Yangon, December (25)
The seven ethnic armed organizations that signed a ceasefire agreement are not yet ready to accept the junta’s invitation to participate in the 2008 constitutional amendment talks, the spokesperson told Than Lwin Times.
On December 19, the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) invited each of the seven NCA signatories to discuss what the EAOs want to revise about the constitution.
The military council has offered three representatives, including leaders from each of the seven NCA-signatories, to attend the December 27-29 talks to discuss other issues, including the constitution.
The spokesperson for the seven NCA-signatories, Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt, responded that the meeting was not convenient for the top leaders to attend owing to their health conditions and it being the New Year period.
Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt said that it is necessary to hold an informal meeting to choose a time and place that are convenient for both sides.
On December 7, the seven NCA-signatories sent a letter of offer to the chairman of the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC), Lt. Gen. Yar Pyae, to meet informally with the military council.
Among the seven NCA-signatories trying to hold informal talks with the military council are the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Arakan State Liberation Party (ALP), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) and Reconstruction Council for Shan State (RCSS).
On General Min Aung Hlaing’s invitation, the seven EAOs participated in the peace talks twice.
The junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing declared 2022 to be the year of peace, but it only resulted in an escalation of the ongoing military conflicts. News-Than Lwin Times
