Armed ethnic groups say they will sign an agreement on a national ceasefire with the government on condition that a proposal for a federal army is included in peace talks, a spokesperson told Mizzima on January 20.
“We will only sign a ceasefire if discussion on a federal army is guaranteed,” said Phado Saw Kwe Htoo Win, the general secretary of the Karen National Union, which is hosting a conference to discuss strategy for the next round of peace talks at its Lawkheelar camp in Kayin State.
The conference, which began on January 20 and has been extended by a day to January 23, has brought together the 18 armed ethnic groups represented on the National Ceasefire Coordinating Team formed to participate in the peace talks.
Phado Saw Kwe Htoo Win said the conference was discussing draft versions of ceasefire agreements prepared by the armed ethnic groups and the government.
He said the drafts included many common points but stressed that any ceasefire agreement must acknowledge a federal army, a move that has been opposed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Phado Saw Kwe Htoo Win said he expected progress towards a ceasefire agreement at the next meeting between the NCCT and the government, which is due to take place in the Kayin State capital, Hpa-an, in late February.
The conference is also discussing a framework for political negotiations with the government that the armed ethnic groups want to begin three months after a ceasefire agreement is signed.
