'No delay in upcoming ceasefire talks'

The leader of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) has denied reports that his team has indefinitely delayed the next round of ceasefire talks. 

Naing Han Tha on Wednesday rebutted reports by the BBC Myanmar programme and local media that the NCCT intended to do so, after a meeting between NCCT representatives in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

“I didn’t say we delayed the talks without limits. I don’t know who is writing such news and why. I only said the meeting would be postponed. We have to continue to maintain the dialogue that we have tried hard to achieve. We are now in negotiations and have agreed to resume the talks in May as soon as possible,” Naing Han Tha told Eleven Media. 

“We have made daily contacts with the NCCT leaders. The meeting first due on April 26-28 was postponed to April 28-29. Later, I learnt that they had met to hold the talks around May 19 or May 20,” said Hla Maung Shwe from Myanmar Peace Centre.

The NCCT leaders Naing Han Tha, Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win from the Karen National Union and Maj-Gen Gwan Maw from the Kachin Independence Organisation held a preliminary meeting in Chiang Mai on April 28-29. 

Naing Han Tha said the nationwide ceasefire talks were important and must be continued, adding that he hoped there would be no more clashes in Kachin State that could harm mutual trust. 

“More than 65 years of civil war has left the country with a lack of progress. All I know is that the problem cannot be solved militarily. So, I think we need to maintain the current results until we achieve success,” said Naing Han Tha. 

 

First draft written

During the previous round of talks held from April 4 to 8, the government and the NCCT jointly wrote the first draft of a nationwide ceasefire deal and agreed to meet again in the first week of May to finalise the agreement. The date of the talks has been postponed as leaders from both sides seek approval over controversial issues, as well as to discuss recent clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army. 

“The current result from the talks has come due to great efforts the government and ethnic leaders are exerting. Se we have the responsibility to maintain and protect them. To achieve success, all must participate in the process and give support and encouragement,” said Naing Han Tha.