Min Thuta – Amid the Union Government’s calls for peace and its simultaneous military offensives toward ethnic groups, Nai Ngwe Thein, an experienced political leader from the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), told IMNA that peace cannot be achieved through force in the present day, such as when Burmese king U Aungzeya (Alaungphaya) occupied ethnic people’s lands and established the ‘third Burman empire’ in the past.
Nai Ngwe Thein is directly referring to President Thein Sein’s speech at the Myanmar International Convention Center (MICC) on 17 August.
He also added, “It is not correct for the government to use the word ‘peace’ instead of ‘ceasefire’ when it talks about its deals with the ethnic armed groups. In order to have true peace, there needs to be a ceasefire throughout the entire country. Then, tripartite dialogue between the government, pro-democracy groups and ethnic groups must be held. While the government continues to operate military offensives against ethnic armed organizations, the peace cannot be achieved.
President Thein Sein said in his speech that any armed group that wants peace is welcome to initiate peace talks with the State government anytime. His speech was widely described in the Burmese media.
A New Mon State Party (NMSP) leader also confirmed that the Mon State government recently sent two monks to the NMSP to encourage the NMSP to begin ‘peace talks’ with the Mon State government. But the NMSP could not accept such an unofficial offer.
In a recent statement, the Central Committee of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) questioned the Union Government’s plans and policies in relation to the actual processes of peace-building – ceasefire throughout the entire country, political dialogue, and the establishment of a genuine federal union.
KIO has told the Kachin State government that it requests ceasefire and peace talks with the central Union Government directly. But President Thein Sein has accused the KIO and its armed faction, the KIA, of being terrorist organizations that intend to destroy Burma’s energy production projects, including the Mynitsone Dam in Kachin State, and other infrastructure.
According to the Kachin News Group, the Burmese Army is still operating offensives in Kachin State with fighting occurring on a daily basis. Additionally, the Burmese Army is also operating offensives in Karen and Shan States.
In a press conference on 12 August, the Union Government’s Minister of Information referred to all ethnic armed groups as ‘terrorists’.
Prior to the 2010 elections, the former military government and the Burmese Army pressured all ethnic ceasefire groups – Mon, Karen, Shan, Wa and Kachin – to transform their armed forces into ‘Border Guard Forces’ (BGF) or ‘militia forces’. The ceasefire groups refused the government’s orders, which caused the earlier ceasefires to break down.
