Shan Herald Agency for News

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Shans share views on ethnic self-rule Posted: 05 Sep 2016 02:59 AM PDT More than 70 proposals were presented at last week's four-day Union Peace Conference in Naypyidaw, the first in a series of peace talks dubbed the 21st-Century Panglong Conference. One of the most controversial proposals was the demand for self-rule and autonomous states by several ethnic minority groups, particularly in Shan State. The ethnic groups that demanded their own self-administered states include: theUnited Wa State Army (UWSA), arguably Burma's strongest ethnic armed group, which does at present fall within a self-administered division; the Ta'ang (Palaung) National Liberation Army (TNLA); the Pa-oh; and Tai Leng group. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) based in Mong La demanded a self-administered zone for ethnic Akha people. Asked to clarify his position on the issue, Maj. Sai Nguen, the spokesperson for the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), said that it is every ethnic group's right to make such a request. However, he said that these matters are directly concerned with the central government, and therefore fall under the 2008 constitution. He explained that several stages must be met in order to form an autonomous state. Gen. Hso Ten, a veteran of the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), said that in order to establish a new state, a detailed process must be followed. "It does not depend on us [SSPP/SSA]," he said. "It needs to pass through parliament and the Shan State people. It is not so easy just to establish a new state." He added that such a new state would have to depend on ethnic populations, as well as language and literature. "It's their [ethnic minorities'] right and we cannot stop that," said Khuensai, the director of the Pyidaungsu Institute for Peace and Dialogue. He recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had once said, "I do not accept what you have spoken, but I will protect you with my life that you have a right to speak." Khuensai continued: "What we have to consider is the loss we are facing as the majority group. "But whatever we lose, they will also lose. We all faced with losses." He concluded: "What we have to do now is establish equal rights. And the best way to do that is to sit together and discuss the issues until we have solutions." By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)

SSPP/SSA worried govt troop reinforcement will exacerbate conflict Posted: 04 Sep 2016 08:28 PM PDT The Burmese military continues to reinforce its troop strength in SSPP/SSA territory, despite calls to seek an end to the conflict by the ethnic armed group at last week's Union Peace Conference in Naypyidaw. According to an official from the Shan militia's News and Information Department, government forces have been increased in and around Tangyan and Mongyai townships in northern Shan State, and Kehsi and Monghsu townships in southern Shan State – areas under SSPP/SSA control. He said that now both sides are now confronting each other, although no clashes have yet been reported. According to SSPP/SSA veteran Gen. Hso Ten, such hostilities have to halt before both sides can talk about peace. If fighting still goes on, he said, it is impossible to continue with the peace process. "The announcement of a nationwide ceasefire should be made before any peace conference," he said. "If they declare [a truce], we will too." SSPP/SSA, a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council which has to date declined to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement, or NCA, has previously approved state-level and union-level ceasefire accords with the former Burmese government administration headed by President Thein Sein. However, it did not sign the NCA alongside eight other ethnic armies on October 15 last year. The NCA remains the blueprint for peace talks – dubbed the 21stCentury Panglong Conference by current de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi – the first round of which wrapped up this weekend in the Burmese capital. On August 28, only three days before the Union Peace Conference began, a Burmese government unit under North Eastern Command launched an offensive against SSPP/SSA positions in Mong Gao tract of Tangyan Township, Lashio District. Min Zaw Oo, the director of the Union Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), said that the JMC has a mandate to help mediate during times of hostilities between sides that are signatories to the NCA. However, he said, conflicts with non-signatory armed groups are "difficult to resolve". Min Zaw Oo added: "When this type of situation arises, at a lower level, they will not be able to resolve the problem." At the opening ceremony of the five-day peace conference, which kicked off on August 31, Burma's Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said that every armed group has to follow the military's stated "Six-point Principles" in the peace process. The Burmese military's Six-point Principles are: to maintain a keen desire to reach eternal peace; to keep promises agreed to in peace deals; to avoid capitalizing on the peace agreement;to avoid placing a heavy burden on local people; to strictly abide by existing laws; and to 'march towards a democratic country' in accordance with the 2008 Constitution.

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