Five groups who are part of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), will attend the peace talks organized by the State Administration Council Chair.
The PPST includes 10 ethnic armed groups, all of whom have signed the National Ceasefire agreement. They include, the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Karen Army for Democracy (DKBA), the Arakan State Liberation Party (ALP), the Karen National Union / Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council (KNU / KNLA/PC), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO).
PPST spokesperson, Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spoke to this issue at a special meeting held on May 6th. He said, “During our meeting yesterday, five groups from the PPST offered to attend. Two groups have yet to convene their central committee meetings -so a decision is pending. There is one group that can not yet give an opinion. And another group said they had no plans to attend the event due to current organizational difficulties, ” said Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt.
According to U Gyi Myint, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA Mong La) would also attend.
“We have always decided to come to the table to discuss political issues–, we will attend,” said U Gyi Myint.
The State Administration Council Chair has indicated that 2022 is the year for peace and that efforts will be made to end armed conflicts throughout the country. He called for talks with all ethnic leaders. The Chair added that those attending should submit their list of attendees by May 9th.
It has been confirmed that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Chin National Front (CNF) will not attend.
