Although the government plans to go ahead with the Union Peace Conference (also called the 21st Century Panglong Conference) the ethnic armed groups aren’t ready for it,  said Khu Oo Reh, leader of the Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) under the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC).
Khu Oo Reh said: “I don’t think the ethnic armed groups or political parties are ready yet. It seems to be a bit early. There are more chances of having a good start if we negotiate (first) and start with a situation that everyone can agree on. I understand that the government may have some reason for starting this early but time is an issue for us.”  
There haven’t been discussions on who should be included in the conference. Or if the current arrangement is something that everyone agrees on, he said.
Khu Oo Reh made the remarks during a recent meeting in northern Thai city Chiang Mai between the 8 ethnic armed groups that signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement and UNFC members--that didn’t sign it--in advance of the political dialogue framework review meeting with the government.
In a last minute decision, the UNFC accepted an invitation to attend the political dialogue framework meeting that starts tomorrow and runs until Saturday in Rangoon.
Courtesy BNI