Roundup: Myanmar new government's peace efforts take shape under 100-day program

Myanmar new government's peace efforts are taking shape under its 100-day program after taking office with progress toward a new ethnic conference by August as part of its bid to realize national reconciliation and lasting peace.

The 21st Century Panglong Conference calls for building a federal union with unity and non-secession spirit of all ethnic nationalities.

Before the holding of the conference, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi is set to hold talks with representatives of non-signatory armed groups to the Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA) in Yangon on July 17 and then a review of political framework is to be made in early August.

The Preparatory Committee for the Panglong Conference decided to allow the NCA non-signatories to join the conference to ensure their access to political dialogue.

The non-signatory armed groups are represented by the United Nationalities Federal Council's (UNFC) Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN).

Suu Kyi outlined the policy guidelines for the peace process which include allowing non-signatory groups to the 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.

The committee is making preparation for political dialogue and negotiation set to be developed at the Panglong Conference and matters related to citizens and civil society forums.

Myanmar's former government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15 signed the NCA on Oct. 15, 2015 but the government wished seven other armed groups to join in the ceasefire deal.

So far, the new government has persuaded two of the non-ceasefire signatories - the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) to join the Panglong Conference. The new government is yet to bring Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Arakan Army (AA) and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to the negotiation table.

The new government is inheriting the peace efforts exerted by the former government.

One month after it came to office on April 1, the government sought new approach with the peace process by reforming the former Myanmar Peace Center with a new National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) and started to prepare for the 21st Century Ethnic Conference, identical to the 1947 Panglong Conference which Suu Kyi's late father, General Aung San, initiated before the country regained independence.

NRPC formation process was led by Minister of the State Counselor's Office U Kyaw Tint Swe.

State Counselor Suu Kyi, at the first Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) meeting, urged the focus on inclusion of all stakeholders who should be involved in the national reconciliation and peace process.

The JMC for Cease fire re-appointed Tin Myo Win, personal doctor of Suu Kyi, as new peace mediator.

A preparatory committee for the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference was also formed and two sub-committees established as a follow-up to coordinate the discussions separately and simultaneously with both indigenous armed organizations that have already signed the NCA and those who have not signed yet.

A forum was set to be held in parallel to the political dialogue in order to allow participation of civil society groups.

Moreover, the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) was also reformed with Suu Kyi as chairperson who pledged to hold the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference successfully on the basis of the NCA. Endit