“This conflict can impact the talk, and can also [reduce] belief [among the people]. Whatever it is, [we] do not want to lose results we have already obtained during the ongoing search for a ceasefire. Both sides need to work hard to maintain order not to have it lost [the search for a ceasefire agreement], said Nai Hongsar, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the United Nationalities Federation Council (UNFC).
Nai Hongsar continued that since the state and union-level ceasefire agreement that has already been signed does not include points regarding the location of army bases, or the rules that both sides must obey, such clashes can take place.
The NCCT and the Union Peace-Making Working Committee (UPWC) agreed at its recent sixth round talks that both sides would engage in another round of talks at the end of October. According to Nai Hongsar, the next round of talks will include discussions regarding the locations of respective armed groups, rules the armed groups must obey, as well as the foundation of observation groups.
“Concerning locations of armed groups’ bases, the UNFC is still working on [a draft], so it is possible that such a draft will [not be ready in time for the talks], so [the talk] can be postponed to next month,” said Nai Hongsar.
Meanwhile, NCCT leaders have recognized that the continued fighting between the government army and ethnic armed groups is reducing optimism for talks regarding a nationwide ceasefire agreement, as well as disrupting advancement in peace talks.
NCCT leaders worry that the peace process may regress, since, in addition to fighting in Karen State, fighting continues to occur between government troops and local armed groups in Shan and Kachin states, according to U Nyo Ohn Myint, a member of the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC).
“Some leaders are very concerned with [the fate of] the [next] talk. This [talk] cannot fail because both sides want peace for the whole nation; this talk will not be broken. By the way, we will meet, again, by the end of this month, but we have not scheduled the date yet. When both sides meet again, the conflict issues will be negotiated and solved first, and then [ceasefire] talks will be discussed,” said U Nyo Ohn Myint.
The sixth round peace talks between the NCCT and the UPWC were held from September 22-26th, at the Myanmar Peace Center in Rangoon.
