Since the return of its delegation from Taunggyi on 24 January and subsequent reporting to its central committee on 26 January, Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) South officers have been visiting several communities under its control along the Thai-Burmese border to explain the following new policies,
according to spokesman Maj Lao Hseng:
- The Burma Army must stop human rights abuses
- The SSA will be embarking on development projects for the people. Ordinary people will be exempted from paying all kinds of taxes.
- Tax will be imposed on commodities and businesses valued at 10 million kyat ($ 12,500 or B 390,000) and upwards.
- All persons imprisoned by the RCSS (the SSA’s political wing) will be released
- All persons, without discrimination of race, may reside in the Homong-Monghta area
- No large trees shall be felled without permission
- The SSA must not meddle in civil administrative affairs but must assist the people working for their livelihood
Lt-Gen Yawdserk also said earlier that the SSA from now on, would be an armed force made up of volunteers. The compulsory draft of males, age between 18-40, would be dropped.
SSA South and SSA North signed initial ceasefire agreements with Naypyitaw on 2 December 2011 and 28 January 2012 respectively.
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