A leader of Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) said his organization would never withdraw from the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) because it has guaranteed federal union establishment and constitutional amendment.

RCSS secretary (2) Col Sai Ngnin rebuffed the rumour that his armed group would turn back from the NCA during an exclusive interview given to Shan Herald News Agency.

"The NCA has precisely guaranteed the federal union establishment that we want and the amendment to the 2008 constitution. So we will continue to remain on the track of the NCA. We may face barriers or hardships. But we have to seek solutions. We will never deviate from the NCA," he said.

His organization will follow the NCA provisions as the RCSS is an armed organization which has became a NCA signatory.

The third round of the Union Peace Conference also called the 21st Century Panglong Conference was held in 2018 but any acceptable outcome including federal principles has not been produced, causing a possible deadlock in the peace process, he commented.

The colonel said it was necessary to take several steps to hold talks between the military and ethnic armed groups because the army issued a press release that peace talks should be first held with NRPC (National Reconciliation and Peace Center) before discussing with it.

"As far as I know, the Peace Commission and NRPC will meet hold informal talks with EAOs (ethnic armed organizations). As military representatives are included in PC and NRPC, I think it is part of the military's stance to hold talks. I believe military coordination teams and EAOs will meet soon," said the colonel.