The Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) is holding a five-day meeting in preparation for the upcoming fourth session of the Union Peace Conference (UPC).
The meeting is taking place from August 14-18 in Naypyidaw, with representatives of the government, military, and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in attendance.
Topics for discussion include how to engage with political parties ahead of the general election in November, the details of the UPDJC’s secretariat meeting, and preparation for the UPC, which is being held from August 19-21. Participants will also discuss the results of other meetings, including those regarding peace negotiations and the implementation of the NCA, like the Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting.
The UPC, also known as the 21st Century Panglong conference, is expected to conclude with the signing of the third part of the Union Accord.
“NCA-signatory EAO representatives for the UPDJC will continue to discuss the points which will be included in the Union Accord-Part III, until we can approve these points,” Col Sai Nguen, a leader of the NCA-signatory EAO representatives for UPDJC, said in his opening speech in the meeting.
The UPDJC will prepare a report by the end of the meeting, share it on the first day of the upcoming peace conference, and approve it on the last day, according to Sai Khuensai, an advisor to the NCA-signatory the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS).
Col Sai Nguen also added that there is a need to push for public and civil society participation in political dialogue after 2020.
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