The 6th Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement agreed to hold the national-level political dialogue for the Shan people in Langhko, southern Shan State.

However, the Tatmadaw used forces in obstructing the dialogue organising committee’s public consultations with the Shan people so the scheduled dialogue has been postponed after it was scheduled for Jan 12-14, according to the RCSS/SSA’s announcement.

“The Tatmadaw made deterrents when we met with the public in the field. They won’t allow us to hold prior consultations in Taunggyi. That’s why we couldn’t hold the dialogue in Langhko. We can only say when it will be held after both sides have negotiated,” said Col Sai Oo, spokesperson of the RCSS/SSA.

He said the Tatmadaw’s obstruction of the public consultation in Taunggyi, which was planned for January 7-9, was the main reason behind the postponement of the Shan national-level political dialogue.

According to him, the government has also withdrawn its instructions even though it has allowed them to meet the public freely.

The RCSS/SSA is one of the signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) and the government has removed its name from the list of unlawful associations.

A clause mentioned in the Union-level Ceasefire Agreement between the RCSS and the government signed on May 19, 2012 in Kengtung says: “The RCSS/SSA is free to hold political consultations with individuals, groups and communities throughout the country.”

However, the RCSS/SSA is unable to meet the public freely and it was recently attacked by the Tatmadaw in Loilen Township of southern Shan State and Mong Ping Township of the eastern Shan State.

The Karen National Union, another signatory of the NCA, pointed out last week that the NCA is no longer an operational path.