Suspicions persist over signing of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement

05 May 2015
Suspicions persist over signing of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement
KNU General Secretary Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win speaks at a meeting between the UPWC and the NCCT at the Myanmar Peace Centre in Yangon on March 17, 2015. Photo: Mizzima

The ongoing Myanmar peace process could be under threat if ongoing military offensives in ethnic areas continue according to a senior leader in the Karen National Union (KNU). 
Padoh Kwe Htoo Win,  general-secretary of the KNU has told the Radio Free Asia Myanmar service that “We’ve lost our trust in the government because the government army has more troops and has attacked the ethnic armed groups, although we signed the draft national cease-fire agreement . . . We now are suspicious about signing the final NCA.”
The comments were made on the sidelines of an Ethnic Summit held in Panghsang, the United Wa State Army capital, organised to follow up and assess the signing, on the 30 March, of a draft nationwide ceasefire agreement.
Those groups present at the summit include Restoration Council of Shan State, Kachin Independence Organization, Karen National Union, Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Pa-Oh National Liberation Organization, New Mon State Party, The United Wa State Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Arakan Army (AA), Shan State Progress Party (SSPP)/Shan State Army (SSA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).
Armed ethnic groups have seen in increase in military operations in Northern Burma especially between Kokang and Ta’ang forces and most recently fighting has spread to Rakhine state as members of the Arakan Army increase their operational capabilities in the area.
It is hoped that the current Ethnic summitand an NCCT organised Ethnic Conference to be held somtime this month will see a final draft NCA approved. However, as fighting continues,Anchor doubts still remain.