The National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiation Committee (NSPNC), led by Myanmar’s military junta, is set to hold a peace dialogue in Naypyidaw from June 25 to 27, according to sources close to the event.
Major Saw Kyaw Nyunt, a representative of the 7 EAO Alliance, stated that the upcoming talks are a follow-up to a previous meeting held from March 24 to 26.
“At that time, we agreed to aim for quarterly discussions. It’s now been three months. While it’s unclear whether the military council truly recognizes this commitment, the NSPNC appears to be pushing the initiative,” he said, noting that this round is being labeled a ‘Peace Forum’ rather than a ‘Peace Talk,’ according to the official invitation.
Attendees are expected to include the junta’s peace representatives, ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that have signed ceasefire agreements, registered political parties aligned with the junta, and some international observers.
Topics on the agenda reportedly include future elections, the post-election political landscape, the peace process, and the provision of humanitarian aid.
However, the Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF) has voiced strong criticism. Spokesperson Nai Naga dismissed the event as an attempt by the junta to legitimize its rule in the eyes of the international community, particularly ASEAN.
“When a regime that seized power through violence speaks of peace, it’s no different from a warlord pretending to be a peacemaker,” said Nai Naga. “This is a political performance meant to gain legitimacy, not a genuine effort toward peace.”
He also expressed concern that international advisers invited to the forum are likely to be those sympathetic to the junta or affiliated with certain ASEAN members, rather than neutral or credible experts.
Despite such criticisms, Major Saw Kyaw Nyunt acknowledged that while the forum may not produce immediate solutions, it could open pathways for addressing the country’s deepening political crisis.
“These meetings may not offer answers in themselves, but they can help initiate a process to navigate through the national deadlock. Given the complexity of the situation, we are participating under difficult circumstances, depending on each group’s capacity and position,” he said.
The upcoming forum follows the previous Peace Talk 2025 held in Naypyidaw under the NSPNC’s leadership.
However, many observers have argued that these forums fall short of meaningful dialogue, as key stakeholders in the ongoing conflict are excluded, thus preventing any real progress toward a political resolution.
