KIO/KIA awaits NLD’s invitation to peace talks
Play
Yangon - The technical team of the Kachin Independence Organisation/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) is waiting for an open invitation to peace negotiations from the incoming government, said Daung Kha, the spokesperson for the KIO/KIA.
Frequent clashes have broken out between the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Defence Service) and the KIA over the last few years, with both sides consistently failing to negotiate a lasting peace. The conflict negotiation team formed by Kachin State officials and KIO representatives has ceased holding monthly meetings.
“Peace and how to lay down policies will depend on the incoming government. We are waiting to hear the stance of the incoming government. The incoming government will have to invite ethnic armed groups in an effort to discuss the peace process,” Daung Kha said.
Eight ethnic armed organisations signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) on October 15, 2015. However, the KIO/KIA decided not to sign the NCA, deeming it insufficiently inclusive.
More than 1,500 clashes broke out between the Tatmadaw and the KIA since 2011, causing casualties and injuries on both sides and displacing more than 100,000 people.
The NLD, which will control Myanmar’s next government, has been vocal about its commitment to the peace process.
“For the new government, peace will be at the top of the agenda. We must try to persuade all ethnic armed groups to participate in the peace conference,” said Aung San Suu Kyi, the chairperson of the NLD, at a ceremony to mark Myanmar’s 68th Independence Day at her party’s headquarters on January 4.
“The incoming government will first build peace. We must try to persuade all ethnic armed groups to attend the peace conference. All of us want a democratic, federal Union, so we must try to the best of our ability to build it. The people, the Tatmadaw and all ethnic groups must participate in this move,” Suu Kyi said.
The ethnic armed organisations that did not sign the NCA include the KIO/KIA, NMSP, SSPP/SSA, PSLF/TNLA, MNDAA, AA, LDU, WNO, ANC, UWSP/UWSA, NDAA and NSCN-K.
“The KNU does not suppose that only signatories to the NCA would have the right to make decisions at political dialogues. We do not think the incoming government would accept it,” said Phado Saw Kwe Htoo Win, general secretary of the KNU, which did sign the NCA.
The Union peace conference will be held on January 12, and eleven out of 13 non-signatory ethnic armed groups recognised by the Myanmar government will be invited as special guests.
