PPST says six-year anniversary of NCA signing characterised by disappointment and promises unmet

By DMG 15 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
15 October 2021, Sittwe

Despite six years having passed since the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, ethnic people’s expectations have not been met, the Peace Process Steering Team, which is formed of the 10 ethnic armed organisations that have signed the NCA, said on October 15.

In a statement marking the anniversary of the signing of the NCA, the PPST said they have not received the basic principles to create a federal democratic union as they expected, though it has been six years since the NCA was signed.

It also said that activities to cease fire and plans during the interim period cannot be implemented as they should be.

Eight ethnic armed organisations signed the NCA on October 15, 2015, and the New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union signed it on February 13, 2018.

The lack of inclusion of all ethnic armed organisations in the NCA is a weakness of the peace process, the PPST said.

Following the military coup on February 1 of this year, the PPST said on February 20 that it would suspend political discussions with the junta government.

Meanwhile, coup leader Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing also delivered remarks on the NCA anniversary, saying some ethnic armed groups need to take a realistic view of the idea that the military government is not an elected government and that peace talks cannot be fully achieved.

The junta chief added that the ethnic armed groups that have signed the NCA should further strengthen the NCA agreement and the ethnic armed groups that have not yet signed the NCA agreement should join the accord.

He also said that if the ethnic armed groups continue to walk the path of the NCA peace process with confidence, the government will be able to hold free and fair multi-party elections within the stipulated time and a new democratic government elected by the people can be formed.

Opponents of the coup have expressed deep skepticism about the current military leadership’s stated intention to hand back power to an elected government.