Representatives from the Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) met on Thursday to discuss working with the new government on the peace process.

Puen Kham, the Secretary of the CSSU, said it remained uncertain what direction the peace process will head under the incoming National League for Democracy (NLD) government. “We have to prepare,” he said.

Lt-Gen Yawd Serk, the chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and also serves as a current chairman of the CSSU, said in his opening ceremony’s speech that they will work together toward unity.

The discussion came as part of a three-day meeting which began on Thursday at the Micasa Hotel Apartments in Yangon. The meeting will also cover other issues including the picking of a new leader of the CSSU.

“The newly elected committee will be responsible for the unity of all national [groups] in Shan State,” Puen Kham explained. “There are thirteen different nationalities in Shan State, of which Shan is also included,” he said.

Forty six representatives attended the meeting including Lt. Gen. Yawd Serk of the RCSS/SSA, Hso Ten of the SSPP/SSA, the SNLD Chairman Khun Tun Oo and Sai Ngun Lwin the SNLD’s Secretary. Representatives from the Shan Lawyers Network (SLN), the Pyidaungsu Institute (PI), the Eastern Shan State Democratic Development Party (ESSDDP), the Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN), the Tai Youth Network (TYN), the New Generation Shan State (NGSS), and the Tai Youth Organization (TYO) also attended the meeting.

However, the Shan Nationalities Development Party (SNDP), a co-founder of the CSSU, opted not to attend the meeting.

The Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) was formed on October 17, 2013. The group includes the Shan State Joint Action Committee (SSJAC) member groups. This includes the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the Seng Kiao’s People Militia, the New Generation Group (Shan State), the Shan Youth Association, the Shan Nationality Organization-Thailand, Shan community-based organizations and a team of legal consultants.