The upcoming ethnic armed groups’ meeting set for the Wa region, in the northeast, may have the potential to damage efforts made so far towards achieving a final nationwide ceasefire agreement, reports Channel News Asia on April 28.
Although the purpose of the meeting in May, organised by the United Wa State Army, is to discuss peace-building, observers are questioning its true intent, particularly as the dissident Kokang armed group has been invited to attend.
The meeting comes after what has been heralded as a breakthrough in March – the signing of a draft of the planned ceasefire agreement between the Myanmar government and 16 of the ethnic armed groups. This theoretically indicates that the warring factions are poised to end more than 60 years of fighting in Myanmar.
Now there are worries the meeting in May organised by the United Wa State Army could wreck these plans.
Observers have expressed concern to Channel News Asia and Mizzima that the meeting may detract from the peace plan. There are also worries about the influence of China, which has typically supported the Wa.