NCCT leader urges all to seek common ground
If the government and ethnic armed groups fail to find common ground based on equality, they will find it more difficult to reach a nationwide ceasefire accord, said Naing Han Tha, the leader of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT).
He made the remarks ahead of the seventh round of ceasefire coordination meetings from March 16 to 21 in Yangon. It has been over five months since the sixth meeting took place.
"An agreement may be reached if we can coordinate and agree on the points that remain deadlocked. It is necessary to negotiate so that ongoing clashes can be stopped. But we’d better seek common ground based on mutual equality and justice as quickly as possible. Otherwise, fighting will intensify and the situation will worsen," said Naing Han Tha.
Ministers and parliamentary and military representatives are expected to attend the seventh round of meeting. Representing NCCT, formed in October 2013 by 16 ethnic armed groups, will be Naing Han Tha, Pado Saw Kwe Htoo Win from the Karen National Union and Major General Gwan Maw from the Kachin Independence Army.
An NCCT member, the National Democratic Alliance Army which is commonly referred to as the Kokang rebels, is not regarded by the government as a dialogue partner and may not attend the meeting. Of 16 NCCT members, five are not regarded as dialogue partners by the government.
The fighting between government troops and Kokang rebels continues in Laukkai Township in Shan State.
To date, Nyo Ohn Myint from the Myanmar Peace Centre is optimistic that accord would be signed, citing that President Thein Sein’s pledge for peace and national reconciliation has gained trust from ethnic groups.