NCCT hints at delay in next round of peace talks
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The next round of peace talks with the government may not take place until May 20, said sources close to a coalition of ethnic armed groups.
Leaders of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) held a preliminary meeting in Chiang Mai to discuss common ground for the next round of ceasefire talks with the government’s Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC).
“The date for the meeting has been postponed because we [ethnic armed groups] have arguments and the government has requirements. Due to these reasons, the date for the meeting is a little bit delayed,” said a person close to the NCCT on condition of anonymity.
On April 8, the government and the National Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT), a coalition of 16 ethnic armed groups, closed the current round of negotiations on the ceasefire agreement on a positive note, after discussing a single draft of the agreement among various parties, including the military.
Then, Lt Gen Myint Soe of Burma’s Ministry of Defence said that with a draft of single text, which reflects the opinions of both sides, they expected to finalise it in the first week of May.
The current draft contains seven chapters, but there are still disagreements over various issues. Both sides promised to consult with respective leaders to coordinate moving forward on finalising a ceasefire deal.
”At the moment, both sides are having discussions. I think they will meet on the 2nd or 3rd of May. As far as I know, the government wants to hold the meeting as quickly as possible,” said Aung Naing Oo from the Myanmar Peace Centre.
Recent clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has harmed mutual trust between parties and raised suspicion over the army’s commitment to the peace process.
Leaders from ethnic armed groups have hinted that any delays in the next round of talks is due to the recent fighting between the military and the KIA as well as the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
KIA spokesperson Daungkhar has reiterated that he does not want the conflict to hinder the nationwide ceasefire process, although it has greatly harmed the trust between parties.
Naing Han Thar, the leader of the NCCT, also said that if the long lasting civil conflict cannot be stopped in the current circumstances, it will be only more difficult in the future.
The government has proposed to hold a ceasefire signing ceremony before August 2014. Ethnic leaders have also said that they would want to hold it hold as soon as possible.
The government and NCCT delegations earlier expected to sign the ceasefire deal within May.
The first discussions were held in November 2013, followed by the Hpaan talks in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in January. Before this month’s discussion, they convened a meeting in March.
