The following report is the outcome of the 1 ½ hour meeting between the 21st Century Panglong Conference Preparatory Committee (21 CPCPC) headed by Dr Tin Myo Win and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) delegation headed by Lt-Gen Yawd Serk. It reflects the 21 CPCPC stand.
Purpose of the trip
- The trip is aimed at exploring the best way how we can get all the non-signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on board the peace process with pride and dignity.
Now that the political landscape has changed, it has provided an opportunity for all to seize, which we should not miss, given the time limit.
The NCA
- There is little likelihood that the government will agree to amend the NCA. Firstly, it was jointly drafted by 16 EAOs including those who became non-signatories. Secondly, it was signed by top government leaders including the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Thirdly, it was ratified by the Union Legislature. Fourthly, it has become the monument of trust between the government the signatory EAOs.
However, a lot of different definitions exist when it comes to interpreting the text. Both sides can therefore sit down together to deliberate on the matter in order to reach common interpretation.
Signing the NCA
- If other EAOs can participate in the political dialogue without signing the NCA, then all the signatories will become a laughing stock for signing it.
Time frame
- The State Counselor has urged the Committee to find the best way to bring around all the stakeholders. But that doesn’t mean the government will be waiting indefinitely. We will only have a few months to accomplish it.
The JICM
- The Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM) formed by top leaders on both sides has not gone away, contrary to concerns expressed by EAO leaders. In fact, we may be in need of it sooner that we think due to complex issues faced by the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) in its restructuring.
Dealing with “Three EAOs”
- On the issue of AA-MNDAA-TNLA (Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army), the CinC’s policy is twofold: Issue a statement abandoning the armed struggle and deposit their weapons away along the border under their own lock and key. They won’t be called upon to surrender their arms.
The military doesn’t view them in the same way as it does to other EAOs. It hadn’t mind when the AA and TNLA were fighting alongside the KIO/KIA (Kachin Independence Organization/Army) But when they came to fight as allies of the MNDAA (more commonly known as the Kokang Peng Jiasheng group), it was different. The army suffered heavy casualties. Moreover losing Kokang, to the military, means giving away all the territory east of the Salween to another country. And if the CinC just let it happen, what would the Tatmadaw think of him?
That’s why the three are set apart by the military from other EAOs.
The two sides also discuss funding and local issues, among others.
The 21 CPCPC is meeting the non-signatory Delegation for Political Negotiations (DPN) today at 10:00 at Shangrila Hotel, Chiangmai.
