CNI News
30 November 2023

He believed that the two Shan EAOs - the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) will combine, Sai Ai Pao,, chairman of the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party told CNI News.

In accordance with the will of Shan people and monks, they have agreed to ceasefire, said in a statement jointly released by the RCSS and the SSPP on 29th November.

" As a Shan ethnic, I'm proud of them. The agreement will last long. Later, it would be better if the two groups became one. All Shan ethnic people want their combination. Shan nationalities want to see them to be as the same group. I believe it will be like that because people young and old want it. To tell you frankly, all the people of the union also want to be like that. If they become a single group, they will be able to completely protect the interests of the Shan people." said Sai Ai Pao.

troops of the RCSS/SSA

Three representatives from the SSPP and four representatives from RCSS, they met and discussed and formally agreed to a ceasefire on 29th November 2023, said in the statement. The RCSS and the SSPP were often fighting over territorial disputes and due to the battles, locals had to flee to safety.

He hoped that the two organizations will form a combine as one through the ceasefire, Sai Sai, spokesperson of the Shan ethnic civil organizations, told CNI News.

" We can expect a lot. This is the first step. In the current situation, the battles are severely breaking out in our country. In northern Shan State, as you know, the battles are fiercely taking place. At a time like this, first of all, it is necessary to cease fire between our EAOs so that they can protect our people. We have been demanding it since 2021. Our Shan nationalities local and abroad hail the ceasefire. We have expected them to form a combine as one. But there are a lot of things to do, I think." he said.

The RCSS is an NCA signatory and the SSPP is an NCA non-signatory.