If the Tatmadaw does not extend its unilateral ceasefire time past an August 31 deadline it will be important to reconsider how to move the peace process forward, General Yawd Serk, the temporary leader of Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), said at the first day of the PPST meeting held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from August 21 to 24.
General Yawd Serk, who also leads the Restoration Council of Shan State, a signatory to the nationwide ceasefire agreement, said the peace making process couldn’t be considered complete with only 10 NCA signatories.
“For the future of the peace process, plans need to be made to include other ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that haven’t signed the NCA,” he said.
The Tatmadaw declared a unilateral ceasefire in five military operation areas: the Northern Command in Kachin State, the Northeastern, Eastern, Central Eastern and Triangle commands in Shan State, from December 21, 2018 to April 30, 2019. The ceasefire was extended from May 1 to June 30, and then from July 1 to August 31.
Currently, Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA) have been fighting intensively for about nine months in the Western Command area encompassing Arakan State, which is not included in the ceasefire areas.
Three members of the Northern Alliance – the Ta’angNational Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and Arakan Army – staged attacks in Pyin Oo Lwin and Naung Cho’s Tatmadaw outpost, including attacks on the Tatmadaw Defence Services Technological Academy, on August 15. Fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Northern alliance members has been spreading rapidly across northern Shan State since then.
General Yawd Serk said that although the NCA was signed almost four years ago the road to building a federal union was still dim. He added that it was important to work harder so that they can develop basic federal policies that can contribute to the building of a strong federal union.
He also said that they needed to reach a common position on the four points the government has proposed to move the peace process forward. PPST members also discussed whether another 21st Century Panglong Conference should be held. If another conference is held, YawdSerk explained that it was necessary for EAOs to have policies in place so that the conference yields good results.
