Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) is not sure whether it will attend the fourth round of the Union Peace Conference also called the 21st Century Panglong Conference as Arakan Army (AA) has not been invited, said Lamai Gunja, member of the Peace Talk Creation Group (PCG).

KIA is an ethnic armed organization, a member of Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) led by United Wa State Army (UWSA). KIA would attend the conference as an FPNCC member if invited, Lamai Gunja said. 

“Now, all invitation letters have come. But AA didn’t receive it. They said they would attend as FPNCC members if they were invited. As AA was not invited, there has been no reply as to whether they will attend or not,” he said. 

He added that If KIA happens to attend the conference planned to take place soon, it can have the chance to meet government officials paving the way for building peace and trust. 

“I have no idea about the setting at the coming peace conference. It will be better if we can attend. I hope it will facilitate mutual trust if we can meet government members. But, AA was not invited. So we as FPNCC members are not sure whether we will attend the conference,” Lamai Gunja commented. 

Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, other two members of the Northern Alliance, would not attend if AA was not invited, said Colonel Maing Aik Kyaw, news and information officer of TNLA on August 8. 

FPNCC is formed with UWSA, KIA, SSPP (Shan State Progress Party), NDAA (National Democratic Alliance Army), TNLA, MNDAA and AA.