Political parties agree to cooperate on framework for peace talks
Political parties agree to cooperate on framework for peace talks
Eleven Media, 15 Sep 2014
URL: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7562:political-parties-agree-to-cooperate-on-framework-for-peace-talks&catid
Representatives from more than 50 political parties have agreed to produce a single framework to guide political dialogue between the Union government and ethnic groups following the signing of a nationwide ceasefire, according to a statement released after a meeting of the parties in
Yangon on September 13 and 14.
The statement from the 56 political parties said that they had committed to work together to produce a single framework for political framework and they would also discuss this framework with the political parties that did not send representatives to the meeting.
The parties that did not send representatives include the ruling Union Solidarity and Development party and the main opposition party, the National League for Development (NLD).
A meeting to draft the framework will be held within 60 days of the signing of a nationwide ceasefire between the government and armed ethnic groups, the statement said. The political talks – expected to focus on resource sharing between Nay Pyi Taw and states and regions, as well as greater power for state and regional governments – will start within 90 days of the ceasefire’s signing, the statement added.
The meeting was organised by the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation, the Federal Democracy Alliance, National Unity Party and the Myanmar Farmers Development Party. Representatives from 56 political parties, mostly small parties representing ethnic minorities, attended it.
Zo Zam, spokesperson of the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation – an alliance of ethnic groups – said the meetings focused on a framework for pushing the peace process ahead after the ceasefire was signed. He said the federation already had a framework, as did the Federal Democracy Alliance. “We compiled frameworks [at the meeting]. There will be more frameworks from political parties. We are not working for interest of a single political party but are doing our best to arrive at a single framework,” Zo Zam said.
Tun Tun Hein, a member of the NLD’s central executive committee said the viewpoint of each of the country’s 67 political parties should be sought. He did not explain why the NLD did not attend the meeting but said: “If we are invited, we have the right to decide whether to attend or not to attend. We will attend an event if we decide to do so.”
Tun Tun Hein added that the most important factor in the political dialogue between the Union government and ethnic groups was freedom of discussion. If talks are not free and fair it will create difficulties, he said, adding that the NLD supports political dialogue as critical to the ongoing peace process.
Dr Aye Maung, a leader of the Arakan National Party, said 11 political parties did not send representatives to the talks. A single framework for political dialogue will be produced only with the approval of all political parties, including the 11 that did not attend.
Yangon on September 13 and 14.
The statement from the 56 political parties said that they had committed to work together to produce a single framework for political framework and they would also discuss this framework with the political parties that did not send representatives to the meeting.
The parties that did not send representatives include the ruling Union Solidarity and Development party and the main opposition party, the National League for Development (NLD).
A meeting to draft the framework will be held within 60 days of the signing of a nationwide ceasefire between the government and armed ethnic groups, the statement said. The political talks – expected to focus on resource sharing between Nay Pyi Taw and states and regions, as well as greater power for state and regional governments – will start within 90 days of the ceasefire’s signing, the statement added.
The meeting was organised by the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation, the Federal Democracy Alliance, National Unity Party and the Myanmar Farmers Development Party. Representatives from 56 political parties, mostly small parties representing ethnic minorities, attended it.
Zo Zam, spokesperson of the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation – an alliance of ethnic groups – said the meetings focused on a framework for pushing the peace process ahead after the ceasefire was signed. He said the federation already had a framework, as did the Federal Democracy Alliance. “We compiled frameworks [at the meeting]. There will be more frameworks from political parties. We are not working for interest of a single political party but are doing our best to arrive at a single framework,” Zo Zam said.
Tun Tun Hein, a member of the NLD’s central executive committee said the viewpoint of each of the country’s 67 political parties should be sought. He did not explain why the NLD did not attend the meeting but said: “If we are invited, we have the right to decide whether to attend or not to attend. We will attend an event if we decide to do so.”
Tun Tun Hein added that the most important factor in the political dialogue between the Union government and ethnic groups was freedom of discussion. If talks are not free and fair it will create difficulties, he said, adding that the NLD supports political dialogue as critical to the ongoing peace process.
Dr Aye Maung, a leader of the Arakan National Party, said 11 political parties did not send representatives to the talks. A single framework for political dialogue will be produced only with the approval of all political parties, including the 11 that did not attend.