Ethnic Alliance Pulls Out of Summit Due to Thingyan Holiday
Ethnic Alliance Pulls Out of Summit Due to Thingyan Holiday
The Irrawaddy, 11 Apr 2017
URL: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/ethnic-alliance-pulls-summit-due-thingyan-holiday.html
CHIANG MAI, Thailand — The ethnic alliance bloc United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) will not join the fourth summit of ethnic armed organizations, which takes place at the headquarters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Panghsang this week.
Burma’s largest non-state armed group, the UWSA, will host the fourth summit since November 2015 for non-signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).
UNFC vice chairman Nai Hong Sar said they could not travel to the Wa Self-Administered Zone on April 13.
“We won’t be able to go if it is during the water festival [from April 13-16],” he said. “Also, we are going to have further meetings between our bloc after the holidays. ”
Earlier this month, Nai Hong Sar said representatives of the UNFC would visit the Wa region to talk with the UWSA.
The Wa and Mongla groups are still adamant they do not need to sign the NCA as they already had bilateral ceasefires with the government, adding they are ready for political dialogue.
Two UNFC members—the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)—joined the Panghsang meeting in February, but the southern groups—the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)—did not participate.
The government plans to hold the second session of its 21st Century Panglong Conference in May.
Burma’s largest non-state armed group, the UWSA, will host the fourth summit since November 2015 for non-signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).
UNFC vice chairman Nai Hong Sar said they could not travel to the Wa Self-Administered Zone on April 13.
“We won’t be able to go if it is during the water festival [from April 13-16],” he said. “Also, we are going to have further meetings between our bloc after the holidays. ”
Earlier this month, Nai Hong Sar said representatives of the UNFC would visit the Wa region to talk with the UWSA.
The Wa and Mongla groups are still adamant they do not need to sign the NCA as they already had bilateral ceasefires with the government, adding they are ready for political dialogue.
Two UNFC members—the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)—joined the Panghsang meeting in February, but the southern groups—the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)—did not participate.
The government plans to hold the second session of its 21st Century Panglong Conference in May.