A suggested framework for the political dialogue planned to follow the signing of the nationwide ceasefire agreement will be drafted by a fifteen person working committee representing 56 of Myanmar’s smaller political parties.
The decision was announced on September 14 after a two day conference sponsored predominantly by; the Federal Democratic Alliance, a coalition of smaller parties including the National Democratic Force; the National Brotherhoods Federation, a coalition of ethnic minority parties; the National Unity Party and the Myanmar Farmers Development Party.
U Saing Aik Paung, chairman of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, one of the larger players in the NBF told Mizzima on September 14, “We should have a political framework [for the dialogue] that has been agreed upon by all parties, we intend to present one to the government within 60 days of the signing of the nationwide ceasefire agreement.”
The Union Solidarity and Development Party and the National League of Democracy were both among the 11 political parties absent from the conference.
U Saing Aik Paung said the framework will emphasise the equality of all Myanmar’s ethnic nationalities, the right for ethnic nationalities within the legislative process and principles of democracy.
