October 31, 2022
Both the National Unity Government (NUG) and the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) which were formed during the Spring Revolution should be invited to the peace talk in addition to the Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs), said Khu Daniel, Deputy Defense Minister of the Karenni State Government.
“Our ethnic organizations have no reason to attend the peace talks if the revolutionary armed organizations like the NUG and the PDFs are not invited. We want the inclusion of all ethnic armed organizations. All armed organizations are required to include in the talks. Only the inclusion of all revolutionary forces will bring about a genuine peace,” Khu Daniel added.
Following the 2021 coup, the military council has invited the EROs to the peace talk. The military council invited the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) four times.
A peace observer said on condition of anonymity: “The military council’s invitation to the peace talk aims to enable the international community to recognize it as a legitimate government. In practice, the military council conducted airstrikes and heavy shelling on non-conflict zones. The military has to use the word “peace” to hide its violence, oppress ethnics and make targeted attacks on the public. Sometimes, these two things are workable. On the one hand, the military is putting pressure. On the other hand, the military invites the armed groups to the peace talks. The military’s targeted attacks on the public are workable when the number of the armed groups which accept the peace talks increases.”
Regarding the military council’s invitation to the EROs alone, Khu Daniel said: “The military council’s invitation aims to separate between the PDFs, the NUG and the EROs. Now the EROs are in collaboration with the PDFs and the NUG. It also aims to reduce the strength of the NUG and the PDFs. If the military reaches a ceasefire with the EROs, the public, the PDFs and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), which represent the public, will have no base. For this purpose, the military is separating.”
The NUG and the PDFs emerged after the coup. They are making a revolution against the military council and have earned huge public support.
Fighting is taking place between the military council and a combined force of the KA and the PDFs in Karenni State almost every day.
In his address delivered at the graduation ceremony of 74th batch of basic military training by the KA, Maj-Gen Bee Htoo, the military chief of the KA said: “We will not attend the military council’s peace talks.
We will not recognize the military council in terms of politics. And we will stand with the entire public.”
Sent by Maw Mi Myar (Kantarawaddy Times)