The conclusion of Myanmar’s ceasefire agreement, currently under negotiation between the Union government’s Union Peace-making Work Committee and the armed ethnic groups’ Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team, may be delayed, Naing Han Thar, leader of the NCCT told Mizzima on September 23.
Speaking after the second day of the renewed peace negotiations, Naing Han Thar blamed what he called the Tatmadaw representatives’ stern attitude for creating a tense atmosphere.
Talks were expected to continue until 5pm but were cut short at 3pm when compromise became difficult, said Naing Han Thar.
The chief negotiator told Mizzima that issues still to be resolved included the deployment of armed forces following the ceasefire, the distance to be kept between opposing armed forces and the establishment of a committee to monitor movement of troops. He added the Tatmadaw had demanded the armed minority ethnic groups refrain from further recruitment once the ceasefire is signed, a demand the NCCT regard as one-sided and unfair.
Naing Han Thar also told Mizzima that the talks had stalled after Union government negotiators had been allegedly instructed by their superiors to backtrack on language surrounding the ‘establishment’ of a federal army; instead asking to ‘plan’ a federal army.
