Peace Process members reject ‘terrorist’ label for non-signatories of NCA

December 11, 2016

Signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement said they strongly objected to any attempt to declare ethnic armed groups as terrorists, saying such acts would undermine the peace process.

“We are in opposition of declaring any leader of ethnic armed groups as terrorists because it will pose difficulties to the peace process and national reconciliation and trust-building will be undermined, said Khun Okka, Leading Patron of the Pao National Liberation Federation, at a recent meeting in Yangon.

The third coordination meeting of the Peace Process Supervisory Team (PPST) of signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and the PPWT/CT issued a press release on current political and military developments and approved a cooperation plan to achieve the committed goals.

The statement also urged that non-signatories to the NCA cooperate with the Union government for positive cooperation for peace.

The coordination meeting was held on 10 and 11 December at the Chatrium Hotel in Yangon.

During the two-day meeting, activities of the signatories of the NCA, the implementation of the NCA and the reports of the UPJDC and the JMC were discussed.

“It will also undermine the peace process of the union government, the Tatmadaw and the Hluttaw led by the State Counsellor and it is necessary for the union government, signatories to the NCA and non-signatories to the NCA to cooperate positively,” said Khun Okka.

The meeting adopted decisions to implement the provisions of the NCA by the eight signatories, to successfully hold the national level political dialogues in accordance with the decisions of the 21st Panglong Peace Conference and participation of all ethnic armed groups in the peace process.

In conclusion, Saw Mutu Say Po, the chairman of the KNU, said that it is important to achieve the goal of peace for the country in the face of various challenges. The meeting was attended by signatories to the NCA, five leaders and three members of the PPST, and eleven members of the PPWT/CT.

Ye Khoung Nyunt

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar