By Naw Betty Han / Myanmar Times | November 16, 2018
Myanmar’s Peace Commission and the leaders of armed ethnic groups that have signed the government’s Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) will hold an informal meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this weekend, the commission said.
The informal meeting will discuss the deadlock in the peace process and how to address the issue of self-determination for the groups, said commission member Aung Soe.
“We will meet with the armed ethnic groups in Chiang Mai to discuss the peace process and the meeting at the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre scheduled for November 19-24,” said Zaw Htay, a President’s Office spokesperson.
The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Karen National Union (KNU), and Karenni National Progressive Party will attend the meeting. The groups may also meet individually with peace adviser Harn Yawnghwe and Pyidaunghsu Institute project director Khom Sai.
“This is just an informal meeting to discuss how to reduce the deadlock in the peace process,” said Padoh Saw Tah Doh Moo, KNU general secretary. The KNU participates in most informal meetings when we are invited, he added.
“Thousands of informal meetings were held before 2014, leading up to the 21st Panglong Conference, and this meeting could help remove the deadlock in the current process,” he said.
The KNU announced on November 10, after a four-day meeting of the KNU’s central committee, that it would temporarily stop participating in formal meetings about the peace process but would continue to take part in informal meetings.
The group said it would halt formal participation in the peace process until the issues of self-determination, non-secession, and the setting up of a single military force are ironed out.
The RCSS also announced a temporary halt to their participation in the peace process.
The third session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference had been scheduled for next month but has now been tentatively moved to next year.
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