Top leaders from the ten ethnic armed organizations that signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) will meet for five days beginning May 14, in Thailand.
The ten EAOs that signed the NCA with the government include the Karen National Union (KNU), the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), Karen National Union-Karen National Liberation Army/Peace Council, Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Chin National Front, PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO), All Burma’s Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), and the Lahu Democratic Union.
“Since we are the organizations that signed the NCA, we will continue walking down the NCA path. It isn’t over just because your organization has gained peace. We should be working hand-in-hand with the other nine organizations that signed the NCA. At this upcoming summit, we will discuss how to implement and plan for future projects,” said Nai Aung Mangay, the officer-in-charge of New Mon State Party (NMSP) Central Politics Department, in an interview with MNA on May 8.
Nai Aung Mangay continued that the the EAO signatories of the NCA have understood and accepted the NCA, and now it is necessary that the government and Tatmadaw (Myanmar army) do the same. Currently, the EAOs, the government, and the Tatmadaw disagree about the implementation of the NCA. Thus, the path to peace is long and it won’t be easy to achieve.
“Peace will not be achieved just because of the Ceasefire. We must all strive forward with the ability, capability, and commitment to finding solutions peacefully after amending the constitution,” said Padoh Saw Ta Doh Moo, general secretary of Karen National Union (KNU).
Padoh Saw Ta Doh Moo pointed out that the misunderstandings between the EAOs, government, and Tatmadaw have lasted for three years already. These differences need to be resolved, so the KNU has worked hard to get back on the track of the peace path [with the government and Tatmadaw (Myanmar army)] through informal talks.
At present, the KNU has suspended its participation in official political talk with the government and Tatmadaw. The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) has also temporarily suspended itself from participating in the Joint Monitoring Ceasefire.
