Press conference for Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong

A press conference following the first day meeting of the Third season of the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong was held at Myanmar International Convention Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw at 4:30pm yesterday.

Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) secretaries U Hla Maung Shwe, U Zaw Htay, Dr. Salai Hlyan Hmon Sar Khaung and Sai Kyaw Nyunt explained the third session’s progress, the 14 points pertaining to the political, economic, social, land and natural environment sectors submitted for inclusion in the second part of the union agreement, and the separate individual meetings among the northern alliance, the State Counsellor and the Commander-in-Chief.

U Zaw Htay said the representatives of the seven non-signatories were present at the UPC third session as well as Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) representatives. The KNPP is in talks to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). He said the northern organisations met with the Commander-in-Chief yesterday and will meet with the State Counsellor today. Reporters will not be allowed at the meetings, but will receive details of the news later. The KNPP is also in discussions to meet with the Peace Commission separately. The northern organisations are focusing on mainly discussing military affairs.

The press conference revealed there will be meetings with both signatories and non-signatories of the NCA.

Dr. Salai Hlyan Hmon Sar Khaung said they are hoping for non-signatories to sign the NCA as soon as possible. So far there are ten signatories to the NCA, but numerous non-signatories are attending the peace conference, he said. “The State Counsellor and Commander-in-Chief invited them to participate and so does the entire nation,” he said. “The platform is ready for us to strengthen trust so the conference will be immensely beneficial.”

The UPDJC working committees have submitted four points for the political sector, one for the economic sector, seven for the social sector and two for the land sector, a total of 14 points, in the second part of the union agreement.

U Hla Maung Shwe said 10 points of the economic sector were originally submitted to the UPDJC, but a mutual agreement was reached on only one point. He said this doesn’t mean the other points are annulled, but rather they will be brought up for discussion in a future UPDJC meeting.

This was followed by a question-and-answer session. Political Party Group Representative Sai Kyaw Nyunt announced that the speech delivered by Daw Aye Nu Sein, Vice President of the Arakan National Party, expressed only the opinion of the respective part and not of the Political Party Group.

U Hla Maung Shwe said the Peace Commission will meet with KNPP today to discuss signing the NCA.

By Ye Kaung Nyunt

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar