Leaders of the two major Shan ethnic armed organizations (EAOs)—the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA)—held an informal meeting in Kunhing Township, Shan State, to build trust.
On March 2, General Yawd Serk, chairman of the RCSS, SSPP Vice Chairman-3 Say Paing Pha and Secretary-2 Sai Su, along with senior leaders from both groups, attended the umbrella-hoisting ceremony of the Mwaytaw Namswam Pagoda in Kunhing Township. After the ceremony, leaders from the two groups held informal talks aimed at building friendship and trust between the sides, a source close to the matter told Shan Herald.
“It is true that the two sides met in Kunming. The exact details of their talks are not known. However, the leaders of both organizations did meet face to face,” he said.
The leaders of the two sides held informal talks over dinner, and footage of General Yawd Serk’s speech about the meeting has also circulated on social media.
“Shan State doesn’t belong to the Shan people alone. The Shan, Wa, Lahu, Akha, and Palaung ethnic groups all belong to Shan State. In the past, there was no fighting between different ethnic groups—we all lived together peacefully. So why are these groups fighting each other now? It’s because there are people behind the scenes who are stirring up conflict between us,” General Yawd Serk said in the video, speaking in Shan.
A Shan youth welcomed the informal meeting between the top leaders of the RCSS and SSPP, calling it a very positive sign. He noted that instead of hostility between Shan groups, there should be dialogue and efforts to build peace.
“I don’t know what was discussed in their talks, but I’m already happy that the meeting between the two Shan armed groups happened. Even if they have different positions, all Shan people share the same language and culture, so fighting among ourselves shouldn’t happen—it only hurts both sides. Also, when Shan people fight each other, Shan youths lose interest in politics,” he noted.
The RCSS and SSPP signed a ceasefire agreement on November 29, 2023, roughly a month after the Three Brotherhood Alliance launched Operation 1027 against the junta in northern Shan State. Once traditional rivals, the two Shan EAOs have since gradually eased military tensions.
