In response to the 8 signatory ethnic armed organization (EAO)s’ formal request on 11 August, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will soon be calling the long-neglected Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM) into session, according to reports form Naypyitaw yesterday.

The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) that will oversee political dialogues at state, region and local levels as well as the upcoming Union Peace Conference (21^st Century Panglong) has been holding a 2-day meeting since yesterday.

“Although the date for the meeting is yet to be disclosed,” said an EAO leader in Naypyitaw, “it is understood that it will take place right after her return from the China trip (17-21 August).”

The letter, signed by Gen Mutu Saypoe, leader of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) formed in March by the NCA signatory EAOs, has proposed 4 issues to be discussed when they meet:

• Implementation of the NCA
• Holding of JICM
• Holding of Political Dialogues
• Holding of the Union Peace Conference (21 Century Panglong)

The main issue, say sources, is that the JICM has not been convened since December. According to its Terms of Reference (TOR), it must be convened every three months. The NCA has also conferred on it the following powers:

Article 21:            To form the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) responsible for military matters and the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) responsible for political matters as well as “other necessary committees”

Article 29:            To resolve any issues faced during the implementation of the NCA in its “regularly held” meetings

“It would be like putting the cart before the horse to call a meeting of the JMC and the UPDJC first,” PaO leader Hkun Okker had commented in April.

The JICM is formed by 8 leaders from the government side with corresponding 8 leaders from the EAO side. 75% of them must be present to achieve a quorum at each meeting and two thirds of votes from each side to pass a resolution.