The announcement was made before senior government representatives and top ethnic armed group leaders at a high profile meeting held at Myanmar Convention Center (2), in Naypyitaw, on 9 September.

U Hla Maung Shwe, from the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC), said: “Today [9 September] nine ethnic leaders discussed the terms openly. So, the president recommended signing the NCA on 29 September, though the ethnic leaders did not turn it down, they did instead propose to do it in October. So, it remains uncertain whether the NCA signing will take place on the date that the president proposed or in October.”

Contrary to U Thein Sein’s proposal, the ethnic armed group leaders requested to sign the NCA on 15 October.

Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, of the ethnic Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) said: “The president said that the NCA should be signed on 29 September. But, because we have to report to our group members, we proposed to sign it on 15 October. It could be earlier than this date, however, I cannot confirm this yet.”

In attendance at the meeting on the ethnic armed group side were: Gen. N’Ban La, chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Gen. Mutu Say Poe, head of the Karen National Union (KNU), Khun Abel Tweed of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Gen. Say Htin of the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), and Nai Htaw Mon, Chairman of the New Mon State Party (NMSP).

Naw Zipporah Sein, Dr. La Ja, and Pu Zing Cung of the Senior Delegation (SD) and Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) were also present at the meeting.

Attending from the government side were: President U Thein Sein, Union Minister U Aung Min, U Ye Htut, U Ohn Myint, U Soe Thein, U Khin Maung Soe, U Win Htun, U Htun Htun Oo, and U Thein Zaw the vice-chairman of the Union Peace-Making Working Committee (UPWC).

According to Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, when the topic of involving every ethnic armed group in signing the NCA arose it was decided that certain ethnic armed groups, namely the Wa National Organization (WNO), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), and the Arakan National Council (ANC), are welcome to participate in the political talks, but those groups would not be allowed to sign the NCA.

The government will only allow the Arakan Army (AA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to sign the NCA after they have had bi-lateral talks with the government. The government will also hold talks with Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) separately.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has said that because it previously signed a peace agreement it will not sign the NCA.

Reported by Chit Min Htun

Edited in English for BNI by Mark Inkey