The doors are open to all ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) for peace talks, said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, stressing that they can come for discussions or the military can arrange for discussions at the regional military command headquarters, state-run newspaper reported.
He made the remark during a meeting with the group led by Kayin national race leader and former Karen National Union (KNU) chairman Saw Mutu Sae Poe.
“The meeting now is believed to be a step towards the peace and stability of Kayin State and then the peace of the whole nation. The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) is the highest agreement of the country as well as a pledge between the government and the ethnic armed organizations. The Constitution is also a pledge or agreement between the State and the people. The Tatmadaw (military) is a part of the State, so it needs to respect the government’s instructions, and the NCA and the Constitution aspired by the people. In advancing national peace, the Tatmadaw will continue to adhere to the NCA and the Constitution. This is why the doors are open to all the EAOs. They can come to make negotiations and discussions or they can invite the Tatmadaw to do so. Such discussions will be arranged in various military commands” the Senior General said.
He said the KNU is an EAO, whereas the so-called PDFs are terrorist organizations that are harming the lives and property of the people and regional peace and stability. The State Administration Council is working towards national prosperity and food and water security as national goals. Meanwhile, measures are being taken for the promotion of multi-party democracy and the establishment of a Union based on democracy and federalism as two political goals, he added.
He then promised continued measures to hold a multi-party democratic election, the will of the people. Pursuing a democratic system will require many ethnic nationalities and representatives who can represent indigenous peoples and regions to come to the electoral platform, he pointed out.
Next, the Senior General invited Saw Mutu Sae Poe to attend the ceremony to mark the eighth anniversary of the NCA that is going to take place soon as he is an ethnic leader who himself participated in and signed the NCA.
Then he discussed the importance of such a meeting that serves as the reinforcement for peace, baseless rumors about the dissolve of NCA as some EAOs were saying that as the assumption of State duties by the Tatmadaw is against the Constitution, vote rigging at the multiparty general elections that led the Tatmadaw to assume the duties in accord with 2018 Constitution, Tatmadaw’s steadfastness to the Constitution and NCA and its efforts to restore peace in the entire country, Tatmadaw’s overtures to peace dialogue that is always opened for EAOs, the wish of people of Kayin State to pursue a peaceful life, regional peace that will ensure greater progress, peace and socioeconomic prosperity that can be achieved through the restoration of peace and stability region wise, Saw Mutu Sae Poe’s continuously responsibility for peace in Kayin State as he is a Kayin national race leader who signed the NCA, and invitation of frank discussions on requirements and constructive ideas for peace, stability and progress of Kayin State.
In their discussion, Saw Mutu Sae Poe and his group members said if one wants peace, he should not apply hatred-based actions. He and his group have stood firmly on peace since they signed the NCA.
They then expressed thanks to the Senior General for his patience in steering KNU correctly on the road to peace. They went on to say that the government, the parliament, the Tatmadaw and EAOs signed the NCA in the presence of diplomats from foreign missions including the UN, and local witnesses. As it is a legal agreement that will last forever, they said they believe in the NCA and their commitment to it in restoring peace. They said baseless and meaningless statements on NCA are unacceptable, adding, they accept multi-party democracy and love peace and stability. Instead of the armed struggle line, dialogue will be used in restoring peace and stability. Any action or word that may ruin peace is totally unacceptable. The NCA was reached through collective consensus and it is the only way to peace, the group commented.
