More political talks planned

The United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) plans to hold its next political dialogue next month, which will include representatives of ethnic armed groups and political groups.

The UNA held its last political dialogue, which also included civic organisations, in Yangon on December 23-24, 2014.

The discussants adopted an agreement to participate in future activities to promote democracy, peace and creating a federal union.

“We aimed to hold a discussion again after holding conference and political dialogue held in last year December. We have planned to hold a discussion in February,” said Aye Tha Aung from Arakan National Party who is also a leader of UNA.

The participants in the December dialogue also released a statement saying Myanmar’s political problems could be solved by holding more political dialogues, amending the constitution, which is an obstacle to democracy and the federal system, and signing a nationwide ceasefire agreement.

The December dialogue included seven ethnic armed groups, such as the United Nationalities Federal Council-UNFC, the Kayan National Union and the Restoration Council of Shan State-RCSS, as well as the National League for Democracy, 88 Generation Peace and Open Society and other civic organizations. 

For the February dialogue, the UNA hopes to include political groups that did not participate in December.

The UNA was founded by politicians from ethnic minority parties who were elected in the 1990 elections, which was never honoured. 

After attending the talks on January 12, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi relentlessly pushed for a six-party political talks, saying the January 12 meeting involved too many parties.

Attending the meeting were President Thein Sein, the Union Parliament speaker, the commander-in-chief of Defence Services, leaders of Myanmar's political parties, ethnic affairs ministers and herself, which was held at the Presidential Palace. 

“The meeting that has just taken place was not a six-party talk. The discussions were very general because there were 48 people present. No one can deny this,” Suu Kyi told reporters at her house in Nay Pyi Taw.

“As I have already said, proposed six-party talks should not be avoided. The President has not yet respond to all I have said.”

“Ethnic affairs ministers were present. These people are from the government. Wasn’t the point of the meeting to talk to political party leaders? I don’t know why they were invited. They are neither party leaders nor parliamentary leaders. I don’t know what invitations were based on.” 

“The conversation with the commander-in-chief of Defence Services did not include military affairs,” she added.

Suu Kyi said she used the meeting as an opportunity to discuss constitutional amendment. 

“My participation followed the three points stated in the invitation. Our party’s [Central Executive Committee] agreed on what to discuss. It will be released by our party headquarters. I do not accept that the constitutional amendment is up to parliament only. All are responsible. Our people are also responsible. This is why I am learning what the public desires.”

“Most people say they have never heard, seen or read the constitution. The reason they show little interest in it is because they have no knowledge of it. However, they understand it when it is explained, and they understand why it must be amended. If we accept that the people truly have no interest in the constitution, we have about the fact that 92 per cent of the people supported the constitution in 2008, which contradicts the claim that they have no interest in it.” 

Suu Kyi also summarised parts of the meeting pertaining to national elections.

“We cannot describe what U Tin Aye has said about the election as ‘not important’. But he and his commission have already explained election matters. This discussion was not the same as what needs to be discussed in our proposed six-party meeting. Political parties and the Election Commission have frequently met.”

 

NLD statement 

The National League for Democracy (NLD) attacked the government for its interference in the judicial sector and inability to crack down on corruption.

In a statement issued on January 13, it said that interference and inability attributed to the backsliding of Myanmar’s reform process.

The NLD statement listed several criticisms of the current government: It identified a lack of desire within the government to push reforms forward and to amend the constitution, which it said goes against the desire of the public. It also said the government has failed to protect individual human rights and to bring sustainable development to Myanmar’s rural population. 

The statement also said the government continues its efforts at centralisation and does not cooperate with parliament. Finally, it pointed out that the Union government has not arranged a six-party talk in accordance the vote of the Union parliament. 

The NLD statement said the peace process and national reconciliation should be carried out simultaneously, and the six-party talk should not be pushed off.

According to the statement, as soon as the ceasefire is finalised, the NLD will present its political framework for the peace process. The NLD calls for political dialogue as soon as possible.

The statement stressed the need for free and fair elections later this year.

“The government needs to stay away from bias and ensure free and fair elections. The Union Election Commission is required to stop behaviour that is not conformity with rules and regulations. The administrative sector needs to avoid favouritism over political parties,” the statement said.

Twice in the last two years, the NLD sought to resolve Myanmar’s political crises by demanding a four-party talk that would including the President, Suu Kyi, Thura Shwe Mann and the military chief. Both proposals were rejected.

However, the Union parliament approved a proposal to hold a six-party talk in November 2014, but no concrete plans to hold it have materialised. 

The government held a 14-party talk on January 12, which many attendees and critics claim was just a showcase meeting.