Several armed groups from the Northern Alliance, all of which are in odds with Burma's armed forces, said they wouldn't be meeting with regime leader and army chief Min Aung Hlaing for his supposed peace talks in Naypyitaw.
Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) spokesperson Col Naw Bu said: “In the past, they could negotiate with the ethnic armed organisations (EAOs), however, that time has already passed. After the military coup, many people have joined the revolution and got involved in armed struggle.” Without the People's Defence Forces (PDF) and National Unity Government (NUG) the talks will mean nothing, he explained.
The regime-installed State Administration Council (SAC) has excluded both of the groups despite the PDFs embroiled in a conflict with the BA across the countryside, many of which are fighting next to the EAOs, including KIO's armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army.
“Without them, it's impossible to start political negotiation to resolve political problems in our country.”
At press time, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) haven't been personally invited, but spokesperson Lt-Col Mai Aik Kyaw said they wouldn't have attended it anyway. He wasn't aware if the other groups in the Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee, which the TNLA is part of, will be attending. If they do, the Ta'ang group will be obligated to join the talks in Burma's capital.
Aung San Myint, the second secretary of the Karenni National Progressive Party, an EAO not part of the Northern Alliance or FPNCC fighting the regime in Karenni State, has also refused to play along with Min Aung Hlaing's pretence of wanting peace. “At the same time they invite us to attend the peace talks, they've increased their military operation against us. What they say and what they do are opposite.”
“To achieve results, all the stakeholders have to be part of the meeting,” he said, criticizing the regime for intentionally excluded critical players.
Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt, from the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council and the spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team, said after the team met to discuss the matter All Burma Students' Democratic Front and Lahu Democratic Union have decided not to send representatives.
He confirmed that his group will be joining the talks as well as Arakan Liberation Party, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, New Mon State Party and Pa-O National Liberation Organization.
