Shan pledge return to arms if abuse continues
Play
Ethnic Shan forces who signed a truce with the Burmese government early this month have vowed to take up arms against Naypyidaw again if the group's basic rights are not respected and protected.
“The cease-fire is meant [to be] the starting point for peace-building and the development of living standard of our people so that one can make progress and the test of sweetness of democratic right as one of people in the world,” the Restoration Council of the Shan State (RCSS) and Shan State Army (SSA) said in a statement.
The SSA, which has carried on an armed struggle for autonomy for decades, reached a peace agreement with the government on December 2 after rounds of quiet negotiation.
However, the pact is simply a cease-fire agreement and many different points needed further discussion, the statement said.
SSA leader Lt-General Yawd Serk led his Shan delegation to kick off peace talks with Rail Transport Minister U Aung Min near the Thai border in November.
At the first meeting, the government proposed four talking points: cessation of hostilities, opening a liaison office, roaming freely without arms and discussion of politics at Union level.
The Shan countered with its own four key points: cessation of hostilities, solving political issues through dialogue, setting up RCSS and SSA headquarters, and cooperation on drug eradication.
The sides reached a cease-fire in Taunggyi, the capital city of Shan State, but could did not make any decision on the remaining points.
Thein Sein’s government announced a nationwide cease-fire with all armed minorities in August this year after its initial plan to force ethnic insurgents to serve as border guard forces under the military completely failed.
Before the Shan group, the government reached peace agreements with many other armed minority groups, including the United Wa State Army.
The Shan group established contact with the authorities in late October to begin peace negotiations.
As some points proposed by both sides had yet to be agreed upon, the Shan group said it has to wait and see what actions are taken by the government toward minorities before it proceeds.
