20 May 2012—The second Union level peace talks between Union Peace-making Work Committee and Rehabilitation Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) were held at Golden Triangle Yeiktha of Triangle Region Command yesterday morning. Present on the occasion were Vice-Chairmen of Union Peace-making Work Committee Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Soe Win and Union Minister for Rail Transportation U Aung Min.

Also present at the talks on the side of Union Peace-making Work Committee were members Union Minister for Energy U Than Htay, Union Minister for Electric Power No.2 U Khin Maung Soe, Shan State Chief Minister U Sao Aung Myat, Commander of Eastern Command Maj-Gen Soe Htut, Commander of Central East Command Brig-Gen Tun Tun Naung, Commander of Triangle Region Command Maj-Gen Than Tun Oo, Deputy Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo, Shan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Col Aung Thu and Col Kyaw Soe Win of Commander-in-Chief (Army)’s Office. Present at the talks on the side of RCSS/SSA were RCSS Chairman U Ywat Sit and responsible persons.

Local and foreign reporters, media and journals covered the news about the peace talks. Before the talks, General Soe Win and U Ywat Sit cordially greeted together by shaking hands. Next, the talks commenced and General Soe Win extended greetings. Union Minister U Aung Min read out the President’s order of the formation of Union Peacemaking Work Committee and presented the members. RCSS Chairman U Ywat Sit extended greetings and a responsible person read out an anti-narcotic drug project of RCSS/SSA to be undertaken in cooperation with the government. The leaders of the two groups have a mutual discussion on making eternal peace and joint combat of narcotic drugs and the members took part in the round of discussions.

After the talks, General Soe Win and RCSS Chairman U Ywat Sit exchanged gifts. Then, bilateral agreements were signed and the notes were exchanged. The responsible persons of both sides held a press conference with local and foreign reporters, media and journals and replied to the questions. `In the evening, they attended a dinner hosted at Pyi Nyein Aye Hall of the command in commemoration of the Union level peace talks. Before dinner, they posed for a documentary photo. During dinner, they enjoyed variety dances of traditional Shan nationals. After the dinner, RCSS Chairman U Ywat Sit presented a bouquet and cash awards to the cultural troupe. Later, Union Minister U Aung Min and Union Minister U Khin Maung Soe presented a bouquet and cash awards respectively to the cultural troupe.