USDP accuses ethnic armed groups of violating NCA

By Admin 22 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
22 July 2024, Sittwe

The Myanmar military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) said armed groups are violating the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement by launching offensives against the Myanmar military.

USDP spokesman U Hla Thein said so at a debate titled and unironically punctuated as “Federalism or Terrorism?”, organised by the regime on Sunday.

Joining the debate were U Thein Tun Oo and Dr. Swe Naing Oo from the Thay Nin Ga Institute for Strategic Studies, a think-tank led by former military officers, National Political Alliance chairman U Thein Kyi, political researcher U Aung Phyo Kyaw and journalists from local and foreign media, junta newspaper reported.

Armed groups should instead present their demands at the parliament, which will be possible when elections are held, said U Hla Thein, suggesting that armed groups should stop fighting to pave the way for the election.

One political analyst said: “His statement is not clear. Of 10 signatories that have signed the NCA, the Karen National Union, Chin National Front and All Burma Students Democratic Front are fighting the regime. The Arakan Liberation Party and Restoration Council of Shan State are not fighting. Splinter groups from the New Mon State Party and Pa-O National Liberation Organization are fighting the regime. So, his statement is not clear.”

Some NCA signatories have said the regime has destroyed the NCA by staging a coup in 2021, and that they no longer need to follow the pact.

Eight ethnic armed organisations signed the NCA in 2015 with the former U Thein Sein government. Two more groups signed it under the now-ousted National League for Democracy government that succeeded U Thein Sen’s quasi-civilian administration.

U Aung Phyo Kyaw said ethnic armed organisations are fighting for self-interests in the name of federalism. Those who desire federalism do not seize territory with arms, and such acts can harm the people and shatter the country into pieces, he claimed.