SENSE OF URGENCY EXPRESSED, ISSUE OF ALL-INCLUSIVENESS UNRESOLVED

ENAC Briefing No. 14

23 February 2016
On February 22nd in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)
met with the Union Peacemaking Working Committee (UPWC), led by the groups Vice
Chairman U Aung Min. In his opening remarks, U Aung Min said President Thein Sein sent
him to meet the non-signatory EAOs to discuss the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire
Agreement (NCA); he said the president was sorry that only eight groups signed. U Aung
Min stressed the importance of the role of the military in the peace process and conflict
resolution.
The UNFC continued to seek the all-inclusive peace process that includes the Arakan Army
(AA), the Palaung State Liberation Front/Taang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA),
and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). The UPWC said it would
try to talk separately with the three groups, but it could not guarantee their inclusion in the
NCA. The UPWC said the goal is to be all-inclusive, but to achieve this goal will require
them to treat groups differently. U Aung Min, who lost in the last election, and his team
expressed a sense of urgency and would like to push the process forward in the remaining 40
days of their term. While urging the UNFC to propose what it wants in the next 40 days
period, the UPWC team remained firm on the exclusion of the AA, PSLF/TNLA, and
MNDAA.
The UPWC team reviewed the achievements of the peace process so far and urged the UNFC
to not impede this progress by refusing to sign the NCA within the term of President Thein
Sein, who has portrayed himself as a peacemaker and would like to leave a legacy as such.
The UPWC also implied that the National League for Democracy (NLD) is ill equipped to
lead the peace process and is overwhelmed with forming a new government. The NLD has to
consult with the military on matters concerning the peace process and seek the militarys
recommendations. Furthermore, the NLD may not be able to prioritize the peace process
because it will have to answer first to the desires of the public. Additionally, the new
government will not be able to work much in April because it is the month of Buddhist New
Year. Based on these statements, the UPWC was essentially informing the non-signatories
that NLD would not be as able to address their needs as well as the current government;
accordingly, if the non-signatories decide to move forward, they should do it now.
There has been speculation that the incoming government is unlikely to use the Myanmar
Peace Center (MPC), a broker for the UPWC, in the peace process. Seeing their future in
question, the UPWC team, which is comprised of members from the MPC, seemed to assert
their roles as if the peace process could not continue without them.
Initially the UPWC team was not willing to meet the non-signatories collectively as UNFC,
wishing instead to meet them individually. The UNFC, however, maintained that nonsignatories would only meet UPWC as a united group. The UNFC team, led by Nai Han Tha,
consisted of Khu Oo Reh, Gen. Sumlut Gun Maw, Gen. Sao Sai Htoo, Col. Solomon, U
Twan Zaw, Dr. Khin Maung, Ta Nyi Lu, Nai Shwe Thein, and Nai Ron Tin. The UPWC
team consisted of U Aung Min, U Khin Zaw Oo, U Tin Maung Than, U Hla Maung Shwe, U
Aung Naing Oo, Dr. Kyaw Yin Hlaing and U Nyo Un Myint.