Day Two: Monday, December 14, 2015

Peace is not something you wish for.

It is something you make, something you are,

Something you do, and something you give away. 

Robert Fulghum

I miss the UPDJC’s Third Meeting in Naypyidaw today. Reason: only Air KBZ, leaving Rangoon at 17:00, has a seat for me.

Nevertheless, through sources that are attending, I’m able to get an idea of what’s taking place there.

The gist of it is that the NLD, whatever it had told the eight EAOs last evening, either succumbs or agrees to the military proposal that it is allowed to run as a separate bloc rather than being a component in the government-legislature-military bloc.

Which means the Union Peace Conference (UPC) planned for January will be a five-way affair instead of the three-way one demanded both by the political parties bloc and the eight EAOs. “The NLD’s arms have been twisted by the military,” says one on my arrival at the Horizon Lake View Hotel. “Erstwhile foes are now joining hands against us.”

Another source has a different view. “If you propose 100 representatives for the EAOs, it will be 100 for us also,” a military representative is quoted as saying. “On the other hand, if it’s 150 for you, it’ll be 150 for us also.”

Why? I ask.

“[The military representative] explained on the sidelines that we still cannot be trusted,” he says. “Because we keep trying to hold the non-signatories’ hands on the one hand, and also trying to coddle up with the NLD at the same time, on the other hand.”

Naturally, there was a protest by the eight EAOs that the five-way dialogue was not in line with the NCA’s Paragraph 22 (a):

Representatives from the government, Hluttaws (legislatures) and the Tatmadaw, representatives from the ethnic armed organizations, representatives from the registered political parties, (other) ethnic representatives and other relevant representatives shall participate in the political dialogue that is based on an all inclusive principle

“U Aung Min then turned up his ace in the hole,” I’m told. “He said Paragraph 22 (a) doesn’t say exactly how many on each side should participate. Whereas Paragraph 22 (c) has pointed out that The proportion of representatives participating in the political dialogue shall be negotiated during discussions on the Framework for Political Dialogue. Our chief negotiators were left agape. They could find no words powerful enough to refute it.”

As a result, the eight EAOs meet at 20:00 to hold a brainstorming session in preparation for tomorrow. Out of which comes a revised proposal, after much wrangling.

As I turn in for the night, a question comes up: Whose side is the NLD on?

The military’s side?

EAOs’ side?

Or—its own side?

By SAI KHUENSAI / Director of Pyidaungsu Institute and Founder of Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)

All views expressed are the author’s own