Ethnic leaders want seat at govt talks with NLD party

MYANMAR’S ethnic leaders have welcomed meetings between National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President Thein Sein and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, saying they should be included in future talks on the transfer of power.

Manam Tu Ja, chairman of the Kachin State Democracy Party, said: “The conversations with the president and commander-in-chief were constructive. It will help establish an agreement.”

He urged the government to include all 22 ethnic armed groups in the nationwide ceasefire agreement, calling for fresh talks.

Mann Aung Pyi Soe, vice chairman of the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party, said: “I welcome the meeting and hope power will be peacefully transferred. But there are months before the transfer. We welcome what Suu Kyi said about national reconciliation and unity between ethnic groups. We expect the government not to ignore us."

Naing Ngwe Thein, vice chairman of the Mon National Party, said solutions would be found to economic, political and social problems if ethnic representatives were involved in the political talks.

“The negotiations with ethnic armed groups will not solve problems economically and socially. I am doubtful that Aung San Suu Kyi can deal with everything. It will be OK for the Burmese. Suu Kyi, Thura Shwe Mann, Thein Sein and Min Aung Hlaing are Burmese. In our experience, when Burmese meet each other, we don't get the result we want. We don’t know yet about what they discussed. So the ethnic groups have doubts,” said Naing Ngwe Thein.

Thein Sein and Suu Kyi met on December 2 and reportedly exchanged views cordially on the peaceful handover of power to the next government and mutual cooperation to establish a tradition of democratic handover that has never been witnessed in Myanmar.

Suu Kyi also met the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing with both sides saying they would cooperate for the nation's benefit.

Since the election, Suu Kyi has had seven meetings with Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann, with the latest taking place on December 3 for 90 minutes.

Ye Htut, presidential spokesperson, said last week that he could guarantee a peaceful power transfer.

“Since independence in 1948, Myanmar has never seen a smooth and peaceful transfer of power between governments. We must break this tradition. It can be said that it is a victory for our reforms. The president gave a promise. I can also guarantee it personally and on behalf of our government,” he said.

He also vowed to hand over all documents to the new government.

Preparations for the power transfer are going at full steam, amid ongoing fighting between the armed forces, Tatmadaw, and the Shan army.

On November, a fresh clash occurred in Moemaik, Shan State, killing two soldiers of the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)’s Shan State Army.

In another development, the government, ethnic-armed organisations and political parties met in Yangon on November 27, as they tried to design a flexible framework for dialogue to involve the next government.

Naing Ngan Lin, the official representative of the NLD, attended the discussions.

The government and the eight armed organisations that signed the ceasefire on October 15 have until December 14 to finish the political framework talks. The political dialogue is scheduled to start by January 14.

Salai Lian Hmung, a member of the Chin National Front's supreme council, also mentioned continued efforts were being made to hold a meeting between the ethnic armed groups that have signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) and those who have not signed it.