Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA – North)

SUMMARY

Established: 24 April, 1964

Headquarters: Wan Hai, Kyethi Townships, Southern Shan State

Active Regions: Mong Hsu, Kyethi, Mong Kung, Laihka, Panglong, Loilem, Hopong, and Yatsauk in southern Shan State; Mongyai, Tangyan, Lashio, Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Naungcho, Momeik, Namtu, Namhsan, Mantong, Theinni, Kutkai, Muse, and Namhkam in northern Shan State.

Strength: More than 10,000

Chair – General Sao Pan Pha

Vice Chair – Lt. Gen Sao Khay Tai

General Secretary – Colonel Kyaw Hla

The Shan State Army (SSA) was established in 1964 under the leadership of Sao Nang Hearn Kham, the wife of Sao Shwe Thaik of Nyaungshwe. In 1971, she established the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP). A ceasefire agreement was reached between the SSPP/SSA and the military government on September 2nd, 1989, but the Tatmadaw pressured the armed group to transform into a border guard force (BGF)during the 2010 political transition, which resumed armed conflict between the two sides.

The group was a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) during the peace process under the U Thein Sein administration. Although a state and union-level ceasefire agreement was reached between the group and the Tatmadaw in January 2015. The SSPP/SSA was not among the signatories to the NCA in October 2015. It had some clashes with the Tatmadaw and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) in its regions of control.

The SSPP/SSA is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee (FPNCC) led by the United Wa State Army (UWSA). There have been some talks with Tatmadaw representatives, but no signs of peace have been seen. There have been clashes between SSPP/SSA and RCSS/SSA, even though the group is a member of the Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU), which is comprised of Shan political parties and civil society organisations (CSOs).

In 2020, at its plenary session of the annual Central Committee, a four-point roadmap was set to work for national unity in Shan State, and for the emergence of a genuine federal union that guarantees peace, equality and self-determination.

At the plenary meeting of Annual Central Committee for 2020, the SSPP/ SSA decided four points for the future process, including working towards the emergence of a genuine federal union that guarantees equality and self- determination with the aim of ensuring ethnic unity in Shan State and continued collaboration with the government, Tatmadaw, the EROs, political parties, and social organizations for domestic peace.

According to the statement on the 51st Anniversary of the establishment of the SSPP released on 16 August 2022, in order to solve political crisis, economic crisis and social problems, there is a special need to end the military dictatorship, stop the unjust repression and killings, redraft the federal democratic charter, release all political prisoners and create an all-inclusive community for solving the political crisis.

As the SSPP/SSA, which is part of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) led by the United Wa State Party/ United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA), was unable to refuse the military’s invitation for peace talks. It held informal talks with the military council following the military coup. At a meeting with the military council on 26 September 2022, the SSPP/SSA submitted nine points including the implementation of the Panglong Agreement, Principle and Pledge, implement the agreements made in the 1961 All States Conference, form a Bamar state in order to achieve national equality and build a federal democratic union. ⁹²

After the meeting between the military council and a group of the UWSA, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)-Mongla and the SSPP on 20 and 21 July 2023, the group said that they were not yet ready to attend the peace conference that the military group is trying to hold.

Former Ceasefire Agreement
September 2, 1988

FIghting after Ceasefire
2012 – 130
2013 – 71 confrontations
2014 – 100+
2015 – 34 (Media Reports)
2016 – 10 (Media Reports)
2019 – 5 Clashes

Ceasefires and Peace Process
7 th EAO to sign ceasefire agreement
Step 1 – State – Level Ceasefire Agreement (January 28, 2012)
Step 2 – Union – level ceasefire agreement (January 28, 2012)

Official Representative Team
rotating

Liaison Offices
1. Lashio
2. Taunggyi
3. Kho Lam
4. Muse (not yet opened)
5. Tachileik (Not Confirmed)

Alliances
UNFC, FUA, NCCT,
DPN member

Contact
Email: [email protected]