ABSDF upbeat after union-level talks

ABSDF upbeat after union-level talks

By Ei Ei Toe Lwin   |   Sunday, 18 August 2013

The All Burma Students' Democratic Front says it is optimistic about peace talks with the government after signing a 12-point agreement at union-level talks in Yangon last week.

ABSDF chairman Comrade Than Khae speaks at state-level peace talks in Yangon on August 5. (Boothee/The Myanmar Times)

Both sides agreed to hold a further round of negotiations in November at the talks, which were held at the Myanmar Peace Center on August 10. The agreement came five days after a state-level agreement was signed.

"We really appreciate the agreement [with the government] and we believe that it is a new step toward bringing about peace and national reconciliation. We want to work together with other ethnic groups at every new step," said ABSDF chairman Comrade Than Khae.

He said that while ABSDF members were pleased they has been allowed to travel inside Myanmar to attend talks and share their thoughts freely with the public, they want future discussions to focus on removing the group from the government's list of unlawful organisations.

The ABSDF was listed under the Unlawful Association Act, along with the National Coalition Government of the Union of the Burma, Federation of Trade Unions of Burma and National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas, in 2006. Its members have fought alongside the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation, the Shan State Army-South and other armed ethnic groups.

Members of, or anybody providing assistance to, organisations listed under the 1908 law face a possible jail term of two years. The two sides are expected to discuss the issue in more detail at the next round of talks.

"We understand that we've got [the right to travel and negotiate] before the ABSDF is officially removed from the unlawful association list. We must continue to discuss this issue," Comrade Than Khae said.

The August 10 peace talks focused on peace and national reconciliation; the release of political prisoners; the establishment of peace teams to observe ceasefire agreements; and the opening of liaison offices in Kalay, Three Pagoda Pass, Muse and Loikaw. Participants also agreed to a further round of union-level peace talks in November to discuss removing ABSDF members from blacklists and withdrawing criminal charges against some members.

"Our members have been charged with violating a number of different laws, including section 17(a) [of the Unlawful Association Act]," said Comrade Myo Win, who is also the front's vice chairman. "We have reached an agreement with the government to reassess these individual cases."

U Aung Min, the head of the government negotiating team, said that the president had stated his intention to free all political prisoners by the end of the year. U Aung Min said that ABSDF members who met the criteria for political prisoners would also be freed soon.

However, he warned that those convicted of violent crimes would not be freed before the end of their term.

"It would be unfair if we released somebody who has been convicted of a crime where they had been involved in causing harm to another person," he said, adding that the government had formed a committee to oversee the process of releasing prisoners.

The ABSDF was founded in 1988 by students who fled to Myanmar's border areas following a bloody military crackdown. Its members sought to overthrow the military regime and install a democratic government by fighting alongside ethnic armies. Over 25 years, 629 ABSDF members have died and 490 have been wounded, the group says.

"We don't want to waste our forces anymore and we want the right to utilise them for the sake of the country," Comrade Than Khae said.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/08/18/absdf-upbeat-after-union-level-talks/