All ethnic armed groups need to enter the umbrella of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) as government and army have desire for peace and if they want to ask for others, it will not be ok for the peace process, said Maj-Gen Soe Naing Oo, Chair of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team at a press conference on the Tatmadaw’s public welfare services and issues related with internal peace held in Nay Pyi Taw on June 2.
A reporter asked, “What are the main obstacles for the army to try to sign ceasefire agreement with each group of northern allies? Has the army planned to hold a separate meeting with the Arakan Army (AA) which is fighting with them?”
Maj-Gen Soe Naing Oo said, “The army will follow the NCA and they need to follow it. As you know, we announced ceasefire period and held a political talk. We set a political framework based on the NCA. If they asked for others, it will not be ok for the peace process. The negotiation made with the four ethnic armed groups from the northern allies is depended on them. We arranged places to make negotiation. If they don’t come, it will be their choice. We don’t say we will not make negotiation.”
A reporter asked, “The AA said they are worried about their safety at the dialogue. How the army arranged for them to give guarantee for them?”
Maj-Gen Soe Naing Oo said, “The army is systematically organized and we held meetings with other ethnic armed groups. I assumed it is their reason.”
Maj-Gen Tun Tun Nyi, Vice Chairman of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team said, “Three of the four ethnic armed groups offered us to make negotiation for peace. So the army announced one-sided ceasefire period which was never happened before in the history. It is needed not to take advantage on it or they need to follow disciplines. It is not accordance with the democracy standardizations if they don’t want to discard arms. So we announced the ceasefire period to make negotiations. Situation in Rakhine Sate is very dangerous. We have external enemy. The AA was founded in Laiza and became the subordinate of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). They need to follow based on the peace offer.”
