June 23, 2020
The government peace negotiators and the NCA-S EAOs agreed to convene the meetings of Joint Monitoring Committee at Union Level (JMC-U) in early July.
The Strengthening Ceasefire Working Group meeting was held at the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre in Yangon yesterday morning.
The meting was attended by Vice-Chairman of NRPC and Attorney-General of the Union U Tun Tun Oo, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae of the Ministry of Defence (Army), Lt-Gen Min Naung and Lt-Gen Tin Maung Win, Pyithu Hluttaw MP U Pyone Cho (a) U Htay Win Aung, members of the Peace Commission Advisory Board U Hla Maung Shwe, U Moe Zaw Oo and Director-General of the State Counsellor Office U Zaw Htay.
The ethnic armed organizations side was led by Pado Sao Sel Gey, Coordinator Sai Hlyan, members of the negotiation team Sao Saung Han, Dr Shwe Kharr, Saw Tar Malar Thaw, Khun Aung Mann and Nai Banyar Chan Nyun, and other representatives took part in the meeting online.
Union Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo said in his opening remark that the government and the representatives of NCA-S EAOs held three informal meetings in 2018 on security sector.
He added the NCA has agreed to hold political dialogues and security reconciliation, and to carry out preparations after negotiations on work processes.
The Union Attorney-General remarked the lack of strong implementation left problems among the stakeholders, causing political dialogues.
The formal discussions were resumed in January 2020 after over one-year hiatus with 8th JICM where agreements were made to prioritize on discussions of Chapter 3: Ceasefire Related Matters, Chapter 4: Maintaining and Strengthening Ceasefire and Chapter 6: Future Tasks in the NCA. It was also agreed on JMC meetings at the same time while these topics are discussed.
Negotiation team leader Pado Sao Sel Gey remarked the needs to continue ceasefire talks during COVID-19 and to hold group discussions, if required, to reach ceasefire goals.
According to the number one agreement in the 8th JICM, the NCA-S EAOs will hold discussions with the government and the Tatmadaw.
The meeting discussed the ceasefire related matters, the maintaining and strengthening ceasefire and preparations for JMC-U and general issues.
In his concluding remark, Pado Saw Sel Gey said both sides discussed on the future plans of chapter 3 and 4 in the NCA, which are required to be proved in JICM and further discussions in NCA framework team.
The JMC meeting is scheduled to convene on 7 and 8 July.
Peace Commission’s Advisory Board member U Hla Maung Shwe said it is expected to hold the peace conference in August.—Ye GaungNyunt (Translated by Aung Khin)
