CHIANG MAI-May 9. Lt-Gen Yawd Serk, the chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) has appealed to Naypyitaw to clarify the Burma Military Affairs Security (MAS) and police raid on its liaison office in Keng Tung on May 6, 2014.

On May 8, 2014, Lt-Gen Yawd Serk sent an appeal letter to the Union Peace Working Committee (UPWC) to clarify the raid on its liaison office by about 20 personnel, including MAS, police and soldiers.

Major Sai Lao Hseng, spokesman of the RCSS said: “Our office was legally established under bilateral agreement between the government/Burma Army and RCSS. They detained our officers, and raided our office. The raid was not about solving problems and building peace. Now, we are uncertain whether the government/Burma Army is really committed to peace building.”

Sai Soe Mong, head of the RCSS liaison office in Keng Tung, was summoned to the MAS office to meet with Major Nay Lin, an MAS officer. When he was at the MAS office, his office was raided by the MAS, police and soldiers.
When the MAS raided the RCSS office, the RCSS staff at the office was ordered at gunpoint by the soldiers not to move. They then searched every single room at the office. The RCSS staff requested the MAS, police and soldiers to take off their shoes before entering the house, but the raid team ignored the request.

RCSS/SSA has opened 6 liaison offices across Shan State after it reached a ceasefire with Naypyitaw in late 2011.