FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Shan political parties ask president to end clashes with SSPP/SSA

Shan political parties ask president to end clashes with SSPP/SSA

Two Shan political parties asked President Thein Sein to stop the clashes between the army and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)/Shan State Army (SSA), which are currently taking place in Shan State, and to help war refugees.

The parties - including Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) - made their requests at a meeting between several political parties and the president in Yangon on November 15.
Leaders of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) asked the president to stop the fighting in Shan State as soon as possible.
“At today’s meeting with the president, I would like to discuss an issue assumed to be important for the country’s current development. That issue is the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. It was signed by eight groups, plus the president. The discussions that led to the ceasefire signing were not easy. I acknowledge that the ceasefire was only reached because the government spent much time and held many meetings in various regions. I heard that the SSPP/SSP, a group that hasn’t signed the ceasefire, is under attack. Because of this, local people have had to flee their homes. This is the harvesting time for many rural villagers, and since they had to flee during this period, they are very concerned about their unharvested farmlands. Thus, the SNLD would like to request that the president to stop the attacks and bring the local people back to their homes,” said Sai Saw Aung, the vice chairperson of the SNLD.
“Clashes in middle part of Shan State caused the refugees to flee to Kyaythee, Mongshu, Leichar, Pinlon, and Taunggyi. The number of refugees has increased from a thousand to ten thousand. I would like to ask the government to help provide livelihoods and shelter to these refugees,” said Sai Aik Paung, the chairperson of the SNDP.
Since the beginning of October, major clashes have been occurred between the military and the SSPP, causing casualties on both sides. Thousands of residents have fled from the conflict, and they face deficiencies in shelter, healthcare and education.
At the meeting, the president did not reply to the requests of the Shan parties in detail. He said: “Some of the requests made here are ones we can and should implement within the remainder this government’s term. We will carry out what we can in accordance with the relevant rules and laws. However, some of these issues are long-term affairs. For long-term affairs, solutions will be implemented in cooperation with the leaders of all the parties in attendance today.”
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