To prepare for several upcoming engagements, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) held an emergency meeting in northern Thai city Chiang Mai.
The UNFC is made up of nine ethnic armed groups that weren’t signatories of the controversial Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.
Yesterday in his opening speech, UNFC’s chairman Lt. Gen N’Ban La explained how it’s crucial to make important decisions regarding the ethnic armed groups.
“We have arrived at an important time now…I’m sure everyone understands by now that the UNFC is an organization that can cooperate with various political parties and ethnic armed groups from within the country. We must carry out future plans under close supervision (but only) after considering them with sincerity.”
The central executive committee have much to discuss. Some of these topics include: the drafting of a constitution for a federal union; protection policies for security and defence; the agenda for an upcoming meeting with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; Ethnic Armed Summit in Maijayang; and the 2nd UNFC conference.
Top leaders from the UNFC attended the emergency meeting. These included: New Mon State Party Chairman Nai Htaw Mon; Karenni National Progress Party Chairman Abel Tweed; Shan State Progress Party Patron Maj.-Gen. Say Htin and Kachin Independence Organization Vice Chairman Lt. Gen. N’Ban La.
The Palaung State Liberation Front and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (both groups have requested to leave the UNFC) didn’t attend the meeting.
Reporting by Network Media Group
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
