Zhao Guo-an, the United Wa State Army (UWSA)’s representative, yesterday warned the country’s military that pride and prejudice were in the way of peace.

“There will be no peace as long as Burmese Big Nation chauvinism and arrogance persist,” the group’s chief of external affairs is quoted as saying. “The key to the political dialogue phase is ceasefire in the whole country.”

“Exclusion of any group will not bring peace,” he added.

Nevertheless, the UWSA, accused of supporting several warring groups along its border, especially the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta-ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA), against the Burma Army’s some 80 infantry battalions fighting in the neighboring Kokang, vowed not to be the one to fire first.

“Our standing policy is to hold the flag of peace and democracy in the one hand and to hold the flag of self defense in the other,” said the group’s vice chairman Xiao Minliang. “We will never fire the first shot. Nor we will be persuaded to fight another group.”

He guaranteed that any party that emerges as the winner of the 2015 elections will be supported by the UWSA. “However, in order to avoid complications, we will not allow any party, except for the United Wa State Party (UWSP), to conduct campaigns in our state,” he said.

Participants from the 11 United armed organizations are to travel to Mongmai, north of Panghsang, to see the coffee and tea plantations there today. The conference is to conclude tomorrow.