Thai Army source

Thai Army source: Still no progress towards peace talks between Shans and Rangoon

A source close to the Thai Army confirmed this afternoon that it was still waiting in vain for a green light from Bangkok and Rangoon to arrange a meeting between the warring Shans and Burmese authorities, since the regional level meeting between the two countries ended almost two weeks ago.

"So far neither Gen Chavalit (Yongchaiyudh, Defense Minister) nor Rangoon has made any response to what had been said between generals Wantanachai (Chaimuenwong, Third Regional Army) and Thein Sein (Triangle Regional Command) said the source. "So you wouldn't expect him to make a move without approval from 'above', would you?"

Bangkok Post reported on 7 September that Thein Sein had asked his Thai counterpart to mediate for talks with the Shans as well as other groups still fighting against the Burmese army, mainly the Karen and the Karenni.

"His request was taken very seriously by Gen Wattanachai," he added. "It was considered not only in the interests of both nations but also unprecedented. In the past, Thai leaders, including Gen Chavalit, had tried several times to mediate between Rangoon and the dissidents but were consistently turned down (by Rangoon)."

"Looking back, the Burmese have always claimed their country lagged behind others because of the ethnic problem. Here was a chance to solve it once and for all, and they backed off instead of taking it up in stride. How could one trust anymore in their sincerity?"

An overseas Shan watcher summed it up, "So, all smoke and no fire,"

On the Shan side, Sao Ood Kesi, Chief Alliance Affairs Officer of the Restoration Council of Shan State, the political wing of the Shan State Army of Yawdserk, said Shans would not "jump" into any negotiations with Rangoon without prior consultations with their allies.

Shan, Karens, Karennis, Chins and Arakanese signed a military pact on 14 June 1999