Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) on November 26th sent letters of request to leaders of two ethnic armed groups: Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) to discuss a ceasefire.

“Even though the SSPP and RCSS have signed the Union level Ceasefire Agreement and Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement respectively, SSPP isn’t moving forward in peace efforts while RCSS had announced that they will review whether to continue attending the meetings of the Joint Monitoring Committee. So, it can be said that the current situation is a little far off from the peace process,” said Sai Leik, SNLD’s General Secretary-1.

“Since ethnic armed groups can’t discuss about the ceasefire with each other and there have been clashes between the ethnic armed groups, we’ve remarked that there will be no hope for peace for the people if this continues. Both sides[SSPP,RCSS] announced that they would carry out the interests of their nationalities and started long lasting revolutions. At present, the clashes are between Shan nationalities. The first to suffer is the public. Therefore we have requested, on behalf of the public as well as monks, to both sides to cease fighting,” said Sai Leik. 

The SNLD sent the letters to SSPP and RCSS requesting that troops from both side must be halted at their present positions as well as offering an SNLD mediated discussion with deputy level leaders before meeting with top leaders.

The letters sent from by the SNLD also reported that it is now harvesting season. The villagers had piled the paddies and are going to winnow the paddy after holding Shan New Year Festival. If battles were to stretch on until then, every body will face food shortages.

“At the very leasts, our letters will stop the fighting. Even though the firefights won’t stop at once,  the military tensions between both sides will reduce,” said Sai Leik.

The cause of fighting between RCSS and SSPP mainly concerns a dispute about the estate administration affairs.

Sai Leik reviewed that a committee involving delegates from both sides and locals would be formed aiming to solve the administrative dispute.