Conflicting claims, suspicion and arrests create confusion
Although the
Complicating the situation still further in
The first ceasefire agreements between Shan ethnic groups and the regime were signed in 1989. The original agreements granted the groups business concessions, particularly in logging, and tax collection autonomy. They also allowed the groups to remain armed—but from early this year the regime has been pressing them to disarm under a program dubbed “Exchange Arms for Peace.”
In April, 170 soldiers of the Shan State National Army turned in their arms and 843 rebels of the Palaung State Liberation Army surrendered to the Burmese Army. The following month, the leader of the SSNA, Col Sai Yi, and several of his troops abandoned their base in northern
In September, an 800-strong brigade of the Shan State Army (North) also abandoned their base rather than disarm.
Despite these developments, the junta’s information minister, Kyaw Hsan, claimed at a recent press conference that “peace” had been secured with armed ethnic movements.
“If things are improving, why are people fleeing to
The UWSA, with an estimated membership of around 15,000, is the strongest of the Shan ethnic groups.
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