Peace talks framework being discussed
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Myanmar will start drafting a framework for political dialogue that will include the participation of government, the military, parliament, national races, armed groups and political parties in November or December, says a government peace negotiator.
Aung Min, the vice chairman of the Union Peacemaking Work Committee, revealed the plan during a seminar on “Trust Building for Peace” held in conflict-hit Shan State on Saturday.
“We will start political dialogue as soon as a nationwide ceasefire agreement is reached. Before that, we have to discuss a necessary framework in coordination with the ethnic organisations. So we are preparing to draft a political dialogue framework in November or December.
“The framework will also be drafted in coordination with all those concerned,” said Aung Min.
The three-day seminar was attended by more than 40 organisations, including representatives of the government and ethnic armies and members of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society.
The government wants to sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement in Nay Pyi Taw in October, but the ethnic armed groups are pushing for immediate political dialogue rather than a ceasefire.
No ethnic armed group has officially said they will attend a ceasefire agreement ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw and most of them are still discussing it.
