A plan to initiate peace talks between the new government administration and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has reportedly been proposed to the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Kayah State with a program for approval.
USDP Member of Parliament U Poe Reh Aung Thein said it is important that the Kayah Peace Mediator Group renegotiate a peace talk program to take place between the government and the KNPP.
“The Peace Mediator Group should propose issue. I also think about discussing this with my party. After we have negotiated with the authorities, we can put a plan forward. But for now I can’t say when it is going to start,” U Poe Reh Aung Thein told the Kantarawaddy Times.
The MP commented on this after the five ethnic parties that participated in the 2010 election appealedto President Thein Sein on 17 April togrant general amnesty and to call for peacetalks with ethnic armed groups.
The five ethnic parties are the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, All Mon Regions Democracy Party, Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party, Rakhine National Progressive Party and Chin National Party.
In recent years, the Burmese government allowed the Peace Mediator Group to freely cross the border and to meet with the KNPP to negotiate peace talks.
However, KNPP spokesperson General Secretary Khu Oo Reh commented that even though the group is playing a mediating role between the KNPP and the military government, there has been no progress dealing with the peace issue.
“Both sides can’t reach any agreement. There are only words but no practical action” he said.
The committee members of the Kayah Peace Mediator Group are U Saw Thein, Rev. Maung Thaung, and Rev.Maw Li. Before the 2010 election, the local military headquarters ordered the group to halt any further peace talk efforts and all communication with the KNPP.
According to MP U Poe Reh Aung Thein, “the mediator group was told not to continue peace talk efforts with the armed group, but it was not clear whether the government wanted to close down the group or not.”
Before the election, the All National Races Unity and Development Party (Kayah State), which became the rivalry party of the USDP, was dissolved by the government on allegations that the party members are associated with the Kayah Peace Mediator Group and have contacts with the rebel group. After the party was dissolved, the Kayah Peace Mediator Group was also banned from continuing the peace talk program.
