6th Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting on NCA held

 November 27, 2017

3rd meeting of Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong to be held in last week of January, 2018

State Counsellor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre gave a welcoming speech at the 6th Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting on Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-NCA held at 10 am yesterday at the NRPC in Nay Pyi Taw.

Present at the meeting were Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services and Commander-in-Chief (Army), U Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor, Union Attorney-General, U Tun Tun Oo, Dr Tin Myo Win, Chairman of the Peace Commission, Hluttaw Representatives, Tatmadaw high-ranking officers, Deputy Ministers, leaders of eight ethnic armed groups, signatories of NCA, JICM representatives and invited guests.

In her opening address, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stressed the need to have the spiritual courage to dare find the right solution for peace, saying that the peace process needed the spiritual courage to reach the goal of peace while the physical courage is necessary to dare face with enemies in the battle field.

“We all must have the courage to dare find rightful solution for peace. And, we are required to rightfully assess whether we can find out the solution we want or not. So, making compromise is of great importance. Unless solutions are found out urgently, solutions must be sought after confronting causes of why it is not found out.”

State Counsellor added, “If we really have the aspiration, there is no reason why we cannot accomplish what we want. I firmly believe that all those present at the meeting are desirous of peace. It is our people who want peace most, more than anyone else. The people want to live in peace. Peace can bring about progress which can result in development as known by all.”

It is responsible for all of us sitting in the meeting room to gain peace, for the sake of our people. Responsibility is great and difficult to bring about peace. It is absolutely not reasonable if we claim that we cannot dutifully perform our duties as it is great. We are required to exert our efforts more than ever. In holding the present meeting, what we must not lose the sight is our people’s desire. In this meeting, we have to solve what must be solved out, or move forward to another step or two steps if we need according to our negotiations, with the spirits of fulfilling people’s needs, desires and expectations they greatly aspired since the time of gaining Independence—the Peace. I myself hereby request all to collectively discuss with the spirit of paving a smooth and better path.”

Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services and Commander-in-Chief (Army) said, “In building up the Union based on the federal democratic system, JICM plays an important role as a major driving force. UPDJC will also have facts agreed through the secretariat over solutions sought from detailed negotiations of working committees of UPDJC. In case there are some disagreements, leaders are collectively to find out solutions in this JICM. So, we say that JICM is a very important component. Concerning the items 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the agenda of the present JICM, it is necessary to discuss for the approval of the facts achieved from JMC and UPDJC. In doing so, the people need not to prioritize their desires excessively, instead we need to discuss based on the spirit of keeping our three Main National Causes for ever and multi-party democratic system. In negotiating like this as well, we must pay respect to mutual trust and cooperation. Here, what we must take care is not to lose sight of our goal of emergence of a Union based on federal democratic system from achieving eternal peace.”

And, Vice-Senior General Soe Win added, “During the period of building up peace, I hereby suggest that it is urgently needed for us not to prioritize the affairs that can cause misunderstanding, not to intervene in the process of administration of the State Government and not to go beyond the authority. Besides, we are required to implement for our armed national ethnic groups which have not yet signed the NCA to actively organize to take part, without solving political problems by military ways.”

The leader of PPST and the Chairman of Karen National Union (KNU) Saw Mutu Sae Phoe thanked for convening the JICM requested by 8 EAOs. It is therefore believed that JICM will be held regularly every three months as earlier agreed and if required, emergency meeting could also be held he added.

“First I would like to say a bit about the delay of a few months in implementing peace dialogues based on the peace process. Review and assessment of the peace process was conducted repeatedly by the 8 EAOs due to real requirements.”

“Despite the delay in discussing with the government, it was continuously discussed among us. Peace process is resolving the political problems through discussions based on NCA. But we must not forget the matter of national reconciliation. As national reconciliation is listening and coordinating with one another and finding a solution for a common goal, it is important in a peace process. Therefore, holding a national level political discussion is heading towards national reconciliation.”

“Furthermore, it is very important to create informal and coordination meetings prior to official meetings. In order to establish our future country that is appropriate to all stakeholders, a foundation based on democracy federal principal need to be laid. It also needs to be actually implemented too. This is the peace inheritance that we’ll leave behind for our next generation.”

“It is good to reach the goal of peace but it need to be arrived at by taking time to fully resolve the differences. Meetings need to be based on this principal. Another thing is to be responsible for the processes. I would like to conclude by urging to conduct the meetings and discussions based on national reconciliation,” said the KNU Chairman.

Meeting attendees then confirmed the meeting agenda, submit and confirmed the minutes of Implementation Coordination Meeting on NCA, ToR and SOP drawn by UPDJC, discussed on National Dialogue matters, discussed general matters and matters relating to implementing the union agreement.

After the discussions were completed the leader of PPST and the Chairman of KNU Saw Mutu Sae Phoe delivered a concluding speech. “I thank all for successfully holding the 6th JICM meeting. In future discussions, matters that could affect either party need to be overcome by having understanding and being magnanimous. Finally establish together a federal democracy nation by aiming at national reconciliation.”

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw Vice-Senior General Soe Win said “There are good results after today’s meeting as well as items that need to be discussed more. On the part of our Tatmadaw, this ToR and SOPs are processes that we have to go through until we achieve permanent peace. Looking back in detail at the UPDJC meetings, JICM meetings and meetings of generals led by me, we found small requirements that are actually not a new concept.”

“The good outcome from these works can resolve a problem with RCSS. This is a win-win solution theory that is not a gain or a loss to either side. This is mainly the result of the successful brokerage by the State Counsellor (between the two) and is the essence of the meeting’s success,” said the Vice-Senior General.

National Reconciliation and Peace Center Chairperson State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said “Achieving this success in JICM meeting is not only reaching one agreement but also the progress of our will power. (Shows that) We have the true Panglong spirit. I’m very much pleased as it supports the spirit of cooperation. And much thanks is owed to all who have conceded in places where concession is required. In the day’s meeting, matters in which there were disagreements were discussed.”

“We agree to continue discussion on some. To agree and disagree are the conduct of a civilized society. We all could not be of a single mind. But the quality to negotiate the differences is the main ability. Today’s meeting show that both sides had this ability and I’m confident that the peace process will definitely be successful. Whether the time is long or short depends upon our efforts and most importantly, the support and participation of the people” said the State Counsellor.

After the meeting Dr. Hlan Hmon Sar Khaung and U Zaw Htay met with the media and explained about the results of the discussion and answered to the questions raised by the media.

In the JICM meeting held yesterday (1) confirmed the report of Implementation Coordination Meeting on NCA (2) decided to hold national level political discussion of RCSS-SSA in Langkho (Linkhay) town, Shan State in January (3) decided to continue the effort for ALP to conduct national level political discussion (4) decided the implementation of Union Agreement to be continued according to NCA (5) decided to hold Union Peace Conference – 21st Century Panglong third meeting on the last week of January 2018 (6) decided to hold 7th JICM meeting on the last week of February 2018 (7) with the exception of some points that need to be discussed, political discussion framework, ToRs and Standard Operation Procedure-SOPs for national level political discussion were confirmed.

Myanmar News Agency (Unofficial Translation)

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar