SSPP’s resignation from ethnic bloc prompts speculation about ceasefire negotiations

Peace negotiators seem unfazed by the Shan State Progress Party’s decision to resign from an ethnic umbrella organization in a move perceived by political observers to be a blow to ceasefire negotiations.

Major General Sao Khun Hseng, vice chair of the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Arm-North (SSPP/SSA), announced during an August18-20 summit in Pangkham that the group had given notice of its intention to leave the United Nationalities Federal Council. He said the SSPP submitted its letter of resignation on August 12.

The SSPP is a member of both the UNFC and the Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee (FPNCC). The UNFC, from which it resigned, is involved in ongoing negotiations with the government over signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). Meanwhile the FPNCC, led by the powerful United Wa State Army and inclusive of several key groups engaged in ongoing fighting, has rejected the ceasefire pact, stating an intention to forge its own path to peace.

Political observer U Ye Tun (Hsipaw), told Mon News Agency that the SSPP’s resignation from the ethnic bloc was evidence that it is not interested in signing the NCA right now.

“According to the geographical and peace situation, organizations like the Wa [the United Wa State Army] and the KIA [Kachin Independence Army] haven’t signed the ceasefire agreement yet. I believe they [the SSPP] also don’t want to sign it yet,” said U Ye Tun.

The SSPP submitted its resignation letter just one day after the government’s Peace Commission and the UNFC’s Delegation for Political Negotiation held their sixth official talk to discuss preconditions before signing the NCA.

Sai Leik, the joint secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), told Eleven Media that the SSPP may have changed its strategy in response to pressure from neighboring countries.

Sai Kyaw Nyunt, a member of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee, declined to comment on why the SSPP may have changed tactics, and what that might mean for the peace negotiations.
“Personally, I have nothing much to say about it,” he said.

If the UNFC accepts the SSPP’s resignation, the council’s membership will include just four groups: the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Arakan National Council (ANC) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).