Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)

Alliances

Karen National Union (KNU/KNLA), New Mon State Party (NMSP/MNLA), Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLO/PNLA), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP/ALA), Karen National Union-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), Chin National Front (CNF).

Organization Name
Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)

Armed Force
Shan State Army (SSA)

Political Organization

Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)

History in Brief

Established – 26 January 1996

Headquarters – Loi Tai Leng, eastern Shan State, Myanmar-Thailand border

Areas of operation – Myanmar-Thailand border, Kengtung and Monghsat districts in eastern Shan State, and Mongpan, Mongnai, Laihka, Kunhing, Lawksawk, Panglong, and Nansang Townships in southern Shan State

Estimated strength – Over 12,000

Leaders – Gen. Yawd Serk (Chairperson), Maj. Gen. Baung Khe (Vice Chairperson), Col. Sai Nguen (First Secretary).

General Yawd Serk was formerly a commander of Khun Sa’s Mong Tai Army (MTA). The MTA collapsed on 7 January 1996 after years of fighting with the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and SLORC military forces.

When Khun Sa surrendered, Commander Yawd Serk and his troops refused to accept defeat and formed the Shan State Army (SSA) in January 1996. The Shan State National Army (SSNA), which had previously split from the MTA, also joined Commander Yawd Serk.

General Yawd Serk then founded the Restoration Council of Shan State as the political wing in May 2000.

General Yawd Serk was involved in the peace process during the term of President Thein Sein and signed state-level ceasefire agreements in December 2011, union-level agreements in January 2012, and the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in October 2015.

After the signing of the NCA, RCSS forces, estimated at over 3,000, based in Loi Tai Leng and southern Shan State, expanded their deployment into northern Shan State, including into Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Namtu, Namhsan, Manton, and Muse Townships.

The RCSS attempted to set up bases and to operate within territories previously controlled by the Northern Alliance, areas which were associated with the Myanmar-China border trade and which would become future grounds for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Myanmar. In December 2015, the RCSS started to clash with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The RCSS also came into military conflict with the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP).

Between 2018 and 2021, the Northern Alliance launched a series of attacks on the RCSS, ultimately resulting in the RCSS losing almost all areas they had previously controlled in northern Shan State, forcing them to retreat to southern Shan State.

The Northern Alliance pursued and attacked the RCSS into southern Shan State, including into Lawksawk and Panglong Townships. However, the State Administration Council (SAC) prohibited the Northern Alliance from expanding its forces’ presence in southern Shan State. The SAC also threatened three SSPP bases in Monghsu Township by preparing military offensives against them.

The RCSS did not hold talks with the SAC during the early days of the post-coup period, but after facing various military conflicts with the SSPP, TNLA, and UWSA in Shan State, they then resumed meetings with the SAC. Political discussions have since continued.

Mission and Objectives

Information not yet available.

Leaders and Central Committee Members

1	Gen. Yawd Serk	Chairperson
2	Lt. Gen. Sai Yi	Vice Chairperson (First)
3	Maj. Gen.Kherh Ngeun	Vice Chairperson (Second), Commander-in-Chief
4	Col. Sai Nguen	Secretary (First)
5	Maj. Kham San	Secretary (Second)

Ceasefires and Peace Process Participation

State-level Peace Agreement – 2 December 2011

Union-level Peace Agreement – 16 January 2012

Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) – 15 October 2015

Organization Participation

The RCSS is part of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), a group of ethnic armed organizations that have signed the NCA.

Political and Military Stance since the Coup

The RCSS strongly criticized the military coup at the time the coup occurred. They even helped those who were followed and arrested by the SAC for opposing the coup.

There have been no major clashes with the SAC since the coup. But there have been heavy clashes with Northern Alliance forces.

On 12 February 2022, the RCSS attended the 75th Union Day celebration held by the SAC in Naypyitaw.

Political discussions with the military council’s National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) are ongoing.

Liaison Offices