The RCSS leader made the statement in his role as the temporary head of the PPST.
Temporary head of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) Gen Yawd Serk said that there have been no significant victories toward peace since the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was signed by some ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), the government and military in 2015.
The leader of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) made the statement during his opening speech at the fourth summit of EAO signatories to the NCA on Tuesday.
“We have not been able to change the method of dialogue. We need a common ground accepted by all stakeholders,” he said at the event, held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. “It’s impossible to get a victory if we hold so firmly to our or your policies,” he added.
Gen Yawd Serk went on to say that despite three rounds of the so-called 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference under the current National League for Democracy government, technical and implementation problems persist. One reason for the lack of any breakthroughs, he said, was stakeholders being too uncompromising.
If the issues of “‘one army,’ the Tatmadaw’s six-point principles, and the protection of the 2008 Constitution” cannot be touched, building a federal Union will be difficult, he said.
“We can temporarily leave our and your principles and policies and discuss the possible and present issues,” Gen Yawd Serk said in his speech. “Neither side will lose. All stakeholders will have a win-win situation.”
The fourth summit of EAO signatories to the NCA is being held from May 14-18. Leaders of 10 EAOs are expected to discuss ways to overcome the current deadlock in the peace process and to review the structure of the PPST, and, if needed, change it.
Leaders from the Kachin Independence Organization and the Karenni National Progressive Party are also attending the summit as observers.
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