Myanmar outlines policy guidelines for peace process

Myanmar's Preparatory Committee for Holding the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference has outlined the policy guidelines for the peace process, according to U Zaw Htay, spokesman of the President's Office on Wednesday.

The policy guidelines include allowing non-signatory groups to the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) to join the Panglong Conference, relaxation of restriction on inviting political parties that do not hold a parliamentary seat to the conference and functions of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) in dealing with international donors and their assistance to the peace process.

Talks remain to be held with three groups of 21 ethnic armed organizations regarding the new government's peace policy, said Chairman of the Preparatory Committee Dr. Tin Myo Win.

At Tuesday's meeting of the preparatory committee in Nay Pyi Taw, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi called for inclusion of key figures of armed groups in the upcoming Panglong Conference.

Reconciliation is not only to be made between the government and the armed groups but also between the government and ethnic nationalities, she stressed.

According to U Hla Maung Shwe, secretary of the preparatory committee, a meeting between the state counselor and non-signatory armed groups, represented by the United Nationalities Federal Council's(UNFC) Delegation for Political Negotiation(DPN), is to be held in Yangon later this month and the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference by the last week of August.

Myanmar's former government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15 signed the NCA on Oct. 15, 2015. Enditem