Representatives of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) have left the Union Peace Conference, citing “inequality” at the forum, which kicked off yesterday.
However, organizers of the event, which has been dubbed the “21st Century Panglong Conference,” say the dispute came from a complete misunderstanding about meeting protocol.
The UWSA, Burma’s biggest armed ethnic organization, did not sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the Thein Sein administration in October last year, but were invited to attend the conference in Naypyidaw as “observers”.
According to Dr. Lian Sakhong of the Chin National Front, the Wa representatives arrived late and did not stay at the guest rooms prepared by the organizers, but rather arranged accommodation by themselves.
He said that because they were so late, they were given “observer cards,” but they clearly misunderstood the issue, and took umbrage. Then they simply walked out.
He said that the conference organizers will apologize to the Wa delegates and try to resolve the matter.
Government peace negotiator Khin Zaw Oo told reporters that the Wa representatives misunderstood and thought they were being downgraded.
“The thing is, we had already distributed all the entry cards to the other delegates from ethnic armed organizations,” he explained.
The 21st Century Panglong Conference is being hosted by Burma’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has gathered more than 700 representatives from the government, the military, political parties, ethnic armed organizations and civil society groups for negotiations aimed at establishing a framework for future peace talks.
The conference is scheduled to continue until Sunday.
By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)
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