CNI News
20 July 2022
Shan State Progressive Party spokesman Major Sai Phone Hon of SSPP/SSA told the CNI that they would take the peace issue into consideration only after territorial disputes in Monghsu Township in Shan State (South) had been settled.
Military tensions were mounting before the peace talks and if all were desirous of peace, there would be none of such problems, he said.
Maj Sai Phone Hon told the CNI, “ We will have to decide the next step to take after resolving the disputes because it was a stumbling block. As the tensions have been mounting before the peace process, we will have to say that there wouldn’t be any of such problems if all stakeholders were moving toward genuine peace.There would be no such problems if everyone was desirous of peace.”
Locations of the three posts the Tatmadaw has asked the SSPP to withdraw.
However, the withdrawal of troops in the disputed areas would be decided only after negotiations with the Tatmadaw and he couldn’t say anything about the issue officially.
On 14th July, the delegations led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and SSPP Vice Chairman -2 Maj-Gen Khu Sai met at Mongnaung in Shan State (North) and the former told the latter to withdraw troops from the posts they had occupied within seven days.
Maj Sai Phone Hon said that the Tatmadaw should not impose a precondition for peace talks if it really was desirous of peace, raising the question for the demand to withdraw troops.
The letter sent by the Tatmadaw to the SSPP
“Peace talks are held when there are tensions, but imposing preconditions is not a solution. If there are issues that must be resolved before the talks, we must settle them first so that we can move forwards smoothly. We believe that these will be minor issues that don't matter if the policy for peace in the entire country has been adopted. Actually,It is necessary for the media to ask the Tatmadaw why it raised the issues, which are not made by us. So, we don’t have much to talk about and advise the media to ask the Tatmadaw about them on behalf of the public,” he said.
The Tatmadaw demanded the SSPP to withdraw three posts of it at Loinoi and Manwain in Monghsu Township by 10th June on 4th June and by 30 June on for the second time but the SSPP refused to do so until now.
As tensions have mounted, representatives of the both sides met on 14 July but the Tatmadaw has still demanded the SSPP to withdraw troops from the posts.
