Two of Burma’s ceasefire groups: the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) aka Mongla group, claim that their decision to say ‘No’ to the Border Guard Force (BGF) programme is because there is no benefit in being BGF as it does not provide any space and rights for non-Burman ethnic nationalities, according to sources from the Sino-Burma border.

The decision comes after the latest meeting of the two held from 21 to 24 August at the UWSA’s headquarters Panghsang after another deadline to give their acceptance to the BGF by 1 September, 2010, was made after their meeting with Naypyitaw’s negotiators on 20 August.

“The groups claimed that the BGF programme is just one sided (drawn by the regime) programme,” an informed source close to a top official’s family said.

“They [the military regime] did not ask for our opinion and did not discuss with us before they created the programme. So it is an unfair programme. This is why we will never accept and put ourselves into such an unfair situation,” one of the Wa leaders was reported to have said. “We will also never surrender.”

According to him, the two groups decided to stand firm on their ceasefire agreement and will do their utmost to live in peace with the regime.

“Nevertheless, it will depend on the military regime’s decision whether it wants war or peace,” he added.

Regarding the latest deadline, a report that just came in from the Sino-Burma border says that the deadline was not for the groups to become BGFs, but for them to totally surrender since the BGF deadline had already expired on 28 April.

According to the two’s response to SHAN last week, the groups will continue to uphold the following  four principles: 1) will not surrender, 2) will not transform into BGF unless their autonomy demands are met, 3) will not shoot first, but they are ready to protect themselves and 4) they will not secede from the Union.