August 4th, 2022
It has been reported that representatives of the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) have arrived in Nay Pyi Taw to meet with the State Administration Council (SAC) in order to avoid fighting with the Myanmar Army in Mong Hsu Township in southern Shan State, where tensions between the two sides are high.
SSPP spokesperson Major Sai Phone Han told the Shan Herald that they decided to meet with the SAC in order to avoid a military confrontation that could cause further suffering to the people in the area and to resolve the issue through negotiations.
“For the sake of the people, we want to avoid fighting as much as possible. That’s why we agreed to the talks,” Major Sai Phone Han said.
“A 10-member delegation, led by Vice-chairman (1) Maj. Gen. Khur Tai and Vice-chairman (2) Maj. Gen. Khun Hseng arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on August 2nd to hold a meeting with the Myanmar military council.
The meeting between SSPP representatives and the SAC leader is scheduled for August 4th, and they will continue to meet with the peacemaking committee of the military council, Major Sai Phone Han said.
“We hope the talks will lead to a win-win solution. I believe that the meeting will only be meaningful if this happens. We’ll announce the details of the meeting at a later date,” he added.
Prior to the SSPP delegation’s visit to Nay Pyi Taw, regional military council commanders from Shan State arrived near Mong Hsu to command their troops, causing a rise in tension between the two sides, but the Myanmar Army has currently withdrawn from the areas to defuse military tensions with the SSPP/SSA, it was reported.
Also, on July 18th, military council soldiers opened fire on a civilian truck in Mong Hsu Township where tensions between the SSPP/SSA and the Myanmar Army are particularly high, killing three people.
Sent by Shan Herald