Provisionally named “Shan State National Patriotic Council,” the SSA boss Col Yawdserk told the Shan Herald that political parties, overseas Shan organizations, independent organizations and outstanding individuals would be invited to the meeting, to be held some time this year.
 
He has cited three objectives

• To discuss issues relating to Shan State and its people
• To form a united front
• To find a lasting solution for Shan State

“Initially, it would only be a gathering for consultation,” he said. “But eventually we would like to see it as a sort of Parliament, where delegates from all groups will initiate, discuss, debate and vote on issues. Decisions will be followed and implemented by individual groups. We hope to be able to work gradually up from there.”
 
Yawdserk, 51, assured that the proposal was not in anyway contending with what the Shan State Coordination Committee (SSCC), set up on 16 February 2007 by Shan State-based groups, to hold a “Shan State Nationalities Conference.”
 
Throughout the past year each major ethnic group of Shan State had been holding meetings in preparation for the upcoming conference, yet to be convened due to unexpected disruptions inside Burma: the September unrest and Cyclone Nargis as well as shortfalls in funds, according to an SSCC member.
 
“We are only proposing that we have the honor to host the first conference,” said Yawdserk. “The second and the rest can be held elsewhere, in accordance with the decisions made by the council elected there.”
 
As yet there has been no official response from the SSCC. “We will have to discuss among ourselves and then with the RCSS/SSA,” said the SSCC member. “But we are certainly not holding a rival conference. You can rest easy about that.”
 
Meanwhile, one of the opposition leaders has warned that without a new and effective strategy, the common struggle against Burma’s military rulers would soon become irrelevant.
 
“We had pooled all our resources against the regime’s May constitutional referendum,” said the leader who wished to remain unnamed, “with some expectations that it would go for fair play as in the 1990 general elections. But now it’s clear there will never be fair play as far as the present regime is concerned. So if we are going to pursue the same strategy in the 2010 elections, we’re finished.”
 
The junta-drafted draft constitution was adopted by an unprecedented 92% eligible voters, announced Naypyidaw on 29 May. The Public International Law and Policy Group meanwhile dismissed the official claim by saying all the conditions required to ensure that the referendum was free and fair were violated.