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Myanmar state counselor holds talks with ceasefire non-signatory armed groups

Xinhua, July 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi held talks with non-signatory armed groups to the Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA) for the first time in Yangon Sunday on the country's peace process.

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

The meeting at the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) came ahead of a four-day ethnic summit planned for July 26-29 in Maijayan, northernmost Kachin state, controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the NRPC and leading the government delegation, had discussions with the DPN, headed by U N'Ban La, chairman of the UNFC.

U N' Ban La is from the KIO, while other key DPN delegation members went to U Say Htin of the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and Khun Abel Thut of the New Mon State Party (NMSP).

Other members from the government side are Dr. Tin Myo Win, chairman of the Preparatory Committee for Holding the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference, and U Kyaw Tint Swe, Minister of the State Counselor' Office.

U Hla Man Shwe, member of the Panglong Conference Preparatory Committee ,claimed that the gathering was cordial but produced no tangible result.

According to the decision of the July 8 Chiangmai meeting involving both signatories and non-signatories, the upcoming four-day Maijayan ethnic summit, to be attended by 55 ethnic armed groups, will lay down a common stance in preparation for attending the government-sponsored Panglong Conference slated for late August in Nay Pyi Taw.

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

Aung San Suu Kyi has outlined the policy guidelines for the peace process which include allowing non-signatory groups to the Nationwide Cease fire 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.

Myanmar former government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15 signed the NCA on Oct. 15, 2015 and there remains seven other armed groups who are yet to sign the NCA. Endit