ABSDF, govt hold more talks following ceasefire

ABSDF, govt hold more talks following ceasefire

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin   |   Sunday, 11 August 2013

The All Burma Student's Democratic Front was scheduled to hold "union-level" peace talks over the weekend after signing a ceasefire agreement with government negotiators in Yangon earlier in the week.

An ABSDF member (second right) shakes hands with Pyithu Hluttaw representative U Khin Ye at the Myanmar Peace Center on August 5. (Boothee/The Myanmar Times)

The agreement was reached on August 5 at the Myanmar Peace Center, with another meeting planned for August 10.

"At first we discussed about 67 points but we have reached agreements by holding several talks," U Aung Min, head of the government's negotiating team, said at a press conference at the end of the talks on August 5.

"Now there are 12 points to be discussed further. We have reached an agreement to discuss these 12 points at union-level peace talks on August 10 at the same place."

On August 5 negotiators focused on peace and national reconciliation, regional development and the opening of liaison offices. They also agreed to hold further discussions on how to proceed with inclusive political dialogue.

As well as a ceasefire, the four-point agreement also commits the Tatmadaw and the ABSDF to avoid hostilities and allows ABSDF members to travel freely without weapons. The group will also open a liaison office in Myawaddy in Kayin State.

ABSDF chairman Comrade Than Khae said members of the front, which was formed in 1988 by students fleeing a brutal military crackdown, want peace.

"We really appreciate [the agreement] and we believe that it must be a positive step for getting genuine peace and national reconciliation," he said. "We have been struggling for democracy for 25 years. During those years, we have

suffered many bitter experiences and lived in seriously difficult conditions.

"We understand that it is better to solve conflict by peaceful means rather than with arms. That's why we came here again to cooperate with other democratic forces, although we don't fully believe that genuine democracy is here now."

While the front has voiced a willingness to negotiate with all groups, including the government, to create genuine peace and national reconciliation, ABSDF forces have also assisted ethnic armed forces fighting the Tatmadaw, senior ABSDF officials said.

Comrade Than Khae stressed the importance of ensuring that all ABSDF members were aware of the agreement and abided by it.

"We must guarantee the agreements made with the government's peace team reach other ABSDF members in different parts of the country, including in borders areas ... because we came here to represent the ABSDF as one group," he said.

ABSDF leaders said they had not yet mapped out a future plan for the group, including whether the army would transform itself into a political party or civil society group.

"We have to decide the role of ABSDF after seeing results of the political dialogues that will include all ethnic groups," said vice chairman Comrade Myo Win. "We are ready to utilise our forces in any role that seeks to create genuine peace and national reconciliation."

U Aung Min said he believes the ABSDF will play a positive role in the peace process, national development and the transition to democracy. "A key point about the ABSDF is that its members have been living with ethnic armed forces for 25 years. They understand the ethnic groups and so we urge them to cooperate with us on the peace process as a negotiator," he said.

The August 5 talks were the fifth meeting between the ABSDF and the government's peace negotiation team.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/08/11/absdf-govt-hold-more-talks-following-ceasefire/