Positive signs for peace

Differences among ethnic armed groups over the proposed nationwide ceasefire agreement are unlikely to emerge as significant disagreements at this week’s conference, and the chances are good for a coordinated response, according to Colonel Khun Okka of the armed insurgencies coalition, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC).

Before the Laiza peace talks, which started on Wednesday, the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Rehabilitation Council of Shan State (RCSS) submitted a draft of the ceasefire agreement to the government. 

On Saturday, Eleven Media asked Khun Okka whether a confrontation might occur between these two insurgency groups and the rest of the ethnic armed groups at the Laiza peace talks.

“I don’t think there is any confrontation emerging. The RCSS or KNU, or whatever the group is, we are all ethnic groups. We have been working together for a long time,” said Khun Okka, adding that the groups know how to negotiate to resolve the few differences that may exist.

“If everybody else agrees, they will also agree,” he said. “Especially the KNU, which is the leading member of the UNFC. 

“The KNU has historically been the leader of coalition forces and they are also leading at the moment. Therefore, the KNU’s desires seriously reflect those of our coalition.”

Although the RCSS is not a member, the UNFC must respect their wishes because the RCSS is a leading member of another insurgency umbrella group, the Working Group for Ethnic Coalition (WGEC).

“The RCSS is not a member of the coalition. But we have to value their desires. Therefore, I think we have no big differences. We can settle them if there are any,” said Khun Okka.

The ethnic armed groups conference ends Laiza today, when the UNFC is expected to make an announcement on whether the plan to sign a nationwide ceasefire with the government in the next few weeks will go ahead.