The Restoration Council of Shan State/the Shan State Army South has sent a letter to the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) informing them that they do not wish to attend the Ethnic Leaders Summit which will be held at the Karen National Union headquarters Law Kee Lar next month.

“We are not available during this period so we decided not to join this meeting,” said Col. Sai Hla, the spokesperson of RCSS/SSA. “However, we have sent them a letter informing them of our reasons.”

The conference is scheduled to be held from 2 to 6 June to finalize the discussion of the draft nationwide ceasefire agreement, which was signed between the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) and the government.

Five representatives from twenty-two ethnic armed groups have been invited to participate in the coming conference at Law Kee Lar.

The RCSS/SSA is not a member of NCCT, comprised of 16 ethnic armed groups which include the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army North. However, it has a close alliance with the KNU.  These two groups are often blamed by other ethnic armed groups that they have a good relationship with the Naypyidaw government and Burma Army.

The first ethnic armed organizations summit was held at the Kachin Independence Army headquarters Laiza in October 2013. The second summit was held at the KNU headquarters Law Kee Lar in January 2014 and the third summit was held at the KIA headquarter Laiza in July 2014.