NAYPYITAW- With the aim to rebuild peace and trust and to carry out regional development tasks, National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) will be meeting with army and Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) separately at Nay Pyi Taw on February 22nd.

“We have an appointment to meet NRPC and the military in Nay Pyi Taw on February 22nd. The title is peace, trust building and regional development tasks. We are going to talk about the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement at the meeting. Currently, we will discuss about the peace building,” said Maj Sai Phone Han, Spokesperson of SSPP.

The SSPP led by Vice-Chairman -2 Maj-Gen Khun Hseng, will be meeting with the NRPC and then they are going to discuss with the government army.

As SSPP didn’t sign the NCA, the government had discussed with the NRPC aiming to persuade the SSPP to sign the NCA.

“We had participated in the NCA. Mainly, we are going to discuss about the NCA. However, all must participate. If we, only SSPP, will sign the NCA, the peace can’t enjoy,” said Major Sai Phon Han.

Even though SSPP had express interest in signing the NCA, it is one of the ethnic armed groups that sometimes clash with the military.

Fights between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) which is Shan ethnic armed group and SSPP took place in northern Shan State.

“The fighting between two Shan ethnic armed groups took place near Namtlan, Hsibaw Township, northern Shan State, yesterday. But, we can’t exactly say the latest information because the fighting between RCSS and SSPP is now occurring. The RCSS attacked us. The battles left the increased number of internal displaced persons who are now sheltering at the monastery in Hsibaw Township,” said Major Sai Phone Han.

At present, over thousand of Shan villagers are now feeling to safer places due to the battles among RCSS, SSPP and Ta’ang National Liberation Army took place in Hsibaw, Namtu and Kyaukme Townships in northern Shan State.