Will work with new incoming govt for peace: NSCN (K)
Myanmar’s first Union Peace Conference (UPC), which was held from January 12-16 at Myanmar International Convention Centre-2 in Nay Pyi Taw between the government and the eight ethnic armed organisations (EAOs), has approved the four-point proposals
On the final day of the conference, 15 representatives on behalf of seven stakeholder groups submitted a set of discussions on the given agenda items— political, economic, social issues, security and land and environment, to the conference for approval.
The submission of four proposals to the conference was followed by handing over of a set of discussions to the Myanmar vice president, reports Myanmar New Agency. Addressing a handover ceremony, Myanmar’s vice president Dr. Sai Mauk Kham said that peaceful exchange of views on five agenda items at the five-day political dialogue demonstrated that trust has been built among stakeholder groups who have differences while the country is moving towards democracy.
Compared to international incidences of peace making, Dr. Sai Mauk Kham said the country’s political transformation and peacemaking processes were working within a short period of time. He cited successful implementation of the processes as the first reasons for the President’s attitude towards the concept that democracy was impossible without peace and internal peace cannot be achieved without democracy and the second reason for creating mutual trust through the new political culture based on negotiation.
He asserted that discussions on topics at the UPC would be documented and brought into the future peace conference, hoping for better outcome to be produced in the time of the new government.
Vice president called for making great strides in building a democratic federal Union that could ensure peace and prosperity and equality for further generations.
Four-point proposal approved by the first UPC included: to exert effort to finish the national-level political dialogues and the union peace conference successfully within three to five years to be able to reach the union agreement; to convene the second union peace conference as soon as possible at an appropriate time; to enable at least 30 per cent participation by women at different levels of political dialogues according to the political dialogue framework of Nation-wide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA); and to put on record and honour those who have participated in the NCA and the UPC.
Myanmar government had invited the EAOs including NSCN (K) that did not sign the NCA to also attend the UPC, but only to audit the event as observers rather than as participants.
Peace process establishment and the negotiated points at the union peace conference were set to be handed over to the new government elected through the November 8 general election 2015.
The conference, inaugurated by President U Thein Sein, was the biggest gathering of political forces since its independence in 1948.
The peace conference involved hundreds of representatives from stakeholder groups of the government, parliament, military and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15, who have signed the (NCA), as well as political parties and other players.
NSCN (K) speaks at UPC: Kyaw Wan Sein, representing the NSCN (K), told the Union Peace Conference that the group had found it too difficult to sign the nationwide cease-fire agreement.
“We are attending as special guests. As far as I can see, the conference begins a peace process. I have no idea what will happen next. I suppose that it paves the way for peace,” Kyaw Wan Sein said.
According to Eleven Myanmar, NSCN (K)’s Kyaw Wan Sein said it was easier for other armed groups to sign the cease-fire because his organisation’s political interests straddled Myanmar and India. “Only when we are together, can we sign the cease-fire,” he said. “The Naga have stopped fighting with the government at the regional level and held peace talks. We will work with the incoming government in the peace process,” Wan said.