Irrawaddy-July 27
The United Wa State Army (UWSA), Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) – members of an ethnic military coalition known as the Northern Alliance – held talks with junta representatives in Naypyitaw on July 20-21. Junta newspapers reported that agreements were signed at the talks, but no details were provided. Colonel Sao Hsu, second secretary of the Shan State Progress Party, shed light on the agenda and outcomes of the talks in an interview with The Irrawaddy. In an interview, Colonel Sao Hsu, second secretary of the Shan State Progress Party explained: “It wants all the groups it has held talks and signed agreements with, as well as signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, to join the peace conference. At meetings with the regime, we have also talked about what we want it to do. The regime has explained to us why it can’t fulfill certain things. We are conducting the talks based on our demand that political problems should be solved not by military means but peacefully around a table. The proposed peace conference will likely take time to organize. At the latest talks, the regime said agreements it has reached with us and other EAOs would be signed at the conference in the presence of political parties that have registered for its proposed election.
We and the regime have different views about the proposed peace conference. But the regime appears determined to hold the conference anyway. We told them that only a few groups would attend if it were held now, and that it couldn’t be called a conference if only a few groups attended.” Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/in-person/interview/myanmars-northern-alliance-not-interested-in-empty-peace-talks-with-junta.html
