Reports of the anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ holding closed door meetings with the Burmese junta brass in Naypyitaw, is doing the rounds among ceasefire groups, according to sources on the Sino-Burma border.
The meeting was said to have been held in late April coinciding with reports that the ceasefire Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ had agreed to transform itself into a home guard force controlled by the Burmese Army. According to a United Wa State Army (UWSA) source, Burma’s ruling military council was said to have asked the SSA South to join hands with it in its fight against groups dealing in drugs.
Most ceasefire groups, especially the UWSA are said to be involved in the drug trade.
The SSA ‘South’ has categorically denied the report. It said it has not received any further invitation for talks from the Burmese Army since 2007. The report therefore is just a plot by the junta to discourage alliance between the ceasefire groups and the SSA ‘South’, according to its leader Lt-Gen Yawd Serk.
“It is just a malicious rumour. We give our solemn word we will never betray our allies and our people,” he said. “We will also never do anything without informing our allies and our people first.”
Anyhow the SSA will always welcome peace talks with the Burmese Army if there is a safe venue for both sides.
In addition, he said, “I would strongly urge all the ceasefire groups and non-ceasefire groups at this time that we all have to stay more united, to listen to each other and to be careful about news coming from every side. Because the military junta will do whatever it can to destroy our unity.”
He also urged all the groups to work in the interests of the people. Likewise, people are also being urged not to be afraid and not to run away from their homes anymore.
The Burmese Army invited the SSA ‘South’ for a peace talks in 2007.
However the proposed meeting scheduled for 23 May 2007 did not take place as the two disagreed on the choice of venue: The Burmese Army wanted to hold it in Tachilek, opposite Mae Sai, but the SSA said for the first meeting it should be held on a neutral country i.e. Thailand.
A border analyst said the Burmese Army is playing games to keep the ceasefire groups from teaming up with the SSA South. “This is very obviously a psychological warfare.”
