The United League of Arakan (ULA)/ Arakan Army (AA) held an online discussion with the Tatmadaw on the IDP affairs, and the holding of elections in the canceled areas, according to the statement by the ULA/AA, on December 2.
According to the ULA/AA’s statement, the 30-minute-long discussion mainly focused on the timely holding of elections in the areas excluded from voting in last month’s election and also paying attention to the speedy transportation of medicine and rations to all villages which face a shortage of food, rations and medicine due to military roadblocks and barriers and maintaining the existing mutual understanding and trust.
Both sides also discussed two points:1) the safe travel for locals on roads and waterways blocked by the fighting and 2) the safe transport of basic commodities, and seeking the means to ensure the safety of residents in all conflict-hit areas.
Both sides are still discussing and coordinating a plan to hold face to face talks. Although both armed organizations carry out military activities and the transport of rations and arms in Arakan and Paletwa area, there is no fighting on the ground. It has now been more than 20 days since both sides stopped the fighting, the statement says.
The ULA/AA said it expects and believes that the peace talks with the northern alliance which stalled for nearly one year, may resume. The Northern Alliance coalition of four ethnic armed groups which are engaged in talks with the government and the Tatmadaw to sign the preliminary ceasefire agreement are: The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)/ Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the ULA/AA, the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF)/Ta-ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party (MNTJP)/the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
They said they would sign the ceasefire agreement separately. But they will sign it at the same place and at the same time without any condition.
They are also the members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) formed with the EAOs from northern Myanmar.
