Independent Mon News Agency – The leaders of several armed ethnic groups are united in rejecting the idea of individual peace talks with the newly formed Burmese government. Instead, they are demanding the Union Government prepare a platform for ‘tripartite dialogue’ for nationwide peace.
Burma’s President U Thein Sein held a meeting with local social and economic communities on 17 August at the Myanmar International Convention Center (MICC). During his speech, he discussed the government’s ‘peace agenda’, saying, “if any individual armed group has a desire for peace, they can negotiate with the State or Division government at any time”.
He also said, “We open the doors for them, and will treat them according to the three main national causes under the existing Constitution”.
The ethnic armed group leaders rejected the president’s proposal, calling instead for tripartite dialogue to include three conflicting factions as dialogue partners – the current government, pro-democracy opposition groups, and ethnic nationality groups.
Vice President of Karen National Union (KNU), Badoh David Tarkapaw, said, “We want a dialogue along with our alliance, and there we will reach peace for the entire country. We will not accept individual peace talk with State governments.”
The Union Government office also sent out a letter yesterday, informing all armed groups to deal with their respective State or Division government.
United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) General Secretary Nai Hong Sar confirmed that there must be ‘tripartite political dialogue’ to solve the country’s political problems and conflict in the ethnic regions.
He said, “The political problems must be solved by political means. If not, we can not achieve peace.”
An alliance of twelve ethnic groups, the UNFC adopted a policy calling on its members to hold peace dialogue only through their alliance. The alliance is concerned the government could use ‘divide and rule’ tactics toward individual groups.
Another ethnic ceasefire group, the Karenni National Progressive Party, said to the media that if U Thein Sein truly desires peace dialogue, the government should regulate it as law in the State Parliament, including details of the proposed process for peace building.
The UNFC was formed in February 2011, and is composed of six armed groups as permanent members: the Karen National Union (KNU), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Chin National Front (CNF), the Kachin Independence Organization, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and the Shan State Progressive Party. Other coordinating organizations include the Pa-oh National Liberation Organization (PNLO), the Palaung State Libration Front (PSLF), Arakan National Council (ANC), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Wa National League (WNOO) and the Kachin National Organization (KNO).
