Nay Pyi Taw, 2 September
The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) is still legal and not annulled, as it was approved by Pyidaunsu Hluttaw, said Daw Saw Mya Yarzar Lin, spokesperson for the five NCA-signatories.
She made the remarks at a press conference after the peace talks between the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee-NSPNC and five NCA-signatories in Nay Pyi Taw from 29 to 31August.
Daw Saw Mya Yarzar Lin said that the NCA is a pact that has the essence for the entire ethnic people and that national-level political talks were held based on it.
“Therefore, the ethnic armed organizations that have signed the NCA must continue to implement the NCA and discuss peace until they can build a state based on democracy and federalism. We can amend and fix the flaws in the NCA. However, even though there is no parliament now, we cannot stop the discussion”, she added.
Among the signatories of the NCA under two successive democratic governments were the president and two vice presidents as government representatives, the Commander-in-chief of defense services and deputy Commander-in-chief of the Defense Services, representatives of ethnic armed organizations in the presence of local and international witnesses.
The Karen National Union (KNU), a powerful ethnic armed organization that signed the NCA, has stated that the treaty is no longer legal and that there is no reason to abide by it because the military council violated Chapter 1 of it.
Due to the military coup, the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF), and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) have withdrawn from the NCA and stopped peace talks with the military council.
Veteran politician U Pe Than said, “The groups that continue to follow the NCA are only embracing the NCA through politics and the military, and they are organizations that cannot move forward politically, so the military council is using them as a symbol. They keep talking about federalism, but practically nothing can be implemented as per the NCA”.
During the three-day talks, the five ceasefire groups discussed the articles they want to amend in the 2008 Constitution, the holding of elections, and the provision of humanitarian aid in the ethnic regions.
Moreover, the five NCA-signatories also presented the participation of their representatives in the coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance with international organizations and the practical participation of EAOs in building a federal union.
The statement said following talks with the military council, both sides’ leaders were able to finalize and sign the four basic agreements and five common agreements that will be implemented in the future.
The five NCA-signatory EAOs that met with the military council for peace talks are the Arakan State Liberation Party (ALP), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Karen Peace Council (KNU/KNLA PC), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) and the Pao National Liberation Organization (PNLO).
News – Than Lwin Times
Photo: MOI