accord (NCA), welcomed by President U Thein Sein.
“The first point is to have all ethnic armed groups participate in the NCA signing. The second point is to stand firmly with such decisions the UNFC makes regarding the decision of all ethnic armed groups’ involvement in the NCA signing. The third point is if it is not suitable to stand like that, because it can cause barriers in the peace process, we will still stand with the decisions made by the majority of the UNFC members. At the moment, it is just 3-points”, said Nai Htaw Mon, the NMSP’s Chairman in an interview with IMNA.
The President U Thein Sein invited 15 ethnic armed groups to sign the NCA, and those groups are the NMSP, Kachin Independent Organziation (KIO), Karen National Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Chin National Front (CNF), Wa United State Army (WUSA), Restoration Council of Shan State/South Shan Army (RCSS/SSA), Shan State Progressive Party/South Shan Army (SSPP/SSA), Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Pa O National Liberation Army, and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K).
However, the government did not invite 6 armed groups, namely Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA), Wa National Organization, Lahu Democratic Union, and Arakan National Council.
“Now, because NCA draft is finalized, I am very glad. But that of not every ethnic armed group is invited in signing the ceasefire is a barrier. But we, the alliance, will negotiate and discuss that,” said Nai Htaw Mon.
The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team – Senior Delegation (SD) had a 3-day emergency meeting in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, from August 21-23.
Recently, it was announced that the Karen National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Karen Peace Council, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) will sign the NCA.
The Civil Society Organizations Forum Negotiation Committee, comprised of 260 members, on August 17, released an announcement, requesting the government to include all ethnic armed groups in signing the NCA.
According to the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC), to sign the NCA, President U Thein Sein, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the five top leaders from the ethnic armed organizations, and three leaders from the SD will have a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, on August 25.
