NCA does not allow non-signatories to attend peace conference, says UPDJC vice chair
NCA does not allow non-signatories to attend peace conference, says UPDJC vice chair
Eleven Myanmar, 02 May 2017
URL: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/politics/9137
According to the decision of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) and the provision of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), those armed groups which have yet to sign the agreement will not be allow to attend the second Union Peace Conference.
The government and ethnic armed groups alike have decided to hold the conference for the second time on May 24. During the conference, the results from the national political talks held on ethnic and regional bases will be discussed.
"Our JPDJC has decided that according to the NCA provisions, the NCA must be signed to attend the conference. Otherwise, they cannot attend it. To change or amend such a rule, we have not discussed it - but if they have a plan to achieve real peace, there might be a change” said Thu Wai.
Five months after taking office, the National League for Democracy-led government called the first Union Peace Conference. It was attended by both signatories and non-signatories, except Taaung National Liberation Army, Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Kokang group).
UPDJC officials said the first conference could only deal with political papers submitted by various organizations. They added that hopefully, the upcoming conference could reach a certain decision.
The UPDJC vice chairman said he saw no encouraging signs in the peace process but more concerted efforts would be made.
"We really want peace. There have been two governments - under the first government, only eight armed groups signed the NCA. (Under the ruling government) another other group has not signed it. This is not an encouraging sign. From this conference, we have to make a further effort to achieve peace," commented Thu Wai.
However, Zaw Htay, director general of the State Counsellor Office, after the joint implementation coordination meeting for NCA (JICM) on May 24 said the report that non-signatories are banned from attending the conference is not true.
The participation of those non-signatories will be discussed at the meeting of UPDJC to be held on May 12, he added.
The government and ethnic armed groups alike have decided to hold the conference for the second time on May 24. During the conference, the results from the national political talks held on ethnic and regional bases will be discussed.
"Our JPDJC has decided that according to the NCA provisions, the NCA must be signed to attend the conference. Otherwise, they cannot attend it. To change or amend such a rule, we have not discussed it - but if they have a plan to achieve real peace, there might be a change” said Thu Wai.
Five months after taking office, the National League for Democracy-led government called the first Union Peace Conference. It was attended by both signatories and non-signatories, except Taaung National Liberation Army, Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Kokang group).
UPDJC officials said the first conference could only deal with political papers submitted by various organizations. They added that hopefully, the upcoming conference could reach a certain decision.
The UPDJC vice chairman said he saw no encouraging signs in the peace process but more concerted efforts would be made.
"We really want peace. There have been two governments - under the first government, only eight armed groups signed the NCA. (Under the ruling government) another other group has not signed it. This is not an encouraging sign. From this conference, we have to make a further effort to achieve peace," commented Thu Wai.
However, Zaw Htay, director general of the State Counsellor Office, after the joint implementation coordination meeting for NCA (JICM) on May 24 said the report that non-signatories are banned from attending the conference is not true.
The participation of those non-signatories will be discussed at the meeting of UPDJC to be held on May 12, he added.