The Fourth meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference that was scheduled to take place at the end of April 2020, has been postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The New Mon State Party (NMSP) Chairperson, Nai Hongsa said, “We have to postpone all the events that [involve] crowds. The 21st Century Panglong, as well as the UPDJC meeting and UPDJC Secretariat meeting, have been suspended. The duration will depend on the situation of the disease [COVID-19]. We will resume when the [spread of disease] is slowing down.”
Before the pandemic was declared, the Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM) for the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), which involves a government delegation, the Tatmadaw, and Ethnic Armed Organization Signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA-S EAO) had decided to convene the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference at the end of April.
NCA-S EAO Peace Negotiation Team Leader, Colonel Sai Ngin, told the media that although the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference has been delayed, they will seek ways to hold an online meeting with the Government Negotiations Team, in order to maintain the peace process.
Government spokespersons had no comment to make regarding the announcement of the suspension.
Due to concerns of the spread of COVID-19, the Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives), the Amyotha Hluttaw (House of Nationalities), and Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meetings scheduled to take place on April 27 have also been postponed until further notice.
