The All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) has called on the Government, the Tatmadaw, and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to negotiate a solution that will end their armed conflicts.
The ABSDF released their statement on December 10 following their Student Army Central Committee Plenary Meeting that was held from December 7 to 9, 2020. More than 40 Central Committee members and comrades attended.
ABSDF Chair Comrade, Than Khe, told the Mon News Agency that “Currently, there is a real pressure on everyone and every family in Burma. The Covid-19 epidemic is affecting all of us. … we are all facing that crisis. In the meantime, armed conflicts … need to end quickly. A ceasefire must be negotiated between the government , the military and relevant ethnic armed groups. Then, they should hold regular political meetings.”
The ABSDF meeting focused on a number of topics inlcuding, current and long-term activities, attitudes towards democracy, the establishment of a federal union, National reconciliation, as well as internal peace talks, and the emergence of positive results through political dialogue based on the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
Comrade Than Khe said, “…civil war that has been going on in our country for more than 70 years, it has been passed down from generation to generation. Now our generation has arrived. It should not be left in the hands of the next generation. In particular, we believe that the answer to this problem can be solved … if political decisions are made [that advance] democracy and federalism [focused on] nation-building, and political outcomes through political dialogue. I want to urge that today is the time for all to work together peacefully and have meaningful political dialogue.”
There have been some positive steps to advance peace talks. Hla Maung Shwe, a member of the Government’s Peace Commission, commented that there have been encouraging discussions between the Government, the Tatmadaw and Hluttaw representatives to resume internal peace talks, which were suspended due to the Covid-19 and the election.
“We have been able to hold the discussion of the peace process in Naypyidaw and review the framework for political dialogue. Now that the policy has been given, we are preparing to hold talks with those who have not yet signed in the coming days. We are also preparing to start talks with the signatories next week,” said Hla Maung Shwe.
However, not everyone is optimistic. The New Mon State Party (NMSP) Chairman Nai Hong Sar, told Mon News Agency that while the current government has prioritized democracy and national unity –, directing political efforts into the cessation of the civil war is still a long way off as the fundamental issue of federalism is not being addressed.
Nai Hong Sar said, “the current flames of war will not be extinguished unless true national equality and a true federal union with self-determination are established. The current authorities are mostly talking about democracy. They do not want to talk about federalism. This does not solve the root cause. If we continue like that, the civil war will not end. National unity is still a long way off.”
Critics continue to point out the failure of the National League for Democracy ( NLD) to repair the 2008 constitution during its nearly five-year rule. Political observers say there have been only deadlocks between the military and the EAOs , and that there has been no clear movement to advance peace.
