February 14,
2018
The news team
interviewed participants at the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement
(NCA) by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).
Colonel Wunna
Aung, Secretary (1) of Joint Monitoring Committee
We will be
monitoring if organisations are following the military rules and regulations,
as well as the NCA rules. We might send inspection teams for that, but our main
goal is to reduce difficulties for everyone.
U Yar Htep, Shan
State Minister for Lahu Ethnic Affairs
Our region still
lacks good healthcare, education and basic infrastructure, but by cooperating
with the union government, we hope to provide better opportunities to the
ethnic people. Peace is crucial for the country’s development and to achieve
that, firstly, all ethnic groups must be united, and secondly, all ethnic
groups must have mutual respect. If we can achieve that, then we can develop
each region, state and the nation.
U Khin Zaw Oo,
Secretary of Peace Commission
On 15 October
2015, the union government and eight ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) signed
the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, and now, after numerous meetings, we have
two additional signatories to the NCA. In southern Myanmar, there is Kayin
State, Mon State and Taninthayi Region, and of the three, only Mon State had
not signed the NCA and was not involved in the peace effort and development
processes. However, now that the New Mon State Party has signed the NCA, we can
assume that all of lower Myanmar is on the right path towards lasting peace. We
have not closed our doors to anyone for peace talks. There have been unofficial
meetings with EAOs, but we cannot officially announce anything yet.
Naing Aung
Mangae, NMSP’s Executive Committee Member
The next step
after the NCA, is holding a national political dialogue, and we are committed
to it. There are advantages, as well as disadvantages, in holding this. The
disadvantage is that not all EAOs are on board yet; however, the advantage is
that signing the NCA allows us to participate in political dialogues. The NMSP
alone cannot bring about change, so we are ready to work together with everyone
to create the Federal Republic.
Dr. Tu Jar,
Kachin State Democracy Party
Civil war is a
political problem that needs a political solution, and everyone knows this.
Especially in 2010, during President U Thein Sein’s administration, people have
come to accept this and have engaged in talks, as opposed to using force.
Eventually, this led to the forming of the NCA and holding of discussions based
on it. Not all EAOs have signed the NCA, because there are some points in it
that they want to amend. During the meetings leading up to the NCA, we can at
least achieve a temporary ceasefire scenario, which may help us build trust in
each other. The delegation for political negotiations (DPN) and the National
Reconciliation and Peace Centre held discussions and came up with eight points
to be added to the NCA. The NMSP and LDU were satisfied with that, and they
have signed the NCA, so I think other EAOs can find ways to ask for something
that will work for them.
Narvis Bon, LDU
Executive Committee Member
We are proud to
have signed the NCA, and we hope to join forces with the people to develop
Lahu. Signing the NCA will allow us to participate in political dialogues, and
at the grassroots level, we will engage in discussions with the public. I am
happy to see everyone welcoming us so eagerly. I want to tell the remaining
non-signatories to conduct negotiations and join us together in the peace
process.
Saw Sein Win,
Member of Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC); Democratic Karen
Buddhist Army
I think our
Kayin people have gained increased travel and job opportunities. I hope the
remaining EAOs will join us quickly in building our nation.
U Thein Tun,
Member of UPDJC (National Unity Party)
We have 10
signatories to the NCA now, and I urge the remaining EAOs to join the NCA as
soon as possible. It is the wish of all ethnic groups. If all of us sign the
NCA and the civil war ends, then we can engage in a political dialogue, and if
we are all united in our mission, then we can establish a federal democratic
system.
U Nyo Ohn Myint,
Secretary of Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
After eight
meetings for the NCA under the current administration, the NMSP said they will
sign the NCA if the Tatmadaw offers some sort of agreement; so, I assume the
commander-in-chief made an agreement with Chairperson Nai Htaw Mon, and the
other NMSP leaders accepted it. This is just my speculation. There may be
additional signatories in the future. It takes some two to three months for the
EAOs and the union government to convene, and misunderstandings can happen
during that waiting period. However, today’s signing was possible because there
was trust.
U Ko Ko Gyi,
88 generation
Peace and Open Society
The signing of the
NCA today shows the amount of trust that has been built, and I think there
should be more meetings with the non-signatories to build trust in them too. I
think there should be continuous interaction with them, even if it is not on
official grounds, so that we can become more intimate with each other. The JMC
(joint monitoring committee) was established to monitor the NCA, and the UPDJC
was formed for political development. They are like the left and right feet.
One of the pair monitors the ceasefire based on political activity, and the
other conducts political dialogue based on the ceasefire situation.
U Sai Kyaw
Nyunt, Secretary of UPDJC
Two additional
signatories may not seem to be a big deal, but change is significant regardless
of the scale. The NCA is not the end goal. It is an agreement that acts as a
synapse for us to conduct political and peace dialogues, so that we can build
the federal state that we desire. I invite all the remaining EAOs to join the
political dialogue, either by signing the NCA or by other possible means.
Naing Lin Kyi,
Aye Aye Thant, Mhwe Kyu Zin, Khin Su Su Hlaing
Photo: Htein Nan
Naw, Hmway Thant
Ref; The Global
New Light of Myanmar
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