The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the political wing of the anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) South, released a statement saying it stands by the 1990 election results and will not “support and recognize” the forthcoming 2010 elections  by Naypyitaw.

“Shan State citizens, who are standing for elections for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the offshoot of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, and the (former Burma Socialist Program Party turned) National Unity Party (NUP) will not be recognized and supported by the RCSS,” it says.

The RCSS is also against new parties being set up to contest the elections. “It means the Shan Nationals Democratic Party (set up last month by Sai Ai Pao) cannot expect any assistance from the group,” said a member of the SNDP on the Sino-Burma border.

The crux of the matter is the constitution drawn up by the Burmese junta, according to the SSA South, “is not in line with the aspirations of the people of Shan State.” It is therefore against the elections planned to implement the said charter, it says.

The statement also covers other relevant topics:

* The RCSS opposes the Border Guard Force (BGF) programme

* The RCSS will not meddle with Thailand’s internal affairs

* The RCSS calls for Asean and UN human rights bodies to investigate human rights violations of the Burmese Army in Shan State and the rest of the Union

The SSA South had just held the 52nd anniversary of the Shan Resistance Day on May 21.

Although it was opposed to the elections, it would not start any hostilities with the Burmese Army “except in defence,” the Thai PBS Channel reported on May 23, quoting the SSA leader Lt-Gen Yawdserk. His words were apparently aimed at assuring concerns expressed by Burma’s neighbours, the Channel said.