Govt and ethnic armed groups disagree over the timeframe to start political ...

Govt and ethnic armed groups disagree over the timeframe to start political dialogue

Published on Saturday, 02 November 2013 18:57

Kachin Independence Organization's soldiers guarding the Ethnic Armed Organisations Conference in Laiza Township, Kachin State (Photo – Aung Zaw Tun / EMG)

Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups are disagreeing over when to start the political dialogue which is set to follow the signing of the nationwide ceasefire.

The issue was a key topic on the second day of the peace conference in Kachin State's Laiza Township on October 31.

The government said in a ceasefire draft that the political dialogue will take place four months after the ceasefire is signed. However, the ethnic groups want it begin 30 days after signing the ceasefire.

According to the reports from the three-day conference that lasted until Thursday evening, some ethnic groups said they will not sign the ceasefire unless there is guarantee to begin the political dialogue.

Disagreements between the ethnic armed groups when Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State emerged over the discussion about the view of the government. 

In fact, the government included a section taking pledge to hold the political dialogue in their nationwide ceasefire draft that was prepared before the Laiza Conference.

In the draft, the government said the political dialogue will be arranged after four months of signing the ceasefire, while the discussions on formulating the framework of the dialogue will begin in the two months.

However, in the ceasefire draft by the ethnics which was based on the resolutions from the second ethnic conference held in Thailand late July and a meeting of the United Nationalities Federal Council held in October, it is said the discussions for the political dialogue's framework must begin in 30 days after signing the ceasefire.

The Ethnic Armed Organisations Conference in progress on October 31 (Photo – EMG)

The UNFC's proposed ceasefire draft includes the points such as turning Myanmar into a federal democracy, guaranteeing rights of quality and autonomy in the states within the union, forming a federally-based military, addressing political issues politically, discussing political dialogue frameworks and seeking agreement within 30 days after a ceasefire accord and continuing to hold political dialogue outside the parliament in accord with the approved frameworks. 

According to another ceasefire draft revised by the government before the ethnic armed leaders' meeting in Laiza, the national ceasefire accord must be submitted to the parliament for approval only after it has been signed by the ethnic armed groups. 

The government's peace negotiators have already distributed copies of the draft ceasefire agreement to some ethnic armed groups, including the UNFC, after revising it with amendments. 

The ceasefire draft that has yet to be publicised contains 15 chapters with such provisions as ceasefire rules and disciplines, resettlements of troops from both sides, human rights protection, the formation of a committee for peace and political talks and a joint ceasefire committee and a joint peace advisory committee, efforts for trust building and political dialogue and seeking approval from parliament.  

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/11/02/govt-and-ethnic-armed-groups-disagree-over-the-timeframe-to-start-political/