UNFC Statement on Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and In-Country Peace Building

Press release by the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) | October 3, 2015

1. The root cause of the civil war that has been going on nearly 70 years in Burma/Myanmar is political, or a constitutional problem. The people made up of various ethnic nationalities have endeavored consistently to resolve that fundamental problem peacefully by political means. However, as the ruling classes in successive eras, have followed false policies, the longest civil war in the world has been going on up to this day.

2. The Ethnic Armed Resistance Organizations (EARO), as alliance of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), had started to approach political dialogue with the effort of formulating framework for political dialogue. Accordingly, the EARO held talks with the Union Peace-making Work Committee (UPWC) officially 2 times and informally 2 times in Chiangmai, Thailand, in 2013.

3. For 17 months, the UNFC led Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) had held talks officially 7 and informally over 20 times with the UPWC in its effort to iron out the differences for a Single Text, from 2013 to 2015. The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) has come to contain 7 chapters, comprising of 33 articles. In June 2015, The EARO formed the Senior Delegation (SD), laid down the final program and continued further effort for about 4 months.

4. As the government side did not accept the signing of NCA by all the EARO in contravention of the provision of Article 33 of the NCA, the 5 EARO top leaders and the SD members met with President U Thein Sein in Naypyidaw on September 9, and tried to find a way for inclusiveness. However, as the government did not accept the signing of NCA by all the EARO, no agreement was reached. Under that situation, the government, after closing further talks on the NCA and accepting the inclusiveness, only in principle, is seen trying to get the NCA signed by some of the organizations.

5. As the NCA is going to be signed by only some organizations, it cannot be a decisive and complete one, because according to the provisions of the NCA, only if all the stake holders participate in the various levels of political dialogue, including the formulation of political framework, the Code of Conduct for troops of the two sides, rules governing the ceasefire etc., the UNFC believes sincerely that a genuine and meaningful political dialogue can be attained and lasting and durable peace can be established.

6. Moreover, the UNFC sees that in the entire length of talks for the NCA, the occurrence of widespread and ceaseless offensives against the ethnic nationalities by the government armed forces has been the main stumbling block to achievement of nationwide ceasefire and peace in the country.

7. Due to the situations mentioned above, the people and the international community are urged to support and make effort concertedly for the emergence of genuine political dialogue and peace in the country. For the achievement of genuine peace and political dialogue, from the step of inclusive signing of the NCA, the UNFC on its part, will strive on, after finding pragmatic means and ways.

 Central Executive Committee

United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)

Contacts

Nai Han Tha Vice Chairman (1) Ph: +66(0)80-503-0849 (Burmese)

Khu Oo Reh General Secretary Ph: +66(0)84-805-1344, +001 651 313 2908 (Burmese and English)