May 17th, 2022
Twenty-four local youth organizations including the Arakan State Students’ Union issued a joint statement on May 15th, denouncing the Arakan Liberation Party’s (ALP) attendance to the peace talk invited by the military council.
“The ALP’s representation form for the Arakan people and its attendance at the peace talk may undermine the dignity when the military council is building the military dictatorship mechanism,” said Ko Kaw Naing Htay, member of the Arakan State Students’ Union.
“We don’t believe the peace will be restored to the Arakan State if the ALP attends the peace talk. Because the groups which have gained the public’s support in Arakan State don’t attend the peace talk. Under this circumstance, the ALP’s attendance will not protect the lives and properties of the Arakan people,” Ko Kyaw Naing Htay added.
We are very disappointed with the ALP’s preparation for the peace talk invited by the military council, the statement says.
Students believe that the ALP’s attendance at the peace talk will not actually guarantee the lives and properties of the people.
There are many missing points in the practical implementation even though the ALP was formed for the development of Arakan State, Ko Kyaw Aye Maung, a Thet race student said.
“The ALP doesn’t listen to the voices of the people in Arakan State. They do it of their own volition. They are doing what they want. It is found that they are working only for their interest. The ALP has never revealed its roadmap transparently. It is found that the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) in other regions decided whether or not they should attend the peace talk by listening to the voices of the public, Ko Kyaw Aye Maung added.
Youth students believe that as long as the sovereignty of the Arakan State cannot be restored to the Arakan people, the Arakan State will not become a peaceful and developed region, the statement says.
When the DMG phoned the ALP to ask for the statement, it was unavailable for comment.
The military council said seven (Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signatories and three non-NCA signatories will attend the peace talk.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG).