The Karen National Union(KNU), attending the first day of the Panghsang conference, urged 11 other participating movements to consider a joint supervisory body to oversee the peace process.
” Having a joint political leading body will confer more bargaining power to our cause,” the paper read out by a KNU delegate is quoted as saying.” At the same time, this body will also listen to and address the aspirations of smaller ethnic groups.”
The KNU had first put forward the proposal at the Ethnic Armed Organizations(EAO) Conference in Laiza,30 October- 2 November 2013. The decision however was that the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team(NCCT) formed by the EAO Conference would be accountable only to the EAO Conference.
It remains to be seen how the 6-day meeting of the 12 major groups will decide on it.
Other proposals made yesterday included:
- For all the EAOs, and not just those currently recognized by Naypyitaw to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement(NCA)
- Immediate ceasefire in Kokang followed by the setting up of a Ceasefire Supervisory Committee and a peacekeeping force
- Sympathy, understanding and support for the Wa call for a separate state within the Union
An official request through the Panghsang Summit to include Kokang, Arakan Army and Ta-ang in the process to finalize the NCA draft will be reviewed by the government, reports the RFA on 30 April, quoting U Hla Maung Shwe, advisor to the government affiliated Myanmar Peace Center.
