The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) wrote a letter to U Aung Min, Vice Chairman of Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC) to clarify the terms of agreement in militarily active zones which is ambiguous for both sides and creates misunderstanding as clashes between the Burma army and RCSS/SSA are erupting now and then.

On 17 March 2013, Lt Gen Yawd Serk, chairman of the RCSS/SSA has sent a letter to U Aung Min, saying that the former would like to discuss about the conflicts and unhealthy behavior of the Burma army actions.

With regard to this matter, the RCSS/SSA spokesperson Sai Hseng Mong said, “This is the policy of RCSS/SSA to negotiate with the government in order to solve the problem that both sides have been encountering as they hold conflicting ideas and misunderstandings. We must be clear about as to what and how the Burma army want to do exactly. According to the agreement signed, the government has given us some military zone and construction of our headquarters; but we are unable to make it yet. The terms of agreement clearly mentions that the RCSS/SSA is to be active in the villages and forests, while the Burma army is confined to the towns and cities. A sudden fighting broke out when Burma army, without informed, intrude into our active areas such as forests and remote areas.

Gen Yawd Serk proposed for an urgent meeting for a solution, to clarify what is not clear in the agreements that create misunderstanding in which clashes between the two troops are erupted now and then.

Related to the RCSS/SSA bases at Loi Mot Nang Len in Mongtaw-Monghta area,where Maj Gen Than Tun Oo, the Triangle regional commander of Kengtung demanded the SSA withdraw with the deadline of March 20, Sai Hseng Mong said:

“But until today, we still have not yet withdrawn from the Mongtow- Monghta bases. The Central Executive Committee of RCSS/SSA has not made a decision on this matter so far. At the same time, we have not seen an unusual movement of Burma army or sign of imminent attacks on us and troop reinforcements. But we know that they were in preparation to station their artillery units around the Loi Mot Nang Len area since the end of February till early March. They have also transferred heavy artillery to Homong area and positioned themselves at strategic points such as hills or higher grounds,” said Sai Hseng Mong, the spokesperson of the RCSS/SSA.

On February 19, Sao Yawd Serk also met U Aung Min in Chiang Mai. It was reported that two leaders agreed to discuss the following points: 1) to discuss a political solution; 2) to monitoring the ceasefire situation; 3) drug eradication; and 4) to examine why under the terms of ceasefire agreement, fighting still continues.

With regard to the peace process, for a long lasting and stable peace, Gen Yawd Serk proposed that the civil society should involve to play an important role. U Aung Min agreed that civil society should be included in the peace process.

In his letter to U Aung Min, Gen Yawd Serk referring to the terms of agreement made, in which both sides signed on May 19, 2012. The agreement includes monitoring of ceasefire situation on peace process; drug suppression with cooperation between RCSS/SSA and government. These points were also emphasized again when both sides met in Tachileik on October 28, 2012.

Yawd Serk points out that all of these agreements are only in paper, but yet to be implemented. In his response to what Yawd Serk pointed out, U Aung Min said that “we have some difficulties between government and the army. Fortunately, now many of them have been solved. Sooner or later, we will be able to carry out the tasks.”

Reportedly, at the meeting with Union Peace making Working Committee (UWPC), Gen Yawd Serk was particularly critical for disregarding the truce agreement as fighting and clashes continue.

“Initially I thought it was locally based Burma army officers and commanders were not fully aware of the ceasefire agreement with the RCSS/SSA. But our close monitoring and observation show that lower ranking officers and soldiers were not even interested or willing to fight. But they were forced to do so by higher ranking commanders. I think it is intolerable,” Said Yawd Serk.

U Aung Min replied, “Hopefully, this kind of incidents will be reduced gradually. I would like to emphasize that to have a trust in government.” To which Yawd Serk reportedly responded by saying, “Whether to trust or not is not up to us, but up to you.”