One of the after effects of the more than a week-long sectarian violence in Burma’s Arakan state was the postponement of peace negotiations with at least 3 of the armed movements that have already concluded ceasefire pacts with Naypyitaw, according to sources inside Shan State.
The United Wa State Army (UWSA), the first group to reach a ceasefire agreement, after President Thein Sein offered peace talks on 18 August, was due to leave for Naypyitaw last Friday, 15 June, when it was informed by the government the planned meeting would have to be put off until further notice, said a source close to the Wa leadership.
Likewise, both the National Democratic Allicance Army (NDAA) and Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), have also received similar notifications. “The meeting with us was scheduled after Panghsang (where the headquarters of UWSA is located),” said an NDAA official.
All the three groups entered truce with Naypyitaw’s negotiation team led by U Aung Thaung and U Thein Zaw. U Aung Thaung’s name was dropped from the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) formed last month, but U Thein Zaw was retained as Vice Chaiman # 3 representing the members of parliament. (Gen Soe Win is Vice Chairman # 1 representing the Army and U Aung Min Vice Chairman # 2 representing the government. Dr Sai Mawk Kham, Vice President # 2, is Chairman.)
It has not been disclosed what topics have been proposed for meetings with the UWSA and NDAA. But the meeting with the SSA-North, as SSPP/SSA is commonly known, is certain to include continued clashes between it and the Burma Army.
According to SSA-North sources, the two sides have already fought 18 times since the ceasefire was signed on 28 January. The latest one began yesterday (17 June 2012) at 15:00, when a base of the SSA’s 36th Brigade, located between Tawng Hio and Mong Awd in Monghsu township, Shan State South, was attacked by the Burma Army’s 516th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB), later reinforced by the 517th LIB. At least 2 soldiers were killed. SHAN has not been able to contact the SSA for further information.
The Burma Army’s Mongton Operations Command also staged a surprise attack on the Loi Ngawm base of the SSA South, the SSA North’s organization that signed the ceasefire agreement on 2 December 2011, on 16 June. The outnumbered an outgunned SSA retreated after inflicting casualties on the attackers. At least 3 soldiers were killed and 2 more wounded, according to a local source. “This is the 20th time the Burma Army has breached the truce,” said Lt-Gen Yawdserk the SSA leader. “We have sent a protest letter to Naypyitaw and inquired why Burma Army units are still being allowed to violate the truce.”
