The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) late yesterday issued a statement expressing ‘welcome and support’ for the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), the drafting of which was completed on 31 March.

“It is the result of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting that ended this afternoon,” said Sao Yawd Serk, the RCSS chair.

The decision followed his meeting with the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) delegation to Chiangmai on 29 May.

“The draft is not perfect,” U Aung Min, head of the delegation, told him. “But for all of its imperfections, it has 4 solid guarantees:

• No disarmament as long as the peace process lasts
• Federalism
• Exemption from Section 17/1 (Unlawful Association Act)
• Political dialogue

U Aung Min and accompanying UPWC members: U Khin Maung Soe, Minister for Electric Power; U Than Htay, Minister for Railway Transport; and Lt-Gen Thet Naing Win, Minister for Border Affairs, then took turns to urge him to issue a statement in support of the NCA. “Your support will help give impetus to the Law Khee Lar conference (2-6 June of the Ethnic Armed Organizations deliberating on the NCA draft),” said U Aung Min.

To which the RCSS boss said, “We will certainly issue a statement after an ad hoc meeting with our leaders.”

According to media reports, both UN and Chinese representatives had also exhorted the EAO leaders at the conference to sign it.

“You do not as yet have all the details of the road you will traverse or a guarantee of when you will reach all your goals but you have a reasonably good blueprint to start with,” his written statement said. “I shall also be abrupt and say we do not know what will happen after the elections. We do not know what the country will look like a year from now. We must be optimistic but at the same time, sitting back and hoping for better opportunities may be risky…….As of now there may be not much time for a lengthy process before the elections. Signing an NCA and establishing a political dialogue may serve as a stabilizing factor.”

The RCSS/SSA statement also calls for the as-soon-as-possible launch of a political dialogue in accordance with the framework agreed by all stakeholders on the basis of stability, fairness, inclusiveness and participation of international witnesses.