Seven Ethnic Armed Organizations who are signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA-S EAO) are attending a three-day summit in Chiang Mai city of northern Thailand. The summit will be held from 17 to 19 March.

“Political and military affairs change every day. Of the seven NCA-S EAO, some EAOs are now fighting against the Burma army. The current situation is dynamic and fragile,” Gen Yawd Serk, Chairman of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), said in his opening speech at the summit.

Summit participants said that during the summit they will analyze the current political situation in Myanmar and discuss other important agenda items.

“At the moment, the political boundary is getting narrower and the military boundary is getting wider. The seven NNCA-S EAO will continue to uphold federal principles and move forward towards that goal. The seven NCA-S EAO will start to practice their own administration in the territories that they control,” RCSS Chairman Gen Yawd Serk said in his opening speech.

Participants at the summit include representatives from the RCSS/SSA, Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and New Mon State Party (NMSP). Former KNU Chairman Gen Saw Mutu Say Poe also attended the summit.

Despite all being signatories of the NCA, all of the seven participating NCA-S EAO have differing positions within the current conflict in Myanmar.

Some troops of the PNLO/PNLA and the NMSP/MNLA are currently fighting against the Burma army. On the other hand, PNLO/PNLA and NMSP/MNLA continue to uphold the NCA.

The RCSS/SSA regularly meets the military junta’s National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiation Committee (NSPNC). RCSS Chair Gen Yawd Serk frequently attends public meeting in southern Shan state. The RCSS/SSA hasn’t fought against the Burma army since the February 2021 military coup.

RCSS Chairman Gen Yawd Serk attended the eighth anniversary of the NCA signing in Naypyitaw on 15 October 2023. At the anniversary celebration, Gen Yawd Serk said that all parties could not fully implement the NCA even though it’s already been eight years meaning it’s been a waste of time.

On 29 February, Sao Harn Yawnghwe – who played a crucial role in negotiating for the 10 EAOs to sign NCA – told SHAN that the military junta has already destroyed the NCA by launching the military coup in 2021.