“The purpose is to discuss on the draft framework for the planned political dialogue,” he said. “As the first meeting will be dealing mainly with the technicalities, the MPC team will be headed by U Hla Maung Shwe, and not U Aung Min (the President’s chief negotiator).

Meeting between United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) and the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) in Chiangmai, 20 February 2013. (Photo: Hla Maung Shwe)

The two sides so far have met twice in Chiangmai:

• 9 November 2012, when both sides agreed there should be a common framework for both sides to work together
• 20 February 2013, when the headings of the draft framework were discussed

Since then, the draft has been revised twice. It has called for:

• The political dialogue to take place before the end of 2013, to be continued until the end of 2014
• The initial agreement should be ratified by the present legislature
• Remaining topics are to be continued during the tenure of the new legislature elected by the 2015 polls

The Working Group for Ethnic Coordination (WGEC) that had prepared the draft framework said a copy of the third draft was presented to the MPC on 13 May. “U Aung Min had commented that the new draft was very comprehensive,” said a WGEC source. “U Hla Maung, on the other hand said the MPC might draw up an alternative draft framework to be submitted to the President.”

To date, there are 13 movements that have concluded ceasefire agreements with Naypyitaw, “14 if you also count the agreement signed by the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization) in 1994,” according to Hkun Okker. According to the 7 point agreement signed by Naypyitaw and the KIO in Myitkyina on 30 May, the two sides had only agreed to reduce the fighting and try to avoid further clashes, he said.