Ta’ang National Party (TNP) and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) leaders met to try and resolve ongoing conflicts between the RCSS/SSA and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Shan State.
The meeting took place in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand on 12 September.
The RCSS/SSA delegation was led by their chairman and commander-in-chief Lieutenant-General Yawd Serk. Tar Hla Pe, a member of the TNP’s central executive committee, led the TNP delegation.
Fighting broke out between the RCSS/SSA and the TNLA in northern Shan State over territorial disputes on 27 November 2015 and clashes have been continuing until now.
Tar Hla Pe said: “Our aims are regional stability and peace, ceasefire, regional development, health, education, roads and communications, water, and electricity. We discussed with these aims and goals [in mind].”
He said that as well as trying to resolve the ongoing issues between the TNLA and RCSS/SSA, the two groups also discussed the opening of schools in Palaung (Ta’ang) villages in southern Shan State.
He said about the meeting: “Our first step was very satisfying. Our aim for this meeting between the TNP and the RCSS was to end the war between the two armed groups. This is the first step [we have taken] to do our best to prevent local residents from becoming innocent victims of the [fighting between] the two ‘water buffalos’ and to reduce the number of internally displaced people (IDPs).”
He added: “We are very glad that we came on this trip because we were able to learn the views of the RCSS leaders who want to meet and discuss with the TNLA. We have high expectations.”
The RCSS/SSA spokesperson, Colonel Sai Ngan told the press that the RCSS/SSA is ready to negotiate with the leaders of the TNLA.
He said: “The current conflict between the TNLA and the RCSS is not a racial conflict. It is a conflict that is happening specifically in the northern area. So, we are searching for solutions to resolve this conflict. You could say this was a very good result. It could aid reconciliation between the two sides.”
He also said that the TNP had acted as an intermediary between the RCSS/SSA and the TNLA, conveying each group’s wishes to the other and that the RCSS/SSA would be ready to meet directly with the TNLA in the near future.
Representing the RCSS/SSA at the Chiang Mai meeting were Lt-Gen. Yawd Serk, vice-chairman Sai Yi, deputy commander-in-chief Paung Khe, political consultants Sao Pin Kham and Sao Khun Hsaing, and Col Sai Ngan.
Representing the TNP were Tar Hla Pe; TNP central executive member Tar Aye Maung; the All-Burma Ta’ang Monks’ Organisation vice-chairman U Pyinya Thiri and secretary U Teikkha Nyarna; and representatives of Palaung (Ta’ang) youth organisations.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
