Eleven ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have agreed to amend a draft version of the terms of reference (ToR) surrounding their liaison offices.
The action came as the EAOs met in Chiang Mai, Thailand on June 17 and 18.
Liaison offices are intended to serve a role in implementing and maintaining ceasefires.
Representatives from the Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM), the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee - Union Level (JMC-U) and the Liaison Office Coordination Committee (LOCC) reportedly cooperated in amending the ToR draft.
Head of the Karen National Union’s Brigade 3 liaison office Saw Ka Leh Mu Htoo said that the new draft includes topics such as a military code of ethics and general operations.
He said it will now be submitted to the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee for approval.
Vice-chair of the Arakan Liberation Party Khine Soe Naing Aung said that liaison office representatives discussed “the pressures that the government puts on liaison offices”.
“Although the discussion between the groups was satisfying, I don’t know whether the government will accept it,” he said.
