The Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), a committee of armed organizations that signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), met for an emergency meeting to discuss how to proceed after the Tatmadaw staged a coup nearly three weeks ago.

 

Gen Yawd Serk, acting PPST chair and leader of Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS),  said the military junta has enacted many laws “restricting the freedom of the people”. They are “reversing democracy” and “opposing the values of federalism”, he said at the meeting on Friday, February 19.

 

RCSS doesn't accept the military coup and will stand together with the people protesting against the military dictatorship across the country, Yawd Serk said, while condemning the crackdown against demonstrators.

 

"Soldiers and police must stop arresting people at midnight for joining the protests and the Civil Disobedience Movement. They should release everyone who has been detained. We demand for security forces not to use violence against demonstrations."

 

PPST leaders are discussing whether or not to postpone Union level activities under the NCA. And the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) are deciding how to proceed with their own bilateral ceasefire agreements under the military regime.

 

Besides RCSS, the other NCA-EAOs include All Burma Students' Democratic Front, Karen National Union, Chin National Front, Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council, Pa-O National Liberation Organization, Arakan Liberation Party, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union.