unlawful association act, announced by the government yesterday, October 12.
The Karen National Union (KNU), All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), and Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) are the 3 ethnic armed groups that have been removed, according to the government’s announcement no. (2/2015), on October 12.
“On today’s date [October 12], the home affair ministry announced the removal of 3 of the 8 groups, which will sign the NCA, from the unlawful association act and the terrorist act. Because the other 5 groups were not originally on the list of the unlawful association act, there is no need to de-list them,” said U Ye Htut, Union Minister, on his Facebook page.
The eight ethnic armed groups and the government agreed to sign the NCA on October 15, at Myanmar International Convention Center -2 (MICC-2), in Nay Pyi Taw.
On October 4, the eight ethnic armed groups and government representatives had a meeting, wherein both sides agreed to announce that the government would inform the public of the co-operating ethnic armed groups removal from unlawful association act 3 days before NCA inking.
According to KNU’s statement released on October 12, after signing the NCA, as agreed in the NCA text, political talks would be held, and with the outcomes from political talks, the union based on democratic and federal systems would be founded.
“After we sign the NCA, as agreed in the NCA text, the political framework will be drawn. Then, political discourse will be held. So, based on the results from political talks, we will work hard to establish a union with democratic and federal systems,” said Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, general secretary of KNU.
The ethnic armed groups that have agreed with the government to sign the NCA are KNU, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA-PC, Pa-O National Liberation Organization, Chin National Front (CNF), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), and Restoration Council of Shan State.
