Solving on-going military conflicts in the country is being discussed at the fifth ethnic summit, currently underway in Maijayang in eastern Kachin State—the second largest city controlled by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO).
U La Nan, secretary of the KIO central committee, said: “This summit is the first step towards finding a solution to political issues, which are the root causes of the civil war. If we are able to solve the issue through this step, all political issues can be solved one day. Only then will there be a stable political situation and peace can be obtained.”
Mai Htun Myint, a second year student from Federal Constitution Academy, which recently opened in Maijayang, predicts good outcomes from the summit.
“There are high expectations that a federal constitution will be a way to achieve transition in Burma.”
Mai Htun Myint heard that framework for the constitution will be thoroughly reviewed, and although this may be difficult, he remained hopeful.
All of the country’s twenty-one ethnic armed groups have been invited to the summit that ends on 29 July—including the eight groups that signed last year’s nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).
The NCA has been criticized after only 15 groups were included.
Signatories recently publically pledged their support for an all-inclusive peace process.
Ethnic summits that have previously taken place happened once in KIO’s Laiza headquarters, two times in Law Khee Lar in Karen State and once in United Wa State Army Panghsan headquarters.
Reporting by Network Media Group
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
