Leaders of ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) that have not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) have agreed to attend the 21st Century Panglong Conference said Dr Tin Myo Win, the chairman of the conference preparatory committee.
He made the announcement after meeting with EAO leaders at the Shangri-la Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 3 June
He said: I am happy to say that I have received answers [from the non NCA signatory groups at the meeting] and they will all cooperate and attend the [21st Century Panglong] conference.”
At the conference representatives from the government, the eight EAOs that signed the NCA and the invited EAOs who have not signed the NCA will discuss the political framework for the NCA.
A 12-member delegation led by General Gun Maw from the Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN), a group formed by the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) coalition of EAOs, met with the government delegation, led by Dr Tin Myo Win, for two hours at 10am on 3 June.
Following the meeting Gen. Gun Maw told reporters that at the meeting Dr Tin Myo Win had urged the EAOs to participate in the 21st Century Panglong Conference while the EAOs had questioned Dr Tin Myo Win about the conference.
He said: “The questions asked [by the EAOs] were: Can we only attend this conference after signing the NCA?
“How is this conference related to the NCA?
“This has been called a peace conference and also the 21st Century Panglong Conference, what is the [government’s] view on this?
“Some EAOs were told that they could only attend [the conference] after signing the NCA, while some were told they do not need to sign it. Which is correct?
“Also, what is the [government’s] view on the on Kokang, Ta’ang, and AA [Arakan Army] issues? These [issues] were particularly hard to negotiate with the previous administration.”
Gen. Gun Maw said that the government delegation had not given clear-cut answers to the questions raised by the ethnic leaders. The government representatives told them that they would continue to negotiate after they had submitted the questions to higher authorities.
The meeting in Chiang Mai was the first meeting between the new NLD government and EAO representatives since this government came to office.
The government representatives attending the meeting were: Dr Tin Myo Win, retired General Khin Zaw Oo, U Hla Maung Shwe, U Moe Zaw Oo and U Kyaw Linn Oo.
The EAO representatives who attended the meeting were: Gen. Gun Maw from the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO); Duwa Bawmwang Laraw from the Kachin National Organisation (KNO); Dr Nai Shwe Thein and Nai Yon Tain from the New Mon State Party (NMSP); General Sai Htoo and Colonel Sao Say Om from the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA); Dr Khin Maung, U Tun Zaw, and Colonel Min Tun from the Arakan National Congress (ANC); Colonel Saw Lamon from the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU); General Bee Htoo from the Karenni National Progress Party (KNPP); and Tar Aik Nyunt from the Wa National Organisation (WNO).
On the previous day, 2 June, the government representatives in Chiang Mai met with representatives of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) who have already signed the NCA. The RCSS delegation was led by their chairman, Lieutenant General Yawd Serk.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
