Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
A faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland will not be allowed to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement because of the ethnic Naga armed group’s core demand for an independent Naga homeland spanning either side of the Burma-India border, according to government spokesperson Zaw Htay.
The latest iteration of the “21st Century Panglong Conference” concluded on Monday with participants signing 14 points of agreement as the high-level peace confab came to a close in the capital Naypyidaw.
Negotiators gathered on Wednesday to kick off Burma’s latest round of high-level peace talks, ostensibly furthering a process that has bogged down amid ongoing conflict in the country’s border regions.
The Burmese government is aiming to hold the third round of the Union Peace Conference next month, according to the State Counsellor’s Office.
The Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee releases a statement reiterating the ethnic armed coalition’s intention to join the upcoming third iteration of the government-led 21st Century Panglong Conference, if the bloc is officially invited to do so.
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“He told his wife that he had been coerced during interrogation. I am very worried that it has had an impact on his health.”
A member of the government’s Peace Commission says the United Wa State Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army, the latter also known as the “Mongla group,” accept the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, an accord that the two influential ethnic armed groups had previously spurned.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union will sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement on 13 February, with their accession to the accord marking one of the most substantive breakthroughs in Burma’s peace process since the National League for Democracy took power nearly two years ago.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The New Mon State Party will sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, marking the first time that an ethnic armed organisation has acceded to the accord since eight initial non-state signatories joined the previous government and military in formally agreeing to its terms over two years ago.
Plans to hold the next iteration of the government’s self-styled “21st Century Panglong Conference” have been pushed back. Instead of convening late this month, the third round of the high-level summit will not take place until February.
Ethnic bloc says “Nation of a Federal Democratic Union”; Tatmadaw insists on “Nation of Democratic and Federal Union”.
The government extended an invitation to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang to join next month’s Union Peace Conference.
Gen. Gun Maw of the Kachin Independence Army posted a copy of Suu Kyi’s letter, dated 22 December, on his Facebook page.
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“Grassroots groups know what is happening in their area. Often the authorities do not,” said Ashin Awe Bar Tha.
Analysis Ethnic issues Lead Story Peace Process
Insofar as the Union government’s agenda for ethnic reconciliation is concerned, there is little doubt that the north, where the most powerful rebel armies operate, holds the key to a permanent negotiated settlement.
Negotiators from the government, military and a bloc of Burma’s non-state armed groups have agreed to convene the third session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference in January 2018.
Military representatives apparently wish the term federal union to be replaced by nation of democratic and federal union.
“Once UNFC is on the NCA path and is negotiating with the other parties involved, it can amend the things they do not want. There is nothing to be concerned about.”
“We understand that the government has a lot of issues to resolve, in particular the Arakan Crisis. However, the peace process should be its priority,” says Khun Okker.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee released a statement on Thursday conveying the ethnic armed bloc’s intention to join the next iteration of the government’s 21st Century Panglong Conference if its members are officially invited to do so.
Aung Kyi, the head of the Peace Commission, told DVB that they hoped the ethnic rebel alliance would be “involved in the peace process very soon”.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
DPN and govt agree on principles that would pave the way towards a nationwide ceasefire agreement and kick-starting the peace process.
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“Some people may say that peace will only come about after we undertake a process of economic development, but I disagree,” said Suu Kyi.
Following the recent resignation of the KIO and other members, the UNFC now consists of just five groups: the NMSP, SSPP, KNPP, LDU and ANC.
The move came after UNFC delegates refused to speak to journalists about the conference, and barred media from entering the meeting room.
Harn Yawnghwe’s Euro Burma Office has been a major donors to the ethnic armed organisations and civic groups involved in peace talks.
The government Peace Commission is preparing to meet “soon” with members of a recently formed alliance of ethnic armed groups based largely in Burma’s north, an apparent signal that the new coalition is increasingly viewed as an important factor in the peace process calculus.
Ethnic issues Lead Story News Peace Process
The dwindling alliance of ethnic armed groups joined under the United Nationalities Federal Council banner convenes a conference in Thailand chaired by a leader of one of its former members, the influential Kachin Independence Army.
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The KNU Concerned Group says the Union Accord fails to include all ethnic armed organisations and does not take into account the opinions of ethnic political parties.
Analysis Ethnic issues Lead Story Opinion Peace Process
The second session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference made substantial progress that offers a beacon of hope for sustainable peace in Burma, but key hurdles remain.
