Representatives from several ethnic armed groups told Mizzima that the senior leaders of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) have concluded that Myanmar’s armed groups are not yet in the tactical or political position to be able to disarm confidently and voluntarily.
“The UNFC hopes that the success of the ceasefire discussions and political talks will encourage armed groups to lay down their weapons,” said U Oo Hla Saw, the general secretary of the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP).
A meeting between local ethnic armed groups and the UNFC was held at the headquarters of the Federal Union Party in Yangon on 25 November and was attended by representatives from the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Karen National Union (KNU), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP), and the Nippon Foundation. They all acknowledged the disarmament issue as well as the importance of the role of local ethnic parties in peace discussions.
On the same day, the two vice-chairmen of the UNFC met with members of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) to discuss federal democratization. The two organizations have been working together for last two months to draw up a new draft of the constitution.
The UNFC has confirmed its attendance at the second ethnic armed groups summit that will be held in Hpa-An Township in December, after which it will meet with government officials to discuss the progress of the ceasefire talks.
