A government delegation met today with three armed groups that were excluded from taking part in last year’s so called nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in Mongla near the Chinese border.
The Union Peace Conference (also 21st Century Panglong Conference) preparatory committee joined representatives from the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Arakan Army, and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army for discussions about attending the conference on 31 August.
The Burma Army have excluded the groups that are either actively fighting against them or have done so in the last two years from all political dialogue unless they surrender. The military also issued an official statement that they wouldn’t be able to attend the conference.
But, the government led by State Councilor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has promised that the upcoming peace conference would be inclusive.
A few days ago, U Khin Zaw Oo, secretary of the Peace Commission—also a retired lieutenant general—told the media that the Tatmadaw (Burma Army) has changed its mind and the three groups will no longer be required to give up arms as a prerequisite for attending.
The government peace delegation that is being led by Dr Tin Myo Win also took the opportunity to once again extend an invitation to join the upcoming conference to the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State that controls Special Region #4 in eastern Shan State, which Mongla is the capital of, and the United Wa State Party that controls the nearby Special Region # 2.
Reporting by Chit Min Tun for MNA
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
