Roundup: Myanmar moves peace process step further

Myanmar's 21st Century Panglong Conference will kick off on Aug. 31 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi announced on Monday.

The state counselor made the announcement at a meeting of the Central Committee for Holding the Panglong Conference.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the committee, called for continued coordination and cooperation on preparatory work by the government in order 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).

The meeting was aimed at laying down a common stance in preparation for the 21st Century Panglong Conference as well as to establish a federal union in the future.

The Maijayang 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 including 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, represented by a delegation of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) for Political Negotiation (DPN), led by its chairman U N'Ban La, have not made clear yet if they will join the Panglong Conference or not.

But they said negotiation on the peace process will continue with the government especially on the termination of the government's military offensive against ethnic nationalities in northern part of Myanmar.

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 include allowing non-signatories to Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (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 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, while seven armed groups have yet to sign the accord.

Following her announcement of holding the 21st Century Panglong Conference, Aung San Suu Kyi held talks with Commander-in-chief of Defense Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing on the same day.

They discussed issues including ending the armed conflicts in Kachin state and Shan state-North, national reconciliation and internal peace, rule of law and stability, as well as the holding of the upcoming 21st Century Panglong Conference .

Meanwhile, two non-signatory ethnic armed groups to the NCA -- the United Wa State Army (UWSA), led by U Pao Yu Yi, and the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS) (Mongla), led by U Sai Lin, vowed during their talks with Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw that they welcome the peace conference and discussions on participation are underway.

Moreover, Myanmar's former ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by Former President U Thein Sein, is preparing to submit its peace policy to the upcoming 21st Century Panglong Conference.

The USDP's stance on peace implementation will be announced at the peace conference, U Thein Sein told a workshop. He expressed hope that the peace policy will assist the country's peace process.

U Thein Sein emphasized the need of taking balanced measures while building a federal union.

USDP's third nationwide party conference on Aug. 20 will decide on the peace initiatives yielded from the workshop.

The 21st Panglong Conference calls for building a federal union with unity and non-secession spirit. Enditem