Shan State Army (SSA) South leader Col Yawdserk, saying he "heartily" welcomes the outgoing Thai army commander in chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin's acceptance of Pyinmana's request "to do everything he could to encourage the rebel groups to come to the table," according to Bangkok Post, has stated his terms for negotiations with the junta.

Sao Yawd Serk

"He has already done what he could," said the 50-year old SSA commander today from his Loi Taileng base across Maehongson province, reminding SHAN of the planned 23 May meeting between the two sides which failed to materialize following disagreement on the venue.

The Royal Thai Army had co-ordinated between the two for the said meeting, according to Yawdserk.
 
The latest offer to help all the belligerents to come to the negotiating table by Gen Sonthi was made on his return from a two-day visit to Burma, 27-28 August.

"I hope nobody thinks what we are asking for are unreasonable," he began in response to SHAN's query about his proposed terms, which are as follows:

• To hold concurrent peace talks with other armed movements ("One should not talk to us about peace-building while one is fighting with another")
• To work together for peaceful resolutions of the existing political problems following a ceasefire agreement ("If peace is to last, we must reach a political solution to all our problems")
• To include Aung San Suu Kyi in the peace process ("Both the junta and the ethnic forces will need her and the people behind her to work for a lasting peace")

The SSA South, since 1996, has been calling for peace talks with the Burma Army. The latter, in the past, had refused saying all Yawdserk needed to do was to surrender. The recent U turn in the junta's policy had surprised many Burma watchers.