Three ethnic armed groups that signed the failed Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government are preparing to meet Min Aung Hlaing for a second round of so-called peace talks in Naypyidaw.

Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson for the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council and the Peace Process Steering Team, told NMG that his group, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and the New Mon State Party will jointly meet with the junta leader in the Southeast Asian nation’s capital.

“We’ve not yet received a schedule, so we cannot say when we’ll attend the meeting in Naypyidaw, nor do we know what’ll be on the agenda,” he said.

State Administration Council (SAC) chairman Min Aung Hlaing said during a meeting that if the NCA groups want to continue bearing arms, they can either join the military’s Border Guard Force or directly enlist with the Burma Army (BA).

“We’ve signed the NCA to start a political dialogue…We’ll keep our weapons and try to bring peace to our country,” Saw Kyaw Nyunt said. For the past five years, “we’ve worked together in this process to solve political problems through dialogue…As I understand it, the chairman of SAC has expressed his desire and opinion.”

So far, ten groups have participated in a meeting with the coup leader. The others include the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and the Restoration Council of Shan State. Of these groups, only the SSPP has recently fought with the BA.

The Arakan Liberation Party, Lahu Democratic Union and Pa-O National Liberation Organisation met with Min Aung Hlaing and the National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee from 22 to 26 August. The United Wa State Party, the National Democratic Alliance Army and the Shan State Progress Party also plan to meet with him for a second time in the future.