Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)

Alliances

United Wa State Army (UWSA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Arakan Army (AA)

Political Organization

Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP)

History in Brief

Established  – 16 August 1971

Headquarters – Wanhai, Kyethi Township, northern Shan State

Areas of operation – Monghsu, Kyethi, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Mongyai, Tangyan, Namtu, Namhkan, Momauk, Panglon, and Lawksawk.

Estimated strength – Over 10,000

Leaders – Gen. Sao Sae Htin (Patron), Gen. Sao Pang Fa (Chairperson), Maj. Gen. Sao Khe Tai (First Vice Chairperson), Maj. Gen. Sao Khun Hseng (Second Vice Chairperson)

In April 1964, Bo Moe Hein’s forces splintered from the Noom Suk Harn forces, and the Shan State Independence Army (SSIA) merged to form the Shan State Army (SSA). Noom Suk Harn was previously formed in 1958 by the Kengtung Saopha clan and Shan political leaders who wanted to separate Shan State from Myanmar, while the SSIA was a Shan resistance army formed in 1960.

When the two groups joined to form the SSA, Sao Nang Hearn Kham, the first lady of Sao Shwe Thaik (the first president of Myanmar), was represented. Sao Sae Htin, who would later become a patron of the SSPP/SSA, and other Shan armed resistance leaders such as Khun Kya Nu, Khun Ohn Baung, and Sai Hla Aung were also represented.

The political wing of the SSPP was established on August 16, 1971, through the inaugural SSA conference.

The SSPP signed a ceasefire agreement with the SLORC regime in 1989. In 2009, those ethnic armed groups that had ceased fighting were forced to become border guards under the Tatmadaw. Brigade 1, led by Col. Sao Pang Fa, refused, and the SSPP/SSA remained in operation as the principal Shan resistance army.

During President Thein Sein’s term, the SSPP/SSA accepted the call to ceasefire issued to all ethnic armed groups. In 2012, the state-level and union-level preliminary ceasefire agreements were signed.

Despite the signing of these two ceasefire agreements, small-scale clashes with the military have occasionally occurred, and major clashes occurred between 2015 and 2017 when the military launched an offensive on SSPP/SSA headquarters in Wanhai.

During these clashes, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) took over the Loi Hoon mountain range, where the SSPP operated, just over 10 miles from the Wanhai headquarters.

Since 2018, the SSPP has been fighting in collaboration with its ally, the TNLA, to push the RCSS back from Namtu Township. The SSPP has also fought the RCSS with the military support of the UWSA to regain the Loi Hoon mountain range.

The SSPP and its allies then pursued and attacked the RCSS in Lawksawk Township and Panglong Township. In Sanin Mountain of Panglong Township, where tensions rose with the RCSS, the SSPP deployed over 2,000 troops.

Mission and Objectives

Information not yet available

Leaders and Central Committee Members 

1	Gen. Sao Sae Htin	Patron
2	Gen. Sao Pang Fa	Chairperson
3	Maj. Gen. Sao Khe Tai	First Vice Chairperson
4	Maj. Gen. Sao Khun Hseng	Second Vice Chairperson
5	Lt. Col. Sai Hsu	Secretary
6	Lt. Gen. Sao Khin Min	Commander-in-Chief

Ceasefires and Peace Process Participation

Ceasefire Agreement with the SLORC military regime – 2 September 1989

State-level peace agreement – 28 January 2012

Union-level peace agreement – 28 January 2012

The SSPP participated in talks to draft the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), but eventually rejected the final NCA in 2016 and joined the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), which had called for a new ceasefire agreement. The SSPP has continued negotiating with government peace representatives over the NCA, but no formal meetings have been held since 2018.

On 12 February 2022, the SSPP sent two Central Committee representatives to attend the 75th Union Day ceremony held by the State Administration Council (SAC) in Naypyitaw.

On 22 April 2022, the Chairperson of the SAC, Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing invited all Ethnic Armed Organizations to meet to discuss peace and political issues. An SSPP delegation led by the Vice Chairperson attended. The SSPP delegation twice went to Naypyitaw and discussed the establishment of a federal union system with the SAC National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC). The first meeting occurred between the 4^th and 6^th of August, while the second was held between the 26^th and 28^th of September.

Organization Participation

The SSPP is a member of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), which is led by the UWSP.

Political and Military Stance since the Coup

The SAC organized a series of visits and meetings after the coup to explain their takeover. They justified the coup by accusing the National League for Democracy (NLD) government of electoral fraud and intended to continue peace talks. On April 8, 2021, Lt. Gen. Yar Pyae, head of the SAC’s Peace Negotiation Committee, along with Lt. Gen. Khin Zaw Aye, Commander of the Bureau of Special Operations No. 2 (BSO-2), attempted to reach the SSPP’s Wanhai headquarters. However, they had to retreat as the SSPP fired upon them just as the helicopter was nearing its landing.

The SSPP said that the shooting was a mistake, and the SAC accepted their explanation. It was also reported that an officer on board the helicopter was hit and injured.

The SSPP has not maintained participation in peace negotiations in the period since the coup. Although there were no major clashes with the SAC, periodic clashes with the RCSS continued.

On February 12, the SSPP attended the 75th Union Day ceremony held by the SAC in Naypyitaw.

The SSPP, assisted by their ally the UWSA, also increased its military presence in frontline bases to secure their Wanhai headquarters further. The SAC attempted to cut off areas where allied UWSA and SSPP territories were connected.

The SAC also warned that three SSPP bases under Battalion 424 of Brigade 702 near Loi Naing village and Man Wein village in Monghsu Township should be withdrawn, or they would be attacked. Despite negotiations between the SAC and the SSPP, the SSPP did not withdraw from its bases.

During the first phase of the Three Brotherhood Alliance’s (3BHA) Operation 1027, the TNLA seized some areas in northern Shan State where the SSPP was active and was exercising control. In the second wave of Operation 1027, the SAC and the SSPP reached an agreement. SSA troops deployed and took positions in the Mongyai area of ​​Hsipaw Township and the Ho Ya area of ​​Tangyan Township to prevent MNDAA and TNLA troops from entering these areas, thereby protecting the road to their headquarters.

Liaison Offices

1. Lashio
2. Taunggyi
3. Kholan
4. Muse (not opened yet)
5. Tachileik (unconfirmed)

Brigades

There are eight brigades and over 30 battalions deployed in the areas controlled by the SSA. The eight brigades are Brigade 1, Brigade 27, Brigade 36, Brigade 72, Brigade 74, Brigade 153, Brigade 612, and Brigade 702.

In addition, there are five separate battalions deployed in the Wanhai headquarters, including a special battalion.

Contact Information

Website:  https://ssppssa.org
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ssppinfo/
Email:  ssppssa@pm.me

Phone: Lieutenant Colonel Sai Hsu – 0989310113, Major Sai Phone Han – 09453971789