The 4th Summit meeting of the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) which have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (4th NCA-S EAO Summit) commenced in Chiang Mai, Thailand, yesterday morning. The meeting will be held for five days from 14 to 19 May.

In his opening speech at the meeting, Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) acting leader U Yawd Serk said attendees to the summit meeting were to openly and cordially discuss to achieve the federal union desired by all through political discussions.

He added that all were to march in cooperation hand in hand towards the goal that benefits the people and the country and the discussion were to be in a way that was acceptable to all. Holding on tightly to one’s own policies success would not result in success. If all wanted democracy and a federal system, discussion must be toward a federal system. If all of us set aside own policies and discuss what ought to be discussed naturally, we would not face failure and achieve success.

Fighting between brother organizations that had not signed the NCA and the Tatmadaw was the biggest problem for the union. Peace was the main thing in resolving problems. If the peace process was damaged numerous problems would occur and the government, Tatmadaw, EAOs and related organizations must strive towards the success of peace process.

Ways to overcome obstacles and bottlenecks to the peace process, reviewing the organizations of PPST and to conduct reforms courageously were the main matters to be discussed, added the PPST acting leader.

Implementation report of sector wise peace processes of NCA-S EAOs will be submitted and discussed and organizations of groups will be reviewed and discussed in the meeting.

The meeting was attended by 8 EAOs that had signed the NCA, and NMSP (New Mon State Party) and LDU (Lahu Democratic Union) that were implementing partners of NCA. Brother EAOs of KIO (Kachin Independence Organization) and KNPP (Karenni Naitonal Progressive Party) also attended the meeting as observers.

The 3rd NCA-S EAO Summit meeting was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 8 to 11 September 2018.— Ye Gaung Nyunt (Translated by Zaw Min)