It is reported that as the government did not provide travel arrangement for the All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) representatives from northern region based in Kachin Independent Organization (KIO) controlled area, on Sino-Burmese border, to journey for attending the peace talks with government in Rangoon, they have not turned up at the meeting.
The ABSDF peace delegates arrived in Rangoon from its headquarters based on Thai-Burmese border on 19 May to meet the Union Peacemaking Working Committee, Maj Min Htay from northern region base told SHAN.
“The Central Executive Committee of ABSDF, appointed a 5 member delegation, 1 from each of northern and western regional bases and 3 from southern base for the peace talks in Rangoon. But we were informed that the government could not provide a travel arrangement for us. That’s why we have decided not to attend the peace talks,” Maj Min Htay explained.
Maj Min Htay further added: “That means, if you want to attend the peace talks, you have to go by your own arrangement. And no other assistance and security will be provided. It is likely that the government does not want us to attend the peace talks.”
“Based on our experience and assessment, we don’t think the government is sincere and has real intention to achieve a genuine peace for the country. The peace process so far is due to pressures from the international community and what the government is doing is just for ‘show’. The government policy is very clear that they don’t really have a genuine heart for peace, as the army is continuously fighting with ethnic armed groups. They [government army] make ceasefire with one group but fight against the others. Ceasefire has to be done for the whole country with all armed groups. Further troop reinforcements and strategic military movement must also be stopped officially,” said Maj Min Htay.
Meanwhile, in the frontline at KIO controlled areas in and around Laiza on the Sino-Burmese border, the Burma Army has been continuously reinforcing its troops, deploying tanks and armored vehicles, news sources say.
Ko Aung Ye Maung Maung from VOA Burmese service has reported that peace talks between ABSDF and Burmese government took place at Myanmar Peace Center (MPC) on Monday, 20 May.
Leaders of ABSDF Central Executive Committee reportedly told U Aung Min, Vice President of UPWC and other government peace officials that “all the atrocities, hostilities and harassment by the Burma army in the country as a whole should be stopped.”
Kyaw Ko, a Central Executive Committee member, told Mizzima: “From the ABSDF perspective, peace and national reconciliation are the most important tasks for the country”.
Following two sessions of peace talks between the two delegations: “We have emphasized political dialogue must emerge in the country. And in the evening during informal talk, we focused what should be discussed and in what form,” U San Ni, general secretary of ABSDF told VOA News.
