U Ko Ko Gyi, a member of the Union-Level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC-U) and also from the 88 Generation Peace and Society, said the Karen State JMC-S has been established to work with the union-level group in order to strengthen the ceasefire agreement across the nation.

“When we study the reasons for war it’s more of a political issue. So it’s important to solve political issues using political methods. I believe that protecting the civilians as much as we can while the problems are being worked out will aid in peace dialogue and the political process.”

The JMN-S will observe whether or not the non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and Burma Army follow the rules and regulations outlined in the NCA intended to prevent trespassing on one another’s territories and violating the rights of the civilian population, said member Pado Saw Tar Do Hmu from the Karen National Union (KNU).

When it was established during the previous Thein Sein administration, the JMC-U was criticized for lacking civilian representation. Only the government, Burma Army, non-state armed groups and some experts were included. After the new NLD government took office more civilian members were added, as well as for the state-level monitoring group.

Only eight of fifteen NSAGs invited to participate in the NCA decided to join. Seven refused to sign, mainly because the previous government failed to include several groups that are still fighting with Burma Army in northern and western Burma.

Over sixty representatives from the KNU; Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council; Klo Htoo Baw Karen Organization (KKO); the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) attended the official JMC-S ceremony recently held at the 22nd Light Infantry Division (LID-22) headquarters in Karen State’s capital Hpa-an.

Story by Saw Nyunt Thaung/KIC News
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff