A coalition of seven ethnic armed groups, the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), and the military council are holding a meeting in Mong La, Mong La Special Region in eastern Shan State, a source close to the FPNCC said.

"One of the seven armed groups is not included. I heard that they were invited to the Union Day celebration, but the details are not yet known," the source said.

Another source said that the group that did not attend the meeting was the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO / KIA).

U Nyi Yan, a spokesman for the United Wa State Army (UWSA), was contacted about the meeting but could not be reached.

A resident of Mong La confirmed that members of the military council had arrived in Mong La since the night of December 14 and security had been beefed up in the town.

The Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) members are United Wa State Army (UWSA/UWSP), Kachin Independence Organization (KIO/KIA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA/PSLF), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Arakan Army (AA), Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA/PSC).