The temporary suspension submitted to the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) was due to their desire to prepare better for the political engagement, according to U Aung San Myint, Secretary-1 of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).

On November 17, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Karen National Union (KNU) submitted a temporary suspension letter regarding their membership in the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC).

“We have been part of the NUCC since it was first formed. But now, the intention is to make the political approach for building a federal democracy somewhat more effective. Primarily, we want reforms within the NUCC. Additionally, when engaging politically, we prefer to move forward with a Bottom-Up Federalism approach. Therefore, we have temporarily suspended (our membership) so we can better prepare, focus on other organizational tasks, and strengthen political engagement through the Bottom-Up Federalism approach,” U Aung San Myint said.

As of the morning of November 19, the NUCC has not issued any official response regarding the temporary suspension submitted by the KNPP and KNU, U Aung San Myint added.

“We want a political process that allows all of us to collaborate with full trust and understanding,” he continued.

Within the NUCC, among the ethnic armed organizations, besides the KNPP and KNU, the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) is also a member. With the temporary suspension of KNPP and KNU, only the ABSDF remains as an EAO participant, according to U Aung San Myint.

The NUCC is composed of members from the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), elected Hluttaw representatives, ethnic armed organizations, federal and ethnic-based consultative councils, political parties, strike committees, and other relevant groups.

At the NUCC’s first People’s Assembly in January 2022, parts (1) and (2) of the Federal Democracy Charter were approved. However, after the assembly, the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Kachin Political Interim Coordination Team (KPICT), who participated in drafting the charter, withdrew from the NUCC.

Similarly, during the second People’s Assembly in April 2024, representatives from the CRPH and the National Unity Government (NUG) did not attend the final day.

Although the NUCC originally planned to convene the People’s Assembly every six months, its implementation has been weak in reality. Still, NUCC members meet twice a week, and the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) under the NUCC continues holding sector-specific meetings on health, education, humanitarian assistance, federal affairs, foreign affairs, and other areas, while coordinating with various stakeholder groups.