A meeting between the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Kayah State Based political parties of Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP) and the Kayan National Party failed due to a disagreement over the meeting venue.
Khu Theh Reh, General Secretary of the Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP)
explained to the Mon News Agency, that the meetings were scheduled for January 12, 2021, but then cancelled when no agreement on the meeting location could be reached.
On January 4, a scheduled meeting between the NLD and the Mon Unity Party was also cancelled because no agreement could be reached to have the meeting at a neutral location.
“They [NLD] can not even accept a suggested location for the meeting. So, it becomes doubtful whether they will be able to work on other matters [of concern to] ethnic groups. There was no contact from the central committee informing us in advance [of a meeting]. Yet, we suggested they meet [with us] at a [neutral] location [not NLD offices] but they did not accept that. So, for us, it won’t be possible to have the meeting with them,” said KhuTheh Reh.
Dr. Myo Nyut, spokesperson for the NLD Central Executive Committee commented on the failed meeting. “Our NLD Headquarters invited them. But the guests did not want to come to the host’s office. They wanted to meet at another venue. It’s the guests’ choice. So, since they did not show up although we invited them, we did not get to have the meeting,” said Dr. Myo Nyut.
Khu The Reh, had a different interpretation of events “They come here mainly for matters concerning their party, and the meeting with us was a 2nd priority. So, for that, we are not satisfied.” The General Secretary added, “Last month, Dr. Aung Moe Nyo contacted us [to have] the meeting. I requested [they] inform us in advance if they are really coming. I also requested [they] send us an official letter. First, we agreed to meet them, but they did not inform us yesterday [Jan.11] They did not send an official letter. It was the State level [NLD] [that] contacted us to have the meeting,” said Khu The Reh.
Dr. Myo Nyut, confirmed that local political parties were invited to join a meeting but only as guests.
Dr. Yan Myo Thein, a Myanmar politics analyst, commented on the series of breakdowns that have occurred between ethnic parties and the NLD.
“If the NLD is determined to form the national unity government, it should have practical negotiations with the ethnic parties. When the NLD has a meeting with ethnic political parties, it is important the meeting not be held at the NLD’s local headquarter nor at the local parties’ offices but it should be held at neutral 3rd place,” said Dr. Yan Myo Thein.
In late December, 2020, the NLD sent letters to political parties, inviting them to collaborate with the NLD to advance the formation of a national unity government.
A NLD team was tasked with meeting ethnic parties to discuss this objective. The team is composed of Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, Chief Minister of Magway Region, Daw Nang Khin Htwe Myint, Chief Minister of Karen State, and NLD’s Ethnic Affairs Committee Chair, U Inn Ntung Hka Naw Sam.
Although the team has travelled to Kachin, Mon and Kayah states for meetings, to date, none has been successful.
