Ceasefire deal with all groups
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Parliament then has to organise talks
Myanmar will sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement with all the ethnic armed groups under the president’s leadership, says the vice chairman of the government’s union level peace-making committee.
Aung Min, also a minister at the President’s Office, disclosed the information during his clarification of the country’s peace agenda at a parliamentary session held in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.
After the ceasefire, the government has a plan to hand over to parliament to organise the political dialogue, he said.
According to the minister, 17 regional-level ceasefire agreements and 18 union-level agreements have so far been signed while it has been agreed to call a ceasefire with the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO). The government is also working with the parliamentarians of national races to sign peace agreements with the small armed groups of Palaung and Lahu ethnics.
The KIO and those two minor armed groups are the last remaining to enter into a ceasefire with the government.
“After the nationwide ceasefire, the armed groups will be removed from the list of unlawful organisations,” Aung Min said.
He also said that if the peace talks are successful, about 100,000 armed group members, 350,000 refugees, 460,000 IDPs (internally displaced persons) and about 2 million people close to the armed groups will be able to join hands with the government. They will be first encouraged to clear up land mines and then be provided with shelter, food and jobs.
Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann said national reconciliation efforts call for genuine goodwill, transparency and honesty.
“Today, we are discussing measures for no discrimination in administrative affairs, including equal rights essential for the peace process. We are also focusing on national unity,” Shwe Mann said.
