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The government’s peace offering intends to divide ethnic group unity

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IMNA – The ceasefire talks between the Burmese government and several ethnic groups
did not lead to ‘peace’ as intended. Rather, the talks have caused damage to the
unity of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), said a spokesperson for
the UNFC.

In the UNFC’s declaration, released 4th of December, it was stated that the
Thein Sein government’s policy of arranging separate ceasefire dialogues with
individual ethnic groups did not arrive at smooth and succinct solutions for
peace. Rather, the talks served to fragment the UNFC and harm the unity and
power of the collective organisation.

The UNFC claim that if the government engages the UNFC collectively in
dialogue the transition to peace will be faster and more efficient. Further, the
government’s tactic of organising dialogue with each ethnic group in isolation is
an attempt to coerce each group and break the unity of the UNFC.

“Their [the government] peace talk was not a political dialogue done in good
will. They separately met with each group and gave opportunities. They made
the [ethnic] groups weak by breaking them down into single groups. Because of
these actions, we can say that they intend to divide out ethnic groups,” said UNFC
General Secretary Nai Hong Sar speaking Independent Mon News Agency.

Over the last 60 years in which Burma has been experiencing civil war between
the government and various ethnic groups, solutions have yet to be reached
through political agreement and dialogue. Instead, whilst utilising the military
and military tactics, the government has denied groups political equality. To this
end, the government has used previous ceasefire agreements as tools to develop
those regions for their own uses rather than to arm those regions with political
equality.

In response to the real nature of the government’s ‘peace policies’, the UNFC
has released a policy declaring the need for a nation-wide ceasefire and for the
development of peace dialogues between the government and representatives of
the UNFC.

“The fact we should know is that the increasing battles did not decease even
when the government offered ceasefire dialogues. The fact raises doubts about
the nature of the ‘peace talk’ of the government,” continued Nai Hong Sar.

During the recently-held Central Committee Meeting of the UNFC, the
organisation was reformed into twelve fundamental groups. Six of these were
substantial armed ethnic groups and six were alliance groups. Further, the UNFC
made a landmark decision to form a “Union Army”, combining all ethnic armed
groups into a solitary armed force.

The UNFC was formed in February, 2011 and includes six fundamental groups –

Karen National Union(KNU), Kachin Independent Organization(KIO), New Mon
State Party(NMSP), Karen National Progressive Party (KNPP), Chin National Front
(CNF) and Shan State Progress Party (SSPP). Later it was expanded up to twelve
fundamental groups including Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO),
Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), Arakan National Council(ANC), Larhu
Democratic Union (LDU), Wa National Organization (WNO) and Kachin National
Organization(KNO).

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