Ceasefire insiders fear talks may miss deadline

The framework is to be adopted within 60 days of signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement. The government signed the ceasefire with eight ethnic armed groups on October 15 in Nay Pyi Taw.

Representatives from the government, armed groups and political parties are to jointly draft the framework. Currently, the parties are preoccupied with the November 8 election. Also 13 out of 21 armed groups have not signed the agreement.

The Joint Monitoring Committee and the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee were founded at an implementation coordination meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on October 16 and 17.

The government and armed groups have already picked up 16 representatives each for the peace dialogue committee. The parties will choose their representatives after the election.

Hla Maung Shwe from the Myanmar Peace Centre said: "We will hold an informal meeting by inviting 92 parties on November 12 and explain the situation. Preparations are being made to pick 16 representatives from political parties. We want them to participate by around November 12. We have committed to start holding the framework talks before December 15. Under the ceasefire deal, we have 60 days."

Khun Myint Tun, chairperson of the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation, who signed the ceasefire, said: "It is difficult to say the framework for political dialogue will be finalised. The eight groups that signed the deal will discuss a framework for political dialogue in Chiang Mai [Thailand] in the first week of November. The groups will continue coordinating with the government if the meeting produces good results. 

"One main point is that the framework may materialise within 60 days if all groups, including those that did not sign the deal, have a chance to participate in the drafting process. Representatives from political parties can participate in the process only after the November poll. We can then go ahead with the participation of representatives from all groups," Khun Myint Tun added.