Thursday, July 29, 2021 A Shan political party wants estranged Shan ethnic armed organisations (EAO) to stop the violence against each other and start fighting against military regime to build a federal democratic union.

Since 2016, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) have been at loggerheads over disputed territory in Shan State. Fighting has dramatically increased in June, displacing many civilians and resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries and the destruction of homes and villages.

Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) said in a July 26 statement that it wants the EAOs to sit down at the table together to start dialogue. “We are working hard talking with military leaders from both sides to make a ceasefire,” SNLD spokesperson Sai Lek told SHAN. “Both of the Shan armies have expressed desires to reduce the armed conflict and start a dialogue,” he said, explaining SNLD is trying to negotiate with the EAOs to commit to a time and place.

It will help matters, Sai Lek said if the EAOs stopped circulating propaganda against each other, including fake news and incitement, which only serves to inflame the situation, causing fighting to increase. These actions, he said, “do not benefit anyone.” The EAOs should be protecting its people against Burma’s third wave, the SNLD statement said.

Currently, RCSS and SSPP are fighting in Hsipaw Township, however, recently they fought in southern Shan State, where they are now standing off.