June 20th, 2022
The military council’s invitation of the Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs) to the peace talk is that it is unable to cope with the subsequent problems caused by the coup, the Karen National Union (KNU) says.
“The military does not meet its waterloo politically. The conflict-affected areas become wider. The military is facing various crises. The military council is especially approaching the major revolutionary organizations to end the intensifying nationwide revolution, if possible. The military council has no good prospects for getting international recognition and may face more severe economic sanctions,” Padoh Saw Taw Nee, Spokesperson of the KNU says.
The military council released an invitation letter dated June 14th for the second time, to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signatories and non-NCA signatories. The EROs is to register the names of the leader who can make decisions on behalf of the chair or the organization and a member, to attend the peace talk no later than June 30th, 2022.
The KNU refused to attend the peace talk invited by the military council for the first time. Now the KNU’s decision remains unchanged, Padoh Saw Taw Nee told the DMG.
“We decided not to attend the peace talk for the first time. Till now, it remains unchanged. The central committee has not given any directive to me whether the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) will attend it or not,” Col Naw Bu, the information officer of the KIA said.
The United League for Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) , which has got the trust from the Arakan people, has said it would monitor whether the military council’s peace invitation is genuine or not.
“The peace talk is said to be a good sign. However, we need to monitor the fact whether the peace talk is genuine or not. It can be said that it is good if the talk is aimed for genuine peace. However, it is not a good sign for the public if the military wants to utilize the peace to end the crisis period. We need to monitor whether genuine peace is achieved or not,” U Khaing Thu Kha said at the press conference on June 14th.
Seven NCA signatories and three Non-NCA signatories have registered to attend the peace talk invited by the military council.
The NCA signatories—the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and Non-NCA signatories—the United Wa State Party (UWSP) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)-Mongla have met the military council. Currently, the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) is meeting with the junta.
The Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) have not met with the junta yet.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)