Meeting Sao Yawdserk of the Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) on 30 December in Chiangmai, U Aung Min, Vice Chairman #2 of the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) suggested that the way to speedy implementation of the 28 October 2012 agreement signed by the RCSS, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and government representatives in Tachilek on the joint drug eradication project was for the SSA to reduce the number of and avoid clashes with the Burma Army.

To which the RCSS/SSA chief replied that it was not fair to place the ball in the SSA’s court alone. “The Burma Army moves into the countryside without notification and opens fire as soon as they see us,” he said.

His sister organization Shan State Progress Party / Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has meanwhile maintained that as long as the Burma Army continues carry out its territorial security-territorial clearance-territorial control operations, clashes are bound to continue. Both have already fought some 150 clashes each with the Burma Army since they signed ceasefire with Naypyitaw two years ago.

Aung Kyaw Zaw, well known military analyst on the Sino-Burma border, as well as several other resistance sources have quoted intercepted messages by the Burma Army’s high command instructing their forces to keep on fighting until “the insurgents are completely exterminated.”

Yawdserk, during a previous meeting, had also told U Aung Min, “The Burma Army needs to trust us a little more.”

The fact however remains that there is still very little direct contact between the two militaries. The Karen National Union (KNU), the only group on good terms with the Burma Army and its chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, had, two months back, suggested to him for a face-to-face meeting between him and the SSA boss. But the Senior General merely replied he would consider it, according to the KNU.

SHAN, meeting Burmese generals on at least 2 occasions, has also mentioned that while most of the armed resistance movements place little trust in the Burma Army, it is the other way round when it comes to the RCSS/SSA. The Burma Army has unfortunately yet to say why it entertains such distrust.

But, whatever it is, it is quite clear the distrust cannot be done away with by refusing to meet and sort it out with the RCSS/SSA.

SHAN therefore hopes both the Senior General and his deputy Vice Senior General Soe Win will see fit to accept the KNU’s suggestion soon.

Nothing is settled by fighting. It’s high time we all realized winning without fighting is the best course.