Crucial Shan merger talks
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The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and Shan Nationalities Democratic Party are planning to hold crucial merger talks in early May in Taunggyi, Shan State.
The SNDP had extended an invitation on April 26 to the SNLD to discuss merging the two parties, said Sai Hla Kyaw, the SNDP secretary.
An earlier plan for talks was scheduled in February in Nay Pyi Taw but this fell through because it was not convenient for the SNLD. Since then, Maj-Gen Hsay Htin, the patron of SSPP/SSA, recommended holding the talks within Shan State. The upcoming talks, running May 3 to 4, will take place at the headquarters of the SNDP in Taunggyi, with each side presenting a five-member negotiation team.
“The SNDP asked us over the phone a week ago if we would meet in Taunggyi on May 3 to 4 and we replied that we agreed it. The official letter has not reached us yet,”said Sai Saw Aung, lea-der of the negotiation team of the SNLD.
The SNLD twice sent the letter proposing the merger to the SNDP citing the wishes of the Shan State Joint Action Committee and the aspirations of 97 per cent of the Shan population.
