Caretaker EC for Shan State Congress meets

_{1 February 2009}
 
The meeting was attended by all the 7 EC members:

• Kya Bo Long              Lahu Democratic Union (LDU)                                  Chairman
• Sai Lao Hseng             Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)          Secretary
• Sao Ood Kehsi            Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)          Member
• Sai Hsiao Harn            Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)          Member
• Khun Thurein              PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO)  Member
• Ta Ai Nyunt                Wa National Organization (WNO)                            Member
• Peunkham Payakwong Tai Coordination Committee (TCC)                  Member

_{Ta Ai Nyunt, Hkun Hsoihto, Khun Thurein and Kya Bo Long}

The meeting has discussed at length its 2009 plan of action, according to a handout received by Shan Herald:

• To invite patriotic individuals and movements in Shan State to join the Shan State Congress
• To draft a constitution for the Shan State Congress
• To organize the next annual conference

 
The current EC’s tenure is just one year.
 
_{Sai Lao Hseng}

The RCSS, the political arm of the SSA South, was again the host of yesterday’s meeting at an unspecied location on the border. It had submitted a 6-point objective for the Shan State Congress:

• Shan State unity
• For all patriotic individuals and groups to be represented in the Congress
• To resolve today’s political crisis in Burma
• For the Shan State Congress to meet once each year
• To choose a representative for Shan State
• To draft a constitution for Shan State

The EC will meet every three months to review the progress and adjust its plans, according to Peunkham. The next meeting will be in April.
 
Meanwhile, the TCC that had met on 28 January, said the planned meeting of Shan State Coordinating Committee (SSCC) with other Shan State groups is on track and that the effort shall be “parallel and not rival” to that of the interim EC for Shan State Congress.
 
The SSCC was formed on 17 February 2007 by Kachin, Lahu, Palaung, PaO, Shan and Wa representatives to organize a “Shan State Nationalities Conference.” It has already agreed upon the basic principles of a legal document that would embrace all the stakeholders in Shan State as follows:

• Emergence of a valid state-based alliance
• To abide by democratic procedures
• Equality and Right of Self Determination for each ethnic group
• Gender equality
• Responsibility, Accountability and Transparency