NCCT committed to pursue democracy
The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team stressed that armed ethnic groups will continue pursuing democracy, as well as three other pillars - equality, self-empowerment and genuine federalism - in a discussion on the nationwide ceasefire.
At a press conference yesterday, NCCT Naing Han Thar marked the end of the high-level conference in Laiza.
“The most important decision is that all armed ethnic groups will still focus on getting democracy, equality, self-empowerment and genuine federalism. We won’t deviate from this path,” he said.
The NCCT will present the four basic objectives to the government soon.
The 2008 Constitution fails to recognise the rights, literature, cultural freedom and languages of ethnic groups and that is why armed ethnic groups are fighting, NCCT leaders said.
Earlier, Khun Abel Tweet, chairman of Karenni National Progressive Party, said that the president’s offer of a ceasefire might be viewed as an opportunity or a trap for the armed ethnic groups.
He made the comment as the alternate chair on the last day of the three-day summit.
The ultimate aim of all the ethnic groups is to ensure equality and autonomy within a federal union and this goal will be accomplished if they work together, he said.
“President Thein Sein’s offer of ceasefire and peace this time may be the last he will make. I think that offer could be viewed an opportunity or trap for us,” Khun Abel Tweet said.
He urged the armed ethnic group leaders to prepare for the best as well as for the worst. “No matter how we prepare for the best or worst, it is important that all the national races must be united,” he said.
The third day of the summit focused on provisions of the draft ceasefire starting from Chapter 5. It also discussed drafting a political framework, formation of a joint leading committee for political talks, military rules and discipline to be followed during a ceasefire and formation of a joint monitoring committee and its sub-committees.
Khun Abel Tweet also stressed the need to take a lesson from the failed previous ceasefire effort between former General Khin Nyunt and armed ethnic groups under the military government. The establishment of a federal union could not be discussed because the armed groups worked individually, instead of acting as a consolidated force, he said.
Khine Soe Naing Aung, the vice-chairman of Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), who acted as the alternate chairman, also noted that plenty of difficulties still remain to achieve genuine peace and a ceasefire as efforts are put into upholding the 2008 Constitution drafted by the previous military junta,
“President Thein Sein’s efforts put into the end of civil war under the 2008 Constitution can lead to a barrier to genuine peace and a ceasefire,” said Khine Soe Naing Aung.
