The next step on the way to the long-awaited peace conference is to discuss and reach an agreement on its framework and a meeting between the two sides for the said purpose is most likely to take place in Thailand, according to Nai Hong Sar, General Secretary of the 11 armed movement alliance, United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC).
Speaking at a meeting in Chiangmai during the weekend, he reported that U Aung Min, Vice Chairman # 2 of the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC), during his last visit to Thailand in November, had suggested that the “Framework for Political Dialogue” meeting be held at the newly inaugurated Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) in Rangoon. “To which we replied that, given the circumstances, it would be difficult for the UNFC to send a delegation there:
- Many of the UNFC members are believed to be still on the government’s blacklist
- There is still fighting between the Burma Army and some of the UNFC member organizations (i.e. Kachin Independence Organization, Shan State Progress Party and Palaung State Liberation Front)
- Both sides have just begun the trust building process.”
The UNFC, after rejections by U Aung Min of some other countries as possible venues, proposed Thailand. “He accepted,” Nai Hong Sar told the participants.
He was speaking at the 8th monthly meeting of the Working Group for Ethnic Coordination (WGEC), formed after a 3-day conference on the border in February 2012 which was participated by representatives from 17 armed groups. Its aim was to develop a coordinated set of principles and plan for holding peace talks with Naypyitaw.
One result was the Ethnic Nationalities Conference in September in Chiangmai which came up with a 6 point peace roadmap:
- To draft a framework for political dialogue
- To hold meetings and reach agreement with the government on the framework for political dialogue
- To hold public consultations at community and state/regional levels
- To hold an inter-state conference
- To hold a Union conference participated by equal number of representatives from ethnic forces, democratic forces and the government until a Union Accord” is signed
- To set a time frame for the process
A draft framework, details of which are yet to be disclosed, has been drawn up by the WGEC. It is awaiting perusal and subsequent approval by leaders of the armed organizations.
The MPC meanwhile is also drafting another framework, according to Euro Burma Office (EBO) that serves as a go-between between the two sides.
