The Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC) wants the nationwide ceasefire agreement to be signed so that political dialogue on peace can start at the beginning of 2015, during the current government’s term in office said U Hla Maung Shwe a senior MPC adviser.
The political dialogue on peace cannot start before the nationwide ceasefire agreement has been signed.
U Hla Maung Shwe said that if political dialogue with the relevant people could start at the beginning of 2015 then it could continue during the next government’s term.
He said: “We believe that the only way we can reduce conflict like yesterday’s [19th November] accident in Kachin State is political dialogue, which is what we are aiming for. The current situation is the best it has been for 65 years.”
The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) took a different view. Their press release of 20th November said: “During the time when effort is being made to establish trust for the achievement of peace in the country, the use of military pressure by the Burma Tatmadaw [army] raises the question of whether the Burma Tatmadaw really has the desire and intention for peace, and it should be mindful that such acts are a serious obstacle to the establishment of trust.”
Nai Hongsar the vice chairman of the UNFC and leader of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) said that the situation nationwide is difficult and whether it is possible to start political dialogue will depend on what happens at the forthcoming meeting of NCCT and the government’s Union-level Peace Working Committee (UPWC).
He said: “To be able to build peace we will have to see how the attitudes of the government and army change. We cannot be sure that the ceasefire will be signed.
“In the next meeting if we do not reach any agreements the NCCT may not proceed any further with the peace process. Previous governments had signed ceasefire agreements but then they avoided following that up with political dialogue, but this time political dialogue will be unavoidable.
“It will be good if we make a ceasefire agreement as quickly as we can. Refugees who left their homes to avoid battle clashes will be able to return home.”
However, even though there is fighting in ethnic nationalities areas whilst the nationwide ceasefire agreement talks are happening the talks will continue. The UPWC and the NCCT are preparing to hold another meeting at the beginning of December.
On 10th November Nai Hongsar and some UNFC delegates had an informal meeting with government minister U Aung Min and some of the UPWC members in Naypyitaw. It was at that meeting they decided to convene the seventh ceasefire agreement meeting at the beginning of December.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
