The
Peace Commission and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) held peace
talks in Loikaw, Kayah State, yesterday, taking further steps to sign the
Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
Speaking
at the opening of the meeting, U Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister for the Office
of the State Counsellor and Vice Chairman of the National Reconciliation and
Peace Centre, conveyed a message from State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
saying that the State Counsellor hoped to see good results from the meeting for
peace, which was desired by the people of Kayah State.
The
Union Minister said peace was desired not only by the ethnic people in Kayah
State, but also the people in the entire country and the international
community were watching the peace talks closely.
“Whether
this meeting will produce impressive results for peace in Kayah State or
uncertain results depends on these people sitting at the negotiation table,”
said U Kyaw Tint Swe.
The
meeting would decide whether there were prospects for shining rays of peace in
the areas stretching from the central part of the country to lower Myanmar, he
added.
“Hence,
today’s talks will be a historic milestone for the people in Kayah State,” said
the Union Minister.
Natural
scenic beauty and attractions for travellers in Kayah State are reasons why
Kayah State could develop quickly if it gains peace, said U Kyaw Tin Swe.
As
the shortest route from Thailand to Nay Pyi Taw is passing through Kayah State,
the state also possesses good prospects for trading and the trip makes clear
why the people of Kayah have desired peace for many decades.
If
we look back at the history of our armed conflicts, we could see that we failed
to resolve political problems with peaceful political solutions, and that had
led to this prolonged conflict. The incumbent government had put more focus on
national reconciliation and peace building and working for inclusion in
roundtable discussions such as the 21st Century Panglong Conference. The Peace
Commission was continuously working for all stakeholders to be a part of the
Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) which was the door to political dialogue.
There
have been misconceptions that signing the NCA meant forfeiting your weapons,
but it was actually working for armed conflicts to end while simultaneously
endeavouring for political dialogue to solve political problems. The Panglong
Conference is discussing the establishment of a democratic federal union, which
is something all ethnic groups desire. He added that they were able to sign the
first part of the union agreement in the second Panglong Conference and they would
discuss inclusion of ethnic groups left over and self-administration in a
federal union during the third Panglong Conference.
He
said national equality, self-administration, and a basic constitution for each
state is something all ethnic people want. He said he wishes for the voice of
the Karreni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Kayah People to be heard
during the meeting.
He
said the government would work to resolve the difficulties of the KNPP and
remove obstacles that hindered them from signing the NCA. He said that solving
the present problems now would help shape the federal union in the future. He
said he wanted them to think of the Kayah children of today and their situation
when they grow up. He said the children would face the good and bad
consequences of our actions today.
He
said he hoped today’s meeting would be transparent and honest from both sides
and would lead to solutions to overcome obstacles and challenges for the
federal democratic union in the future. He said that the hopes and desires of
the Kayah people would be given due consideration and good results would be had
from the meeting that will lead to signing of the NCA. This was followed by
KNPP Executive Committee Member U Bi Htoo delivered a speech saying the KNPP
has been involved in the peace process all along and was heading towards
signing the NCA. He said they desired to be a part of the federal union and
hoped for good results from the meeting.
Afterwards,
the Peace Commission and the KNPP began discussions. The meeting continues
today.
Ref;
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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