announcement was made before government senior representatives and top ethnic armed group leaders at a high profile meeting held at Myanmar Convention Center (2), in Nay Pyi Taw, on September 9.
“Today [Sept. 9] 9 ethnic leaders also discussed the terms openly. So, the president recommends signing the NCA on September 29. Although the ethnic leaders did not turn it down, they instead propose to do it in October. So, it remains uncertain whether the NCA inking takes place on the date that the president proposed or in October,” said U Hla Maung Shwe, of Myanmar Peace Center (MPC).
Contrary to U Thein Sein’s proposal, the ethnic armed group leaders requested to sign the NCA onOctober 15.
“The president said to sign the NCA on September 29. But because we have to report to our group members, we proposed to sign it on October 15. It can be earlier than this date. However, I cannot confirm it yet,” said Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT).
In attendance at the meeting on the ethnic armed group side were Gen. N’Ban La, chairman of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Gen. Mutu Say Poe, head of Karen National Union (KNU), Khun Abel Tweed of Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Gen. Say Htin of Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), and Nai Htaw Mon, Chairman of New Mon State Party (NMSP).
Naw Zipporah Sein, Dr. La Ja, and Pu Zing Cung of the Senior Delegation (SD) and Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) were also present at the meeting.
From the government side, were President U Thein Sein, Union Minister U Aung Min, U Ye Htut, U Ohn Myint, U Soe Thein, U Khin Maung Soe, U Win Htun, U Htun Htun Oo, and U Thein Zaw the vice-chairman of Union Peace-making Working Committee (UPWC).
According to Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, when the topic of involving every ethnic armed group in signing the NCA arose, it was decided that certain ethnic armed groups, namely Wa National Organization (WNO), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), and Arakan National Council (ANC), are welcome to participate in political talks, although those groups would not be allowed to join NCA inking.
The Arakan Army (AA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) could only join in the NCA inking after conducting bi-lateral talks with the government. The government will hold talks with Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) separately.
The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has previously signed a peace agreement, and therefore will not sign the another ceasefire agreement.
