15 August

CIVILIAN representatives who are involved in the different levels of the Joint Monitoring Committee on Ceasefire (JMC) explained their progress during a briefing organized at Lotte Hotel in Yangon yesterday.

U Ko Ko Gyi’s speech

Firstly, U Ko Ko Gyi, Vice-Chairman 2 of the JMC-U, said it is a significant factor that armed conflicts between the signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) are almost non-existent in the four years since the JMC’s establishment.

He added that the local residents of those signatories are also enjoying peace to a certain extent. He also said the committee members on different levels of the JMC have managed to build strong trust between themselves and that they need to strive to maintain and further promote it.

Attendees were given the opportunity to ask for clarification on different topics in yesterday’s briefing while also receiving explanations on the JMC’s progress so far. In addition, U Ko Ko Gyi welcomed constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement on their work.

He said the JMC faced various challenges when it was first formed as the government administration was changing and they had to deal with financial hurdles and lack of skilled human resource.

But the JMC was able to overcome these challenges together while being the first joint organization to work towards resolving armed conflicts, said U Ko Ko Gyi. He added that the JMC will continue to exist until Myanmar achieves lasting peace and urged all members to work towards sustainable solutions.

Updating reports on JMC

Next, JMC-U civilian representative member Thura U Bo Ni explained the committee’s objectives, policies, progress and implementations on various sectors, and how it designs its directives and regulations.

Following this, fellow member Rev Saw Matthew Aye explained the civilian representatives’ roles in the different levels of the JMC, how female civilian representatives are involved in JMC-S, the reason, fundamental principles, duties and authority of civilian representatives, and various facts of Local Civilians Monitoring (LCM) groups.

After this, U Ko Ko Gyi explained the monitoring, reviewing, verifying and conflict resolving processes the JMC has undertaken. He also explained the status if the JMC-S and JMC-L committees, the plenary meetings held so far, replying to complaints received, peace observation trips abroad, and other events organized to further the purpose of JMC.

Next, U Ko Ko Gyi, Thura U Bo Ni and Rev Saw Matthew Aye answered to questions raised by attendees and JMC-U Secretary 1 Dr Shwe Kah provided additional explanations.

Afterwards, JMC-S (Shan) civilian representative U Aung Soe Moe said their monthly meetings are currently suspended as the RCSS has been postponed for the majority of 2019. However, he said informal civilian meetings still took place and so did meetings and JMC training courses. He said the suspended groups are growing more likely to participate in the formal JMC meetings and he views this as a blossoming situation.

Next, JMC-S (Kayin) civilian representative Nan Sei Hua said they regularly visit villages in Kayin State to explain about the work done by the JMC in order for troops from both sides to clearly understand the ethnics to maintain and for local residents to gain a better awareness of the overall situation. However, she said there were no more opportunities for cooperation after the delay was announced. Despite this, they will continue to provide the necessary training to teachers and personnel from the education department in order to conduct more public meetings, said Nan Sei Hua.

Also attending the meeting were Yangon Region Hluttaw Speaker U Tin Maung Tun and regional lawmakers, officials from the regional government, JMC-U Secretary 2 Col. Wunna Aung, civilian representative from different levels of the JMC and its technical support groups, NRPC officials, diplomats, UN officials, members of Myanmar Military Veterans, officials from the GAD’ training institutions, departmental officials, teachers and students from regional universities, CSO officials, enthusiasts, observers and invited guests.—Zaw Gyi (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)