Lt-Gen Yawd Serk sent a letter to the Union Peace Working Committee (UPWC) on May 8 to clarify the raid, which was carried out by 20 armed personnel, including members of Burma’s Military Affairs Security (MAS)—formerly known as Burma’s Military Intelligence—and members of Burma’s police and military forces.

RCSS/SSA spokesman Major Sai Lao Hseng said: “Our office was legally established under a bilateral agreement between the government/Burmese Army and the RCSS. They detained our officers and raided our office. The raid was not about solving problems or building peace. Now, we are uncertain whether the government/Burmese Army is really committed to peace-building.”

The raid occurred while Sai Soe Mong, head of the Keng Tung RCSS/SSA liaison office, was away from the office after being summoned for a meeting with MAS officer Nay Lin. When the MAS raided the RCSS/SSA office, the office staff was ordered at gunpoint not to move. The intruders then searched every room in the office. During the raid, the RCSS/SSA liaison office staff requested the intruders to take off their shoes but the raid team ignored the request.

RCSS/SSA has opened six liaison offices across Shan State since it reached a ceasefire agreement with Naypyitaw in late 2011.