Large-scale civil war can break out again, warned Lt-Gen Yawdserk, leader of the anti-Naypyitaw Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’, given the military junta’s one sided policy to convert all ceasefire groups into forces controlled by the Burmese Army.
Besides, using military measures against the ethnic ceasefire groups is not the right solution. It only means creating crisis, he said.
“The reason that the ceasefire groups reached a ceasefire agreement is because they wanted to solve the problems politically. But so far they have never been able to have any political dialogue and have only been forced by the military to do what it wants.”
Many ceasefire groups: the United Wa State Army (UWSA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) and Shan State Army (SSA) ‘North’ concluded their armed struggle in 1989 to make peace with the military junta. (The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) concluded the ceasefire pact in 1995.)
But now all were only required by the junta to transform themselves into the regime controlled forces known as Border Guard Forces (BGF) before its general elections. If the groups fail to comply, the junta will launch military operations against them and will outlaw them.
Lt-Gen Yawdserk said, “If it is a political issue, then it must be solved politically, not by using force. But now it is threatening not only the groups, but also local people. It means it doesn’t care for the people and their ethnic rights.”
He called on all ceasefire groups to be more united and to keep fighting for their genuine aspirations. Otherwise all their lands and properties will fall into the military junta’s hands. “If you [ceasefire groups] accept the military’s BGF proposal, then what you have been fighting for years will come to naught. And it will be difficult for you to gain the people’s support and their trust again.”
He also urged people not to leave their motherland and home come what may.
Lt-Gen Yawdserk is the founder of the Shan State Army (SSA) ‘South’, established in 1996, after he escaped with 300 men from Khun Sa’s Mong Tai Army (MTA), and has remained the principal armed opposition movement still fighting Burma’s military rulers.
