NCA future remains unclear

 

There are 16 ethnic armed groups which have already agreed a ceasefire with the government and 11 of them belong to the coalition called Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT).

At the meeting starting on June 2, some leaders expressed disagreement over whether some groups, which had not entered peace discussions with the government, should be allowed to be signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement. 

Five armed organisations, including the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance (MNDAA), have not reached an agreement with the government to discuss a ceasefire. 

Yet, several others are pushing for the nationwide ceasefire agreement. 

On June 4, Abel Tweed, the chairperson of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), told the summit that President Thein Sein and his cabinet expected the leaders to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement after the Law Khee Lar summit. The United Nations, world powers and Asean were hoping for the same.

Abel Tweed said: “This summit is very important. We will manage our own militaries and politics. We have to make the right political decision at this crucial time. If we take the wrong military approach, the result is death. If we take the wrong political path, the result might make us slaves for life. 

“The Bamar government suppressed us for more than 60 years, since we did not have our own militaries or political systems. That was the great lesson for us. We need to be very careful about how to handle politics in the future. All ethnic groups want to solve the crisis by means of politics. We all see now it cannot be solved by conflict. Fairness is essential in solving political problems.”

He continued that there were seven states in Myanmar where different ethnic groups lived. The states were connected by boundaries but their ethnicity, cultures and languages were different but all minorities wanted equality, autonomy and a genuinely federal state. He noted that a unity is a must and all leaders must make a decision now if they will sign the accord.

The meeting ends on June 6.