Although the Myanmar government’s National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) and the Kachiin Independence Organization (KIO) were scheduled to meet in Kunming, China on September 5, the meeting fell through since both sides were unable to discuss, according to sources close to the KIO.
According to sources close to the KIO, the meeting fell through after the KIO delegation led by Gen Gun Maw rejected the offer from the NRPC’s vice-leader Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo (retd) to hold an informal dialogue.
“In my opinion, China arranged the meeting with good-will in order to obtain peace. It had arranged two meetings in the past. It acts as a medium in order for the two armies to meet. Now, it arranged another meeting between the Peace Committee and the KIO. But, I believe both sides lack preparations. They should negotiate in advance if they were to hold an informal dialogue,” said Dr Manam Tu Ja, chair of the Kachin State Democracy Party (KSDP) and former vice-chair 2 of the KIO.
Although the NRPC was unable to meet with the KIO, it was able to meet with other Northern Alliance – Burma members – the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army (AA), and the Myanmar Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), also known as the Kokkang Army.
The Tatmadaw delegation led by Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung and the KIO delegation led by its chair Gen N’Ban La met twice in Dali City of Yunnan Province, China within this year, but the meetings fell through without achieving a constructive outcome.
