RCSS/SSA-S: “We never think of the TNLA as our enemy”
Representatives from the Restoration Council of Shan
State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S) and the United Nationalities Federal
Council (UNFC) held a meeting yesterday in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai
to discuss the recent fighting between the Ta’ang National Liberation Army/Palaung
State Liberation Force (TNLA/PSLF) and the RCSS/SSA-S, according to a
representative from RCSS/SSA-S.
Lt. Col. Sai Nguen, an RCSS/SSA-S representative, told
SHAN that three issues were raised during the talks.
“Firstly, we discussed how we could work together in
the political arena in the future,” he said. “Secondly, we discussed long
lasting ethnic unity. And finally, we discussed the recent fighting between the
RCSS/SSA-A and the TNLA/PSLF.”
Tension between RCSS/SSA-S and TNLA/PSLF heightened in
Shan State on November 27, just over a month after the RCSS/SSA-S signed the
Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government. The TNLA argues that
this agreement has effectively allied the RCSS/SSA-S with the Burma Army.
The TNLA/PSLF is among the six ethnic armed groups that
were excluded by the government from signing the NCA.
The meeting was attended by three representatives
from UNFC—a coalition of ethnic armed
organizations—including military chief general Bee Htu from the Karenni
National Progressive Party (KNPP), U Htun Zaw from Arakan National Council
(ANC), Naing Shwe Thein from New Mon State Party (NMSP) and three
representatives from the RCSS/SSA-S include Lt. Gen. Yawd Serk, Lt. Col. Sai
Nguen and Lt. Col. Sai Muang. But no TNLA
representatives were present during the discussion.
“We agreed that we will solve the problem by peaceful
means,” Lt. Col. Sai Nguen said. “The UNFC will report what we have discussed
with them.”
“In the near future, both sides will hold a meeting
again in order to find a solution,” he added. “For RCSS, we always think of
TNLA as an ally. We never had a problem and fought each other in the past. We
never think of the TNLA as our enemy.”
SHAN was unable to contact the TNLA/PSLF at the time of
reporting.
By SAI AW / Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)
Tags: News, Politics
