“There haven’t been any changes in the chairman position. Two more vice-chairmen have been added. U Xiao Ming Liang was the [only] vice-chairman [in the past]. Now, we’ve appointed U Zhao Guo-ang and U Bao You Liang. So, there are three vice-chairmen now,” said U Nyi Rang, deputy head of the UWSP’s liaison office in Lashio.

U Zhao Guo-ang and U Bao You Liang have previously served as heads of foreign relations under the UWSP.

According to U Nyi Rang, youth and middle-aged leaders from the party’s central second committee have also been promoted during the four-day meeting. 

The UWSP is headed by the Party Central Politburo Standing Committee, the Party Politburo Committee, the Party Central Committee, and the Party Central Second Committee.

Led by U Bao You Xiang, the UWSP has nine members in the Party Central Politburo Standing Committee, 11 members in the party central politburo committee, eight members in the party central committee, and 21 members in the party central second committee. 

U Nyi Rang said the leaders set down their views on the peace process during the meeting.

“Political issues should be solved with a political method. We oppose the use of weapons. We oppose giving military pressures between each other. The government must build trust and cooperate. These were the general views that have been set down [during the meeting],” he added.

The United Wa State Party/United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA) said it opposes the military conflicts in the northern area.

After the central extended meeting was held at the UWSP’s headquarters in Pangsang for four day, the UWSP/UWSA is holding its annual meeting since January 15.

Together with other members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee, the UWSP/UWSA has refused to follow the nationwide ceasefire agreement path and declared that they will hold peace dialogue with the government via a new political path.