SSPP/SSA-N declares war against junta

By Admin 04 May 2024

DMG Newsroom
4 May 2024, Sittwe

The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/SSA-N) has declared war against the Myanmar military regime, becoming the latest ethnic armed group to join the nationwide armed revolt against the military, which seized power in a coup from the democratically elected government more than three years ago.

“Now is the best time to revolt against the regime,” SSPP/SSA-N vice chair Lieutenant-General Sao Khun Hseng told the 60th anniversary of the founding of the SSA on April 24, the SSPP’s website and Facebook page reported on Friday.

Since the putsch in 2021, the military junta has faced an uprising from several different groups that has escalated into a full-blown civil war. Many established ethnic armed groups have joined the revolt, but some have stayed out of it.

The SSPP becomes the latest ethnic armed group to fight the regime.

SSPP/SSA-N vice chair Lieutenant-General Sao Khun Hseng said the group decided to fight the regime as the political dialogue is no longer a solution to achieve a genuine, democratic Union.

“It has been 77 years that we have engaged in political dialogue, since the Panglong Agreement was signed [in 1947]. Successive military regimes persecuted ethnic minorities and did not observe the provisions of the Panglong Agreement. After the coup, dialogue is no longer possible to find solutions for the country’s problems. We have no option but to resort to armed struggle,” said Lt-Gen Sao Khun Hseng.

The SSPP/SSA-N signed state-level and Union-level ceasefire agreements with U Thein Sein’s government in 2012, but has opted out of signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. The Myanmar military carried out offensives on the SSA-N headquarters in Wanhai in northern Shan State between 2015 and 2017, resulting in heavy fighting.

The SSPP/SSA-N is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Council and is allied with the United Wa State Army, Arakkha Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance, National Democratic Alliance Army, Kachin Independence Army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army.

“We can’t waver anymore,”  said Lt- Gen Sao Khun Hseng. “We want to solve political problems through political dialogue. But it is no longer possible. So, we have to fight. If we don’t want to face a war tomorrow, we have to fight today. We have to struggle today to make sure we don’t face difficulties tomorrow.”

The SSPP/SSA-N is based in Wan Hai, Kehsi Township, and is active across northern Shan State. Observers say the armed group declared war against the regime to expand its territory as the Brotherhood Alliance has struck a ceasefire with the regime in northern Shan State.