United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) representatives met with Burmese Minister Aung Min in an attempt to iron out several key points during an informal meeting in Chiang Mai. A formal meeting may take place at the Peace Centre in Yangon before the end of December.
“We’ve proposed a solution to our political problems by political means and not by violent means. We’ve asked for a ceasefire for the entire country. Additionally, we want to have a moderator for both sides who will ensure the agreement is being followed and monitor the areas that have not yet signed an agreement,” said UNFC General Secretary Nai Hong Sar.
Some of the key points UNFC proposed during the meeting last week included; appointing the Japanese Nippon Foundation the role of mediator for upcoming discussions, solving the sectarian violence in Arakan State, implementing UNFC’s Six Point Ethnic Peace Roadmap and ending the fighting in Kachin State.
If the Burma armed forces pulls their troops from Kachin Independence Army (KIA) front line positions the fighting will stop, argued UNFC representatives. But the government has been trying to convince the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) to sign a ceasefire and welcomed UNFC’s help, said U Aung Min.
“The KIO is the only opposition group left that has yet to sign a ceasefire with us and we are still trying for that.”
During the brief hour long meeting, six Union-Level Peacemaking Committee representatives including U Aung Min met with nine UNFC representatives, led by U Abel Twe.
