A two-day meeting of top leaders of major armed movements in Chiangmai has adopted the draft framework for political dialogue with Naypyitaw, according to a copy of the resolutions received by SHAN.
“The said (draft framework) will be presented to and discussed with ethnic political parties before final endorsement,” it reads.
The 30-31 March meeting was attended by at least 10 armed movements:
- Arakan Army (AA)
- Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)
- Chin National Front (CNF)
- Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)
- Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)
- Karen National Union (KNU)
- Karen Peace Council (KPC)
- National Unity Party of Arakan (NUPA)
- New Mon State Party (NMSP)
- Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)
- Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)
Well known names like Khaing Rey Khaing (ALP), Zin Cung (CNF), Dr Laja (KIO), Khu Oo Reh (KNPP), Gen Mutu Sayphoe (KNU), Timothy Laklaem (KPC), Nai Hongsa (NMSP), Sao Pawng Kherh (RCSS) and Col Perng Pa (SSPP) are seen among the participants list.
Apart from ALP, AA, KPC and RCSS, all are members of the alliance United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC).
The UNFC and the government’s Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) are due to meet some time this month, although the date has yet to be fixed.
Ethnic Nationalities Conference in Chiangmai, 14-16 September 2012 (Photo: Shan representatives)
The proposed framework includes specific subjects such as:
- Core principles
- Roadmap (agreed by the Ethnic Conference in Chiangmai, 14-16 September 2012)
- Composition of the participants at the new Panglong or Union Conference
- Structure of the convening group
- (For more details, please visit www.panglong.org. Framework for political dialogue: Outline for new Panglong, 22 February 2013
- Agenda (Humanitarian assistance, Judicial reform, Land reform, Power sharing, Security and Constitutional federal democracy, among others)
The meeting also decided that representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) should participate as expert consultants for relevant talking points.
“The peace process, if the framework is agreed by all parties concerned and implemented, will carry us beyond the 2015 elections,” said one of the drafting consultants for the Working Group for Ethnic Coordination (WGEC) formed in June 2012 by UNFC and non-UNFC movements.
The WGEC, whose main job description is consultation, meanwhile is reportedly drafting a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that encompasses all the agreements concluded so far between Naypyitaw and 13 armed movements.
