Everyone is now of the opinion that the government needs a new radical and innovative approach, if the peace conference that is scheduled to kick off as soon as possible is to be fruitful.

In a nutshell, the carrot and stick tactics has to be abandoned; all-inclusive participation has to be accepted; and most of all, a peace agenda that is truly drawn and owned by all stakeholders has to be formulated, where political differences should be settled in a level political playing-field, on equal participation basis.

Otherwise, it will only achieve the result of a zero-sum, win-lose and not win-win outcome, with the powers that be imposing its will on the ethnic nationalities, as has been the case for so many years.

If this kind of short term solution or illusion is what the government is looking for, it can be sure that the ethnic resistance will also go on, which means there will never be a long term peace settlement, much less peaceful atmosphere and development of the country.

Link to the story :  A New Year’s resolution