Leaders from the union government and ethnic armed groups, which had signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) have agreed to be involved the in peace process and all will accept the NCA if they have an agreement to maintain their autonomy instead of secession, said Pahdo Saw Kwe Htoo Win, Vice Chairman of Karen National Union (KNU) in an exclusive interview with Thoolei News, a media that mainly highlights KNU and other Karen related news.
“The government, army and ethnic armed groups will try to find solutions for the peace process. The peace commission will also work for that. The government said they’ve intended to meet with each ethnic armed group from the northern alliance. As for our ethnic armed groups, we will organize a meeting with top leaders from all ethnic armed groups. It will be a way to make everyone to involve,” said the vice chairman.
Although ethnic armed groups which didn’t sign the NCA cannot participate in the political talks directly, they can still express their views. The KNU is finding ways to implement the idea and had already informed about it to the government, said Pahdo Saw Kwe Htoo Win.
In second meeting of 21st Century Panglong Conference held in May 2017, issues concerning secession, autonomy, a single army in the state and security affairs were not resolved in the conference. The KNU made reviews to implement the NCA in the organization, with ethnic armed groups, and the union government in over one-year period. They discussed about not to make secession and enacting of autonomy for many times in informal meetings but the issues are not solved, he said.
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of ethnic armed groups met at the third meeting of 21st Century Panglong Conference held in July. The special meeting between top leaders of the union government and NCA-SEAO were arranged as leaders of the ethnic armed groups previously submitted a five-factor proposal to the state counsellor.
“Other things we are concerned about are non-secession and enacting of autonomy. For instance, it is as if we are fearful of the ghosts that may be while we have yet to encounter them. We want autonomy but they prefer if we did not secede which then makes us worried of not gaining autonomy. Both sides need to have an agreement. The government will present a proposal and the ethnic armed organizations (EAO) will be presenting one too,” said Pahdo Saw Kwe Htoo Win.
Moreover, the organizing of a single army representing Myanmar was mentioned in third section of political roadmap in the NCA. It will be implemented in line with developments through political dialogues.
“We will discuss about reintegration in advance before implementing it. We are not making armed revolution to seize power or to take over Nay Pyi Taw,” he said.
Both sides will discuss about how to encamp the troops and what to do after enacting constitution based on democracy and federal principles. Ethnic armed groups have responsibilities in defending of the country, state and the constitution, said Padoh Saw Tah Doh Moo.
