the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) is yet to be set.
As directed by the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC), the date was set for August 25 or August 28, involving leaders from both sides to meet in Nay Pyi Taw.
“We will negotiate with the another side [government] as early as possible to meet next month. There is no possibility to meet on August 28,” said Nai Hong Sar, Vice-chairman of New Mon State Party (NMSP) and a member of ethnic armed groups’ Senior Delegation (SD).
The top leaders from ethnic armed organizations, who are to meet in Nay Pyi Taw, are Nai Htaw Mon, Chairman of the NMSP, General Mutu Say Poe, Chairman of Karen National Union (KNU), General N’ban La Awng, Vice-chairman of Kachin Independent Organizations (KIO), Abel Tweed, Chairman of Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and [2nd] general Say Htin , Patron of Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP).
In addition, the leaders of the SD, namely chief leader Pado Naw Zipporah Sein, Deputy Leader 1 Dr. La Ja, and Deputy Leader 2 Pu Zing Cung , will also join the meeting.
“If everything is okay, the date will be set to sign the [NCA]. If what has been exchanged between two sides is not okay, everything will turn out like the past,” said Nai Hong Sar, to reporters at the recent EAOs Summit in Chiang Mai.
At the moment, the government only invited 15 ethnic armed groups to sign the NCA. The government doesn’t accept the other 6 groups, namely Ta’Ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democracy Alliance Army (Kokang group) (MNDAA), Arakan Army (AA), and Wa National Organization (WNO), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) and Arakan National Council (ANC).
At the end of Ethnic Armed Organizations Summit held on August 21 – 24, in Chiang Mai northern Thailand, General Mutu Say Poe, the chairman of the summit as well as the KNU, announced that the ethnic armed groups will work towards having all ethnic armed groups present and signing the NCA.
Although both sides agreed with the 32 points out of 33 points from NCA text, the government rejected 6 armed groups demands in the section, “agreement signing”, delaying the process.
