PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO) issued a statement on September 27 urging that political parties to take great care in conducting election campaigns in the PNLO based area and other ethnic PaO communities in order to avoid racial conflict or conflict among the PaO ethnic nationals. 

The statement came after the 10th CEC meeting in the second conference of PNLO had been held from September 23 to 26. 

In the statement, the ethnic party said parliamentary candidates and political parties are free to canvas in the PNLO areas in accord with the election law. In so doing they are urged to be careful that any racial conflict does not occur. 

“Mainly, our area has three national races. They are Shan, Kayah and PaO. Any party can freely engage in election campaigning. But it is necessary for them to not use words meant to trigger racial conflict. That’s all,” said PNLO spokesperson Khun Tun Tin. 

Currently, some parties are conducting their election campaigns in the PNLO areas while some major parties such as the National League for Democracy and the Union Solidarity and Development Party are making preparations. 

The statement says PNLO’s election contest is aimed at ensuring democracy cause, quality and self-administration. 

 PNLO, a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), also said in the statement it welcomes the 15-point framework of the NCA and the Union Agreement based on democracy and federalism.