Regime’s second invite to peace talks falls flat with some of Myanmar’s biggest EAOs

By DMG 20 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
20 June 2022, Sittwe 

The Karen National Union (KNU), one of the oldest ethnic armed groups (EAOs) in Myanmar, said the regime has twice now invited EAOs to peace talks because it is overwhelmed by the fallout from last year’s military coup. 

“Politically, [the regime] can in no way surmount [the fallout]. Militarily, the theatre is expanding. As it is faced with multiple crises, it has approached key revolutionary organisations to contain the escalating countrywide revolution,” said KNU spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee. 

The regime remains unable to win recognition from the international community, and is likely to face tougher economic sanctions, he added. 

On April 22, junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing first proposed face-to-face talks with EAO leaders. The regime last week extended a second invitation for peace talks to signatories and non-signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).  

A number of EAOs met the junta leader in May, and the regime made its second invitation on June 14, asking the remaining EAOs to join the peace talks “in the interests of their regions and the country.” 

The regime asked the remaining EAOs to register by June 30 for peace talks, inviting the leaders or decision-makers to attend the talks along with two members. 

In May, the KNU said that it would only attend talks when all sides were invited. The armed group’s stance remains the same, Padoh Saw Taw Nee told DMG this week. 

Another key EAO from northern Myanmar, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), will not attend the peace talks either, according to KIA information officer Colonel Naw Bu. 

“We have rejected the peace talks before, and we still hold that stance. The Central Executive Committee has not yet given a new instruction regarding that,” he said. 

The Arakan Army (AA), whose tensions with the regime have been running high of late, said it would wait and see if the proposed peace talks are genuine. 

“It is good to hold peace talks,” AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha said at a press conference on June 14. “But there is a need to wait and see if they have a genuine will for peace. It is good if they really desire peace. However, if they are going to take advantage of peace talks to overcome a crisis, it is not a good sign for the people. So, we will wait and see if they have genuine desire. 

Seven NCA signatories and three non-signatories have so far agreed to join the regime’s peace talks.  

Of the NCA signatories, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), New Mon State Party (NMSP), the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army- Peace Council, the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO) have met the junta chief. Among non-signatories, the United Wa State Party (UWSP) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA-Mongla) have held talks with Min Aung Hlaing. 

The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), an NCA signatory, is currently holding talks with the regime, and the non-signatory Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and signatory Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) have yet to meet with the regime.