The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Wa National Army (WNA) both submitted notices of resignation in a blow to the coalition’s unity. The WNA said that it was difficult to cooperate with allied ethnic armed organizations at the moment due to on-going political and military changes.

“We will decide whether they will really resign at the upcoming conference,” said the UNFC’s vice chair Nai Hongsar.

“They have been involved since the founding of the UNFC. We are all in the same boat. They need to work together with us. So I don’t think they will completely resign from the UNFC. We need them to continue to work with us,” he added.

The KIA submitted its resignation letter on April 29. The KIA’s information officer, Lieutenant Colonel Naw Bu, said the letter was sent by the KIA’s central committee, so he does not know the details about what was said.

“In my opinion, the letter was submitted to find another way [for peace] since both the government and the Burma Army have not accepted the [UNFC’s] nine-point policy submitted to the political dialogue, which was held in line with the NCA (nationwide ceasefire agreement),” he said.

The nine-point policy outlined stipulations that if followed, would culminate in the UNFC groups signing the NCA.

Even after submitting its resignation notice, KIA representatives attended the UNFC’s central executive committee meeting on May 22-23, but the WNA representatives were absent.

The UNFC is comprised of seven organizations that have yet to sign the NCA: the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA), the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Arakan National Council (ANC), the Wa National Army/Wa National Organization (WNA/WNO) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited Laignee Barron