UPWC delegation led by U Aung Min (right) meets RCSS/SSA delegation led by Sao Yawd Serk (left) at Sheik Istana Hotel, Chiang Mai, 29 May 2015. (Photo: Hla Maung Shwe, Facebook)UPWC delegation led by U Aung Min (right) meets RCSS/SSA delegation led by Sao Yawd Serk (left) at Sheik Istana Hotel, Chiang Mai, 29 May 2015. (Photo: Hla Maung Shwe, Facebook)

“It is the result of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting that ended this afternoon,” said Sao Yawd Serk, the RCSS chair.

The decision followed his meeting with the government's Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) delegation to Chiangmai on 29 May.

“The draft is not perfect,” said U Aung Min, head of the UPWC delegation, “But for all of its imperfections, it has 4 solid guarantees:

• No disarmament as long as the peace process lasts
• Federalism
• Exemption from Section 17/1 (Unlawful Association Act)
• Political dialogue"

U Aung Min and the accompanying UPWC members: U Khin Maung Soe, Minister for Electric Power; U Than Htay, Minister for Railway Transport; and Lt-Gen Thet Naing Win, Minister for Border Affairs urged Yawd Serk to issue a statement in support of the NCA. U Aung Min told him: that if he publicly expressed support for the NCA it would provide an impetus to push forward the negotiations at the 2 to 6 Jume conference in Law-Khi-Lar, where ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) are discussing the NCA and whether to accept it.

According to media reports, both UN and Chinese representatives gave speeches encouraging the EAO leaders at the Law-Khi-Lar conference to sign the NCA..

The RCSS/SSA statement said of the draft NCA: “You do not as yet have all the details of the road you will traverse or a guarantee of when you will reach all your goals but you have a reasonably good blueprint to start with.”

It also acknowledges that this year's general election could bring change. It says: "We do not know what will happen after the elections. We do not know what the country will look like a year from now. We must be optimistic but at the same time, sitting back and hoping for better opportunities may be risky…….As of now there may be not much time for a lengthy process before the elections. Signing an NCA and establishing a political dialogue may serve as a stabilizing factor.”

The statement also called for the launch of political dialogue as soon as possible in accordance with a political framework drawn up by all stakeholders and based on stability, fairness, inclusiveness and the participation of international witnesses.