On June 15, Lt-Gen. Yawdserk, chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), met Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Nationalities League for Democracy (NLD), at her residence on University Avenue, according to news sources.

At the meeting the 2 leaders discussed 3 key issues: 1) the current peace process and development in the country; 2) a federal union state as a future of Burma; 3) drug issues, Maj. Lao Hseng, the RCSS/SSA spokesman told SHAN.

“For the current peace process in the country, we need to trust each other; justice and fairness should also be there. We also need to have goodwill towards one another when building peace. Then we will have a long lasting peace. People in our country, particularly in ethnic states, are tired of fighting, as they have often been victims of the wars for many decades. They all want peace now. Secondly, unless the country is moving towards a federal union state, it will go nowhere. The people will not experience long lasting peace. Thirdly, related to drug issues, Aung San Suu Kyi sees eye to eye with RCSS, as drugs have been problematic and dragging Shan State into ruin for many decades. Therefore, we need to solve the drug problem through cooperation between the 3 parties concerned; government, RCSS and UNODC,” Maj. Lao Hseng added, Aung San Suu Kyi’s speaker at the meeting has been quoted as saying.

According to Maj. Lao Hseng, Aung San Suu Kyi promised to talk on behalf of RCSS in the parliamentary session, if she is informed in any issue. She also urged that RCSS’s cooperation is crucial in the peace process and moving the country towards a democratic system, news sources from the meeting of 2 leaders have been quoted as saying.

The day following the meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, Yawdserk also scheduled meetings with some of the media available in the country, such as DVB, 7Days News Journal, Khet Thit Journal.

Today the RCSS/SSA delegation is on visit to Shan State reaching Kyaukme, northern Shan State, according to reports. According to reports over 1,000 people from all walks of life, gathered to welcome the RCSS delegation, included in the gathering were the 2 main political parties, SNDP and SNLD, the Shan Literature and Culture Society and other civil society organizations from as far as Namkham, Hsipaw, and Lashio.