma Army’s Triangle Region Command
Other cities where liaison offices will be established include Tachilek, Monghsat and Muse. “As soon as the annual meeting is over, we will start looking for locations suitable for resettlement of the IDPs (Internal Displaced Persons currently residing near the SSA bases)”, he told U Aung Min.
The meeting lasted half an hour. U Aung Min was accompanied by Hla Maung Shwe, Vice President of Myanmar Egress. U Khin Maing Soe, Minister for Electricity #2, who has been assigned to liaise with the SSA, was unable to come.
U Aung Min later met delegations of Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS), Karen National Union (KNU) and PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO).
He is due to meet the National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA), Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) today, according to border security sources.
