U Thein Zaw, the vice chairman of the Union-Level Peace Work Committee (UPWC) which represents the government in the ongoing peace process met and talked with Wa and Mongla leaders on Wednesday, 23rd October, according to sources from the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) which is based in Mongla on the border with China close to Laos.
He said that the Wa and Mongla leaders should lead the way by example by becoming the first people to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
They should also accept the Commander-in-Chief's six point principle for peace, namely that: they show a genuine desire for peace; they keep the promises made in agreements; they do not exploit the agreements they have made; they do not make themselves a burden on the local populace; they strictly abide by existing laws; they accept the Three National Causes (non disintegration of the union and national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty); they abide by the 2008 constitution.
He also said Mongla should be opened up for tourism and trade.
Attending the meeting were Mongla’s leader Sai Leun and the Wa deputy leader Xiao Minliang.
This was U Thein Zaw's second visit to Shan State in a week. The first was on 18th October with the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) leaders in Lashio.
He is one of the three vice chairmen of the Union Peacemaking Work Committal (UPWC) established by Naypyitaw in 2012. The two others are U Aung Min, the President’s Office Minister, and Deputy Senior General Soe Win.
