(9-20 December 2016)

Whatever wholesome that I’ve learned, may it be yours

 This trip came about as both the EAOs and the government begin preparations for the Union Peace Conference 21^st Century Panglong (UPC 21 CP), or UPC# 3, according to the NCA, in February 2017.

My initial plan was to attend three meetings:

• Peace Process Steering Team (PPST)- Coordination Team (CT) meeting, 10-11 December, in Rangoon
• Preparatory meeting for National Level Political Dialogue (ND), Shan Ethnic Based, 11-12 December, in Taunggyi
• Strategic Planning Meeting for the NCA signatory EAOs, 17-19 December, in Rangoon

The trip coincided with the aftermath of the offensive by the Northern Alliance-Burma (NA-B), hitherto an ethereal entity, that had prompted the country’s all powerful military to launch a campaign to dub its members as “terrorist organizations.” The element of excitement therefore was there. Faint-hearted I may be, but I never have been wise enough to stay out of trouble. So I went.

Day One. Friday, 9 December 2016

The Tatmadaw should also be labeled ‘terrorist’. Offensives, killings, tortures, rapes, destruction of houses and villages. These are exactly what it has been doing to maintain power in the country since 1962. This kind of action is what I call ‘terrorist.’

Lwe Cherry, Joint Secretary General, Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO), reported by The Irrawaddy, 9 December 2016

My arrival in Rangoon follows a series of gatherings with friends, who see things differently, but sharing the common hunger for peace nevertheless. I hope their names can be revealed one day but not now.

At present, what is important is what I’m learning from them to share with those like-minded. But not all of course, because while ‘The Truth Shall Make You Free’ in most cases, it can also detain some from going onward to reach the common goal.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Fighting in Mongkoe (on the Sino-Burma border opposite China’s Manhai) is fierce. There is suffering all around. Some of the government leaders, especially two of them, want the army to focus more on But the army, whose pride has taken a severe blow by the surprise attack, says only through a successful counter attack its honor will be restored.
• The government is planning to hold a review meeting for the October study visit to South Africa on 16 December in Naypyitaw. As the Burmese

  

  delegation that went there included those from the non-signatories, particularly Maj Gen Gun Maw (Vice Chairman, KIO) and Khu Oo Reh (Vice Chairman, KNPP; Secretary General, UNFC), the organizers from Inter Mediate that are advising the State Counselor hope the two will come to the meeting to present their case, and thus further the cause for peace. (One counters that the decision by the Shan State Assembly to designate the NA-B, in which KIO is a leading member, however might deter Gun Maw from coming. It later turns out that the guy who counter was right.)

• The military’s opposition to hold NDs in White areas has also posed as an obstacle: Firstly, Some ethnic peoples, like Karen, have sizeable populations in regions designated by the military as White. Secondly, many of these Burman majority regions, are different from one to another. And if states and regions, according to the 2008 constitution (Article 9), are of equal status, they are also entitled to hold NDs too.

My friends want to hold informal talks (or consultations, as preferred by some) with those close to the State Counselor, and the Commander-in-Chief, to do some brainstorming sessions on the matters described here and more.

Phone calls are then made, But, to their disappointment, nobody is available, at least for the time being.