WITH the aim of resuming peace talks and carrying out the implementation of the peace process in Myanmar, the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC) will be meeting with the Karen National Union (KNU) at 10 a.m. on 11 April.

In the informal talks, the KNU side will be led by KNU General Secretary Pado Saw Tar Do Mu accompanied by Joint-Secretary – 2 Pado Saw Hla Tun, KNU Central Standing Committee member Pado Saw Hsar Gay, KNU’s Saw Tar Ma Lah Thaw and Saw Tar Mu Lar, according to the press release of the KNU.

The government side will comprise members of the NRPC and Vice-Chairman of the Peace Commission U Thein Zaw will attend, according to the Union Peace Dialogue Joint-Committee Secretariat member U Hla Maung Shwe. U Hla Maung Shwe said that the list of KNU representatives was received last night.

After receiving it, there was a group discussion with the government representatives, including members of NRPC, Vice-Chairman of Peace Commission, some other personnel. In addition to this, two Lieutenant-Generals, who are also members of NRPC, would be participating in the meeting.

The Karen National Union (KNU) had temporarily suspended its participation in all on-going peace negotiations after the high-level talks with the government representatives and leaders of EAOs in Nay Pyi Taw on 15 and 16 October last year. But, the KNU would present their opinions on how to approach the on-going peace process and their reasons for suspending the meeting at the next meeting, according to a press release of the KNU.

U Hla Maung Shwe said that there had been an NCA agreement between the two sides while striving to implement some pledges to make it a success. From the meeting, it would need to reach the Union Accord, thereby the process would be continued taking place as UPDJC and UPC meetings. Thus all these meetings would be held officially so that procedures could be carried out in the long run.

The main thing was that it would be needed to be conducted in line with the rules of the NCA. The delegation led by KNU general secretary Pado Saw Tar Do Mu has already proposed to discuss the fundamental points of the disputes and the situation on the ground with the Tatmadaw Coordination Team.

The Office of the President formed the “National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC)” with the release of Order 50/2016 on 11 July 2016, as an effort to set necessary policies and guidelines for ensuring the successful implementation of the national reconciliation and peace process in Myanmar.— Ye Khaung Nyunt (Translated by Win Ko Ko Aung)