The Shan State Army (SSA) South leader Col Yawdserk, while  “heartily” welcoming the outgoing Thai Amy 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.

“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 May 23 meeting between the two sides which failed to materialize following disagreement over the venue.

The Royal Thai Army had coordinated between the two sides for the aborted meeting, according to Yawdserk.

The latest offer to help all the rebels to come to the negotiating table by Gen Sonthi was made on his return from a two-day visit to Burma from August 27 to 28.

“I hope nobody thinks what we are asking for are unreasonable,” he began in response to SHAN’s query about his proposed terms to hold concurrent peace talks with other armed movements . To work together for peaceful resolution of the existing political problems, following a ceasefire agreement and to include Aung San Suu Kyi in the peace process, he added.

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.