Arakan Army leader attends FPNCC meeting in Wa territory

By Admin 15 Mar 2023

DMG Newsroom
15 March 2023, Sittwe

The chief of the Arakan Army (AA), Major-General Twan Mrat Naing, is reportedly attending a meeting of members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC) in Panghsang, the headquarters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA).

The meeting aims to promote ties between the ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) and strengthen the FPNCC alliance.

“It is true that the meeting of members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee is being held in Panghsang. An AA delegation led by Maj-Gen Twan Mrat Naing is attending the meeting. Details of the meeting are still unknown,” AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha confirmed to DMG.

The FPNCC, a coalition of seven EAOs mostly based in northern Myanmar, consists of the UWSA, Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the AA.

The meeting between the FPNCC members follows a meeting last month between the Chinese special envoy to Myanmar, Deng Xijun, and the seven EAOs.

Political analysts have noted that the meeting of FPNCC members was likely to have a focus on the current political situation and military issues.

“It is time for the FPNCC to meet now, because a Chinese special envoy has visited them,” said veteran Arakanese politician U Pe Than. “It was followed by the meeting between the Three Brotherhood Alliance — the AA, MNDAA and TNLA. The UWSA is an important organisation regarding China. So, they might be discussing how to avoid getting stuck in the current political landscape.”

The FPNCC was formed in Wa State on April 19, 2017, and relations among the allies are said to be strong.

The FPNCC members are not signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and have adopted a policy of negotiating through political means other than the NCA.