The Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) consisting of ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) that had signed the NCA (Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement) will hold its meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand from October 10 to 12. 

This meeting will focus on seeking the approval among NCA-SEAO, for holding official political dialogues including the coordination meeting for the NCA implementation suggested by the government. 

The Peace Process Working Team (PPWT) meeting is scheduled to take place in Chiang Mai on October 8 and 9. The PPST meeting will be followed by the PPWT meeting. 

Khun Say, an advisor to the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) said: “The government has proposed to hold the Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM). We cannot hold it on October 15 as it is coincided with Thadingyut festival. The government proposed to hold it after October 20. The NCA-SEAO will discuss this matter. Approval will be sought for the agreed topics, at the JICM meeting.”

After the approval of agreed headings at the JICM meeting, the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) meetings will continue. After that, preparations will be made for holding the 4th round of Union Peace Conference-21st Century Peace Conference through the UPDJC meetings. 

Decisions were arrived at the informal meetings between the government and the NCA signatories. These agreements will be discussed at the PPST meeting. 

 The government has already agreed on fundamental principles and steps towards political dialogues. These points are amended by holding workshops. The amended points will be submitted. The government will discuss it, he added. 

Both sides sought the solution to the stalled peace process through informal meetings between NCA-SEAO for the resumption of official peace meetings that have stalled for nearly one year. 

The government has proposed to resume official peace dialogues by calling the JICM meeting to be attended by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and top leaders of the NCA signatories.