Myanmar sets Aug. 31 for holding 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference

Myanmar will start holding the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference in Nay Pyi Taw on Aug. 31, announced Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi Monday at a meeting of the Committee for Holding the Panglong Conference.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the committee, called for coordination and cooperation on the part of the government to successfully hold the conference, saying that the Panglong Conference is the first step towards a robust Union.

The announcement came more than a week after the end of a five-day Ethnic Armed Organizations'(EAOs) Plenary Meeting in Maijayang in Kachin state, controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

That meeting, held from July 26 to 30, was attended by 17 organizations from 21 ethnic armed groups with the absence of four non-ceasefire signatories such as the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) - NSCN (K).

However, those non-ceasefire signatory armed groups have not yet decided whether they will join the conference or not, but said that negotiation on the peace process will continue with the government.

Aung San Suu Kyi who is also chairperson of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC), has outlined the policy guidelines for the peace process which includes allowing non-signatories to NCA to join the Panglong Conference, relaxation of restrictions on inviting political parties that do not hold a parliamentary seat to the conference and functions of the NRPC in dealing with international donors and their assistance to the peace process.

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