Despite forming a joint monitoring committee to oversea the peace process in Karenni State the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the State Government have not yet been able to cooperate said Col. Phone Naing from the KNPP Army.
He said that schedules for meetings with the government to discuss the ceasefire could not be drawn up because they had been unable to agree on how many troops were to be allocated to each camp and other matters relating to government forces because the Union Government had not told the State Government what to do.
He said: “The [joint monitoring] committee cannot function yet because we have had no proper cooperation, though we have discussed some matters. Their side [the government] said they have not received orders from the Union Government and they cannot discuss military matters until they do.”
The joint monitoring committee of ten people, made up of five people from each side, was formed after the third union level meeting that was held on 22nd-23rd October 2013.
It was set up to take action on complaints about the peace process made by either individuals or organisations.
U Mereh Myint, a committee member from the KNPP side said: “The duty of monitoring [complaints] is very important to the peace process. We want people to understand that they can make a specific complaint for any abuse.”
Community groups have also formed another monitoring group, the Karenni State Peace Monitoring Network (KSPMN), that is not affiliated to either the government or any armed groups.
It has been formed to monitor agreements made between the KNPP and the government and the progress of political dialogue under the terms of the ceasefire. It is not recognised by the government side.
Pa Lureh, a KSPMN official, said that the joint monitoring committee should be a committee to solve all complaints, not just those that arise from the peace process.
