In a bid to seek the solution to stalled peace process, top leaders of ethnic armed organizations (EAO) which have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) will start holding a meeting at Chiang Mai, Thailand on May 14, said Colonel Khun Okka, Patron of Pao National Liberation Organization (PNLO) on May 12.

The meeting is scheduled to take place from May  14 to 18.

“The five-day meeting between the top leaders from 10 EAOs is called in order to overcome difficulties in the peace process and make necessary preparations and changes. The meeting will mainly focus three topics. The first point is to seek ways to enable the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) to proceed collectively. The second point is to seek ways for the resumption of political talks. The third point is to encourage non-NCA signatories and those EAOs to actively participate in the peace process,” he said.

The situation may become worse if the peace is not achieved. There may be general crises. The country may fail if general crises occur in all fronts. Our EAOs need to make coordination for the future of the country. Whether non-NCA signatories sign the NCA or not is a separate matter, he continued.

The PPST is formed with the top leaders of eight EAOs which signed the NCA in 2015. The New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) which signed the NCA in 2018, attended the PPST’s meetings. In early March, the special meeting of 10 EAOs was held for three days