Can new government restore peace in Burma?

 By Zin Linn>>

At the invitation of the government of Myanmar (Burma) for peace talks, “Wa” Special Region (2) that is willing to make peace with the government held discussions with State level Peace-Making Committee formed by Shan State government at Kengtung on 6 September 2011, the New Light of Myanmar said today.

Representatives of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the NDAA (the Mongla group) met with the government counterparts in Kengtung, Shan State, on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, for the first talks between the government and the two ethnic ceasefire groups. Another armistice talk with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) failed in June.
National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) or Mongla group said the meeting held between its delegates and the government’s representatives yesterday was promising, quoting sources from the Mongla group, Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.) reported.
According to SHAN, the two sides met in the capital of Shan State East, Kengtung, following government’s 28 August invitation letter to Mongla for peace talks. The NDAA sent over 10 members led by Vice Chairman Hsan Per and its general secretary Sao Hsengla while the Burmese side was led by Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) general secretary U Aung Thaung (Chairman of the Banks and Monetary Development Committee), and U Thein Zaw (Chairman of the National Race Affairs and Internal Peace-making Committee).
As reported by the New Light of Myanmar, the meeting with UWSA was attended by Chairman of Shan State Peace-Making Committee Col Aung Thu (Minister of Shan State Security and Border Affairs) and members, Shan State Advocate-General U Maung Maung, Col Zaw Tun Myint of Triangle Region Command, Coordinator U Aung Kyaw Myint of Department for Border Region Development of Shan State, Leader of Peace-Making Committee of “Wa” Special Region (2) CEC member U Kyauk Kwan Am and members CEC members U Pauk Yu Lyan and U Aung Myint.
After the meeting, initial agreements for cooperation of ensuring peace and stability and development of Wa Region and related areas was signed and both sides agreed to continue to hold peace talks with Peace-Making Committee that will be formed by Union Government.

A new 5 point proposal was presented by the government representatives. They are, (1) No hostilities between the two sides; (2) To reopen liaison offices on both side; (3) To maintain Mongla’s autonomous status; (4) To inform each other in advance if one side is entering the other side’s territory carrying arms; (5) To form a joint liaison committee as soon as possible.

According to ethnic sources, before their meetings with Aung Thaung and Thein Zaw in Kengtung, Wa and Mongla officials met with Chinese officials in Panghsang and Mongla to discuss the ongoing tension on the Border Guard Force between the ethnic armed groups and the Burmese government.

According to SHAN, one statement issued by UWSA on 19 March in Burmese states, “Existing differences and contradictions should be managed by Political Dialogue, Discussion on Equal Footing and Peaceful Resolution. We will oppose any settlements through intimidation and military means.”

On the other hand, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) dismissed the government’s 18-August peace-talk offer. It was sacked by the KIO and the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) since the government uses just bilateral meeting which in fact is a divide-and-rule policy towards ethnic groups devoid of the Panglong Agreement.
Currently, KIO declared that it will talk through the ethnic alliance, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), maintaining the values of the Panglong Agreement.

It has not been confirmed so far whether the KIO and Burmese delegation led by Colonel Than Aung have reached an agreement, with Kachin sources saying further talks between the two sides were likely in the event of a standoff.

The KIO has offered to end ongoing warfare if the government will commence talks for a nationwide ceasefire. But Burmese government authorities did not show any positive signal, according to La Nang, a spokesman for the KIO.

There is a question on government’s unusual approach towards UWSA and NDAA who seem to be more close to China. The government deals with the KIO in a different way. It uses more military pressure on KIO. Issue of KIO must also be addressed by means of dialogue rather than arms.

Many political analysts believe that Burma needs extensive international encouragement for political change, starting free political prisoners plus nationwide ceasefire for true reconciliation. In addition, they also comment, it is impossible to alleviate poverty of the country without stopping the ongoing civil war.