The State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Col Myo Min Naung issued the letter of objection on January 9 and sent it to the State-Level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC-S) and respective KNU liaison offices after the authorities from the KNU’s Win Yay Township of Doopalaya District sent a notification letter to the local authorities on December 29, 2017 to negotiate with them before electing local village administrators.

In the letter of objection, the state minister told the KNU not to interfere in local administrative affairs since the village administrator election is being carried out in line with the 2008 Constitution.

“We didn’t sign the NCA (nationwide ceasefire agreement) to follow the 2008 Constitution. The NCA needs to be implemented in reality. There will still be disputes at the lower [level] as long as we are unable to demarcate ceasefire area,” P’doh Saw Maung Shwe, chair of the KNU’s Win Yay Township, told KIC News on January 9.

He continued that giving orders between different organizations is not the path for peace and negotiations can be made on the lower level over this issue.

He added that they are waiting for instruction from the KNU District to prevent wrong procedures in the election since it will be carried out in the dual administration area.  In addition, the KNU will carry out if the public calls for the election, the chairman added.

Kyain-seikgyi Township has been mixed with government-controlled areas, dual administration areas, and the KNU-controlled areas. Areas that are three or four miles from the town have been marked as dual administration areas. In the villages under this area, the KNU has elected its own village administrators while the government has also elected its own village administrators. Some villages have only one administrator who works for both sides, according to local residents.