Two more armed groups agree to meet Burma’s peace negotiators

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Two more armed groups agree to meet Burma’s peace negotiators



YANGON: -- Burma’s largest and most powerful armed groups, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) have agreed to meet and talk with Burmese government’s peace negotiators, The Irrawaddy Online reported on Wednesday.

Hla Maung Shwe, secretary of the government’s peace negotiation team, told The Irrawaddy that a letter of invitation was sent to the two armed groups by Dr Tin Myo Win, head of the negotiation team, and they welcomed it.

Hla Maung Shwe, however, said that no timetable and venue of the meeting has been set as the negotiation team was still considering weather conditions and transportation but he indicated that the meeting will take place in a couple of days.

The UWSA and MNDAA did not sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the former president Thein Sein government last October. The UWSA said before they did not have to sign the agreement because the one they signed with the military regime 26 years ago has not collapsed.

Military analysts suspect that the UWSA which is estimated to have over 30,000 troops might, once again, push for autonomy.

Meanwhile in Chiang Mai on Wednesday, leaders of ethnic Shan and Kachin armed groups held a “Consultation on Panglong” .

The original Panglong agreement was signed in 1947 by Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, Aung San, and leaders from Shan, Kachin and Chin minority groups. It envisaged “full autonomy in internal administration for Burma’s ethnic minority frontier regions.

Gen N’ Ban La of the KIO said in his closing remarks the originan signatories of the Panglong agreement have to take responsibility for leading the peace process.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/two-armed-groups-agree-meet-burmas-peace-negotiators/


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-09

[djlest]

and we thought Thailand had it bad... always somewhere worse

[Freakin Musashi]

One thing is how high you are up on the mountain. Another thing is which direction you are going.

[The Old Bull]

Churchill turned his back on the Karen after they helped him run off the nips.

[Tomtomtom69]

Churchill turned his back on the Karen after they helped him run off the nips.

The British Empire made a huge mess out of "British India" with it's effects still seen today. If it wasn't for the greedy Brits, part of Shan State could perhaps be northern Thai territory today. Now that would be cool.

Fortunately, ethnic armies are gradually laying down their arms and seeking peace with the central government, a process that has only occurred in earnest since former PM Thein Sein started opening up the country in late 2011. The result of these reforms is a fairly peaceful southern and eastern Myanmar, meaning we foreigners can now travel overland to these areas from Thailand and business and tourism are flourishing.

In northern Myanmar, the reforms have had almost the opposite effect. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) negated on a 17-year old ceasefire, resulting in renewed fighting since then. Parts of Shan state have seen a similar flare-up in violence. Most of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) controlled areas are actually reasonably safe and stable these days, due to their agreement with the government. This means it has been possible for many years for foreigners to visit Wa controlled Mongla, on the Chinese border. However, most likely because it is not under government control, is why there is no official crossing with China hence meaning it is not legally possible to cross between China and Myanmar there. By contrast, Mu-se, Myanmar's main trading post with China and also the country's busiest of all border trading posts, is under government control and there have been plans for at least 3 years to open the border up as an official, international crossing. Though it still hasn't happened for various reasons, in the near future the upgrade will likely happen.

I do hope that the Wa and other groups get into a dialogue with the government in order for peace to prosper. Myanmar's government really needs to be given full control of it's territory but obviously the concerns of ethnic minority groups such as the Wa need to be taken into account. For example, if they insist on Chinese language instruction in their schools, let them have it. They are, after all ethnic Chinese who live in a region bordering China cut off from the rest of the country by high mountains and poor quality, winding roads. They are going to have much more interaction with Chinese citizens from Yunnan than other Burmese. Burmese language just isn't relevant in these parts and a fully-functioning country with different ethnic minorities, cultures and languages can work, just look at Switzerland, a country with 4 official national languages.

I do hope that one day soon, all their differences will be settled and the various people of the Shan and Kachin states can lead their lives in peace, allowing investors to bring in much needed jobs in agriculture and industry, as well as tourism. I'd love to explore more of Shan State and hope that more of that state can open up to visitors, provided there is peace first of course.