Ruling Burmese military officials last week invited the strongest faction of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’, Brigade No.1, which is refusing to accept Naypyitaw’s Border Guard Force (BGF) programme.

The two sides reportedly held another meeting on 15 May, at Shan State South’s Mongnawng-based Military Operations Command # 2 Headquarters. The meeting was presided over by Colonel Chit Oo, Deputy Commander of the Eastern Region Command. The SSA side was led by Major Khurh Mao, Lieutenant Tawn Kham and Second-Lt Aung Ba.

During the meeting, the commander was said to have requested the group to inform their leaders Maj-Gen Pangfa and Lt-Col Khurh Tai that the military officials wanted to meet them in person, said a source from the First Brigade.

On the other hand, he also insisted that the faction maintain regional stability until the elections are over.

Maj-Gen Pang Fa reportedly thanked the commander over telephone for his invitation, but he would not dare to go in person especially in the Burmese Army controlled region, the source said.

“I am worried that I would be arrested by you [the military officials] like you did to my uncle Sao Hso Ten,” the source quoted Pangfa as saying.

Maj-Gen Hso Ten, the SSA ‘North’s patron, was said to have been arrested in February 2005, when he went to the Eastern Region Command HQ in Taunggyi at the regional commander’s invitation. He was sentenced to 106 years and is currently serving his term in Kham Ti, Sagaing Division.

Pangfa then urged the commander to scrap his plan to visit the group’s controlled areas because he dared not take responsibility for the junta officials’ safety.

The SSA-N has 3 brigades (1, 3, and 7), one border force and one HQ Security Force commanded by Maj-Gen Loimao. The two brigades 3rd and 7th consented to transform as Naypyitaw run home guard force in April. The First however has remained silent on the programme up to this day.

Latest report says that some fighters from Brigades No.3 and No.7, who did not agree to become members of the junta run home guard force, came to join Lt-Gen Yawdserk led anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’ and some were reported to have joined the First Brigade.