The attitude of the government and Tatmadaw toward peace must be questioned as the meeting of PPST formed with ethnic NCA signatories was prohibited from holding in Chiang Mai, Thailand, said Phado Saw Tardo Hmu, general secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU).
The meeting to amend the formation of the PPST was planned in Chiang Mai, Thailand on June 8 and 9, but it was prohibited from holding because the Myanmar military attaché informed Thai authorities, said Phado Saw Tardo Hmu to Karen National Union Headquarters on June 11.
The Myanmar military attaché sent a letter to Thai authorities, saying that the participation of the KIO and the KNPP, NCA non-signatories, to attend the PPST meeting caused an obstacle to peace process of the government. The KIO and the KNPP are members of co ownership of NCA Single Text. For that reason, the government and Tatmadaw should encourage the participation of the KIO and the KNPP, said Saw Tardo Hmu.
We are to seek a solution to how they are going to participate in the peace process. It has nothing to do with NCA signing. Therefore, the attitude of the government and the Tatmadaw toward peace process became highly questionable as the PPST’s meeting was prohibited from holding in Thailand, said Phado Saw Tardo Hmu.
A prohibition against holding the PPST’s meeting harms a process of building trust. The attitude of the government and the Tatmadaw toward peace process is highly questionable. The view of the government and the Tatmadaw about peace is different from that of ethnic armed organizations, said Phado Saw Tardo Hmu.
Negotiations between ethnic NCA signatories and non-signatories harmed nothing, but they ensured transparency for the peace process. The peace process will be implemented through transparency, responsibility and accountability, said Phado Saw Tardo Hmu.
Such prohibition goes against Section 24 (a) of Chapter 6 of NCA. Therefore, it is required to negotiate with the responsible persons of NCA-S EAO, said Phado Saw Tardo Hmu.
The KNU submitted a proposal to change the PPST into PPCM at the summit of NCA-S EAO held in Thailand from May 14 to 18. There were disagreements among EAOs as to the proposal of the KNU.
Translated and Edited by Win Htut
