Leaders of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS)—also known as Mongla Army—were on route yesterday for a meeting with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
An official travelling with the delegation told S.H.A.N. that the trip was mainly a goodwill visit but there was discussions on political matters and the peace process.
He said: “This is the first time in this new administration there has been a meeting between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and our leaders.”
Special Region (2) UWSA leader U Bao Youxiang and Special Region (4) NDAA-ESS leader U Sai Leun; and their spouses, boarded a Keng Tong charter plane yesterday morning.
This month, Suu Kyi has been meeting with some leaders of ethnic armed groups in advance of the 21st Century Panglong Conference (also Union Peace Conference).
During a meeting last week with United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) leaders, Lt. Gen. N’Ban La questioned the state councillor whether the ethnic armed groups that didn’t sign last year’s nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) would be allowed to participate in the conference that is planned for the end of August.
Suu Kyi replied that she wanted the conference to be inclusive so all of the groups can attend but cannot guarantee that NCA non-signatories will have the same rights as those that signed. Nobody would want to sign the NCA if they can get the same rights without taking part, she reportedly said.
“It would be better if they came after signing the NCA,” a UNFC leader that attended the meeting allegedly heard her say.
The UWSA and NDAA-ESS didn’t join the NCA. Both groups have been in ceasefires that were signed with the military government in 1989, and again in 2011 with the Thein Sein government. However, they want to be included in on-going political dialogue with the NLD government.
At the same time UWSA and NDAA-ESS leaders met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the country’s capital, 17 other armed groups are attending the ethnic summit in Maijayang in eastern Kachin State—the second largest city controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization.
The NDAA-ESS sent representatives to attend the summit in but UWSA representatives were absent.
Reporting by Hwan Hein for S.H.A.N.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
