Final draft ceasefire 'just weeks away'
The Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) and the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) expect to complete a draft of a nationwide ceasefire agreement in the middle of this month, according to peace negotiators from both sides.
They are scheduled to meet again in mid-August in Yangon as the country continues to suffer from skirmishes between the Tatmadaw and armed ethnic groups, including those in the Shan State.
Since its formation last year, the NCCT has organised four official talks with the government and four informal meetings.
Even though a second draft of a nationwide ceasefire agreement has been completed, negotiations remain inconclusive on policies and wording to be incorporated in the final agreement.
On July 24-29, the armed ethnic leaders from the NCCT held their summit in Laiza Township, Kachin State in order to vet the second draft. The summit resolved to seek the approval and guidance of all NCCT members before moving on to the next step.
Non-NCCT members also met in Laiza on July 30-31.
The UPWC and the NCCT held an informal meeting at the office of Kachin State government on August 3. Union Minister Aung Min, MP Thein Zaw and Deputy Minister for Border Affairs Lt-General Thet Naing Win led the former, while NCCT leader Naing Han Tha, second leader Phado Saw Kwel Htoo Win, and member Dr Salai Lian Hmung let the other side.
“We hope the ceasefire draft will be finalised at the meeting in Yangon. We have already completed the ceasefire draft in Laiza. The ceasefire draft will be okay if we adjust it with the officials of the UPWC before meeting with them,” Dr Salai Lian Hmung said.
The UPWC proposed to finalise the text of the nationwide ceasefire draft written by both sides on August 15 and 16, but the NCCT said this should be done on August 18, 19 and 20. Both sides are negotiating the date for the meeting.
Maung Shwe, of the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC), said that 31 points had yet to be finalised at the meeting held in Yangon in May.
The NCCT sought to unify attitudes and decisions on remaining policies regarding the ceasefire draft at its Laiza summit last month. The UPWC has also received the policies from its central committee. Consequently, the upcoming meeting in Yangon is expected to go smoothly and lead to a completion of the nationwide ceasefire draft.
The government has also moved to end skirmishes with the Shan ethnic armed groups, meeting with members of the Shan State Army (SSA) and its political wing, the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), on July 30. Aung Min, vice chairman of the UPWC, represented the Union government.
Both sides agreed in principle to establish a committee to solve the conflict. Earlier, the team was expected to be tasked only to monitor the situation, said Sai Zin Tun of the SSPP/SSA’s information department.
The proposed structure of the team will be presented for final approval of the SSPP/SSA central committee.
The team members will comprise seven representatives from the government and five from the SSPP/SSA.
The government will have two more seats than those of the Shan side’s because the soldiers report to four Army Commands in Shan State.
“Our [Shan] delegation is not authorised to make decisions, but we are 90 per cent sure about the team formation. We will have to seek approval from the central committee. Then, we will get our decision back to the government,” said Sai Zin Tun.
After the conclusion and implementation of the nationwide ceasefire agreement, the team is expected to revert its switch its focus from conflict resolution to ceasefire monitoring.
On July 18, the SSPP/SSA central committee issued a statement calling for conflict resolution, citing a rising number of skirmishes in Shan State.
RELATED