Clashes could delay peace process, NCCT chief warns
Clashes could delay peace process, NCCT chief warns
Myanmar Times, 10 Oct 2014
URL: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/10/13/clashes-could-delay-peace-process-ncct-chief-warns/
Fresh clashes between ethnic armed forces and the Tatmadaw could delay the signing of the nationwide ceasefire agreement, a senior peace negotiator has warned.
Naing Han Thar, leader of Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), which is negotiating on behalf of 16 armed ethnic groups, made the comments following an informal meeting with government negotiators in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on October 4.
“We’re still wrangling over the details of the ceasefire draft agreement. It’s a very sensitive time. The Tatmadaw should avoid getting drawn into fighting, despite the tensions,” said Naing Han Thar, referring to the recent fighting between the Tatmadaw and Shan armed groups.
At the informal talks in Chiang Mai, the NCCT and UPWC discussed the remaining sections of the nationwide ceasefire agreement on which they have not reached agreement, Naing Han Thar said.
“We also talked about the recent clashes,” he said, adding that he believed they were linked to the ceasefire process.
“The Tatamadaw want us to sign us whatever they put forward but we did not agree to the points that they asked,” he said. “After that, skirmishes happened again in some areas. These conditions are likely to delay the peace talks.”
In southern Myanmar, attacks on the Tatmadaw by unknown assailants in Kayin and Mon states at the end of September drove 300 villagers from their homes, but did not produce casualties. In early October, meanwhile, fighting flared briefly between the Tatmadaw and Shan State Army-North in Kye-thi township, Shan State.
“Fighting has eased over the past few days, and both sides agreed to cease fire on October 6,” said Sao Khun Sai, general secretary of SSPP/ SSA.
On October 5, the United Wa State Army wrote to President U Thein Sein, army commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann urging an end to the offensive in Shan State.
U Harn Yawnghwe, a director of the Euro-Burma Office, said the clashes were likely to continue until a ceasefire was agreed.
“Both sides blame each other. Fighting will keep breaking out unless a monitoring team is put in place. But forming such a team is impossible without a nationwide ceasefire agreement,” he said.
The latest round of talks between the Union Peace-making Work Committee (UPWC) and the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) was held at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon last month, but the lack of agreement on security-related issues has dimmed hopes that the deal would be signed in October as previously planned. No date has been set for the next round of talks, although they are expected to take place later this month.
Naing Han Thar, leader of Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), which is negotiating on behalf of 16 armed ethnic groups, made the comments following an informal meeting with government negotiators in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on October 4.
“We’re still wrangling over the details of the ceasefire draft agreement. It’s a very sensitive time. The Tatmadaw should avoid getting drawn into fighting, despite the tensions,” said Naing Han Thar, referring to the recent fighting between the Tatmadaw and Shan armed groups.
At the informal talks in Chiang Mai, the NCCT and UPWC discussed the remaining sections of the nationwide ceasefire agreement on which they have not reached agreement, Naing Han Thar said.
“We also talked about the recent clashes,” he said, adding that he believed they were linked to the ceasefire process.
“The Tatamadaw want us to sign us whatever they put forward but we did not agree to the points that they asked,” he said. “After that, skirmishes happened again in some areas. These conditions are likely to delay the peace talks.”
In southern Myanmar, attacks on the Tatmadaw by unknown assailants in Kayin and Mon states at the end of September drove 300 villagers from their homes, but did not produce casualties. In early October, meanwhile, fighting flared briefly between the Tatmadaw and Shan State Army-North in Kye-thi township, Shan State.
“Fighting has eased over the past few days, and both sides agreed to cease fire on October 6,” said Sao Khun Sai, general secretary of SSPP/ SSA.
On October 5, the United Wa State Army wrote to President U Thein Sein, army commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann urging an end to the offensive in Shan State.
U Harn Yawnghwe, a director of the Euro-Burma Office, said the clashes were likely to continue until a ceasefire was agreed.
“Both sides blame each other. Fighting will keep breaking out unless a monitoring team is put in place. But forming such a team is impossible without a nationwide ceasefire agreement,” he said.
The latest round of talks between the Union Peace-making Work Committee (UPWC) and the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) was held at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon last month, but the lack of agreement on security-related issues has dimmed hopes that the deal would be signed in October as previously planned. No date has been set for the next round of talks, although they are expected to take place later this month.