NRPC, KNPP hold meeting in Nay Pyi Taw

National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) held a meeting at NRPC in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

At the meeting, NRPC member Union Attorney General U Tun Tun Oo said KNPP had signed a state level and union level agreements since 2012 and was an organisation that had maintained an almost perfect zero conflict status in the region. KNPP Vice Chair Khu Oo Reh had participated as a leader of UNFC’s Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) and thoroughly discussed UNFC’s 9 point-proposal in order to continue the peace process. Although a good situation of having an agreement on almost all of the proposals were reached, there remains some that still need to be discusses and thus KNPP was unable to sign the NCA yet and had been continuing discussion with the government.

The Peace Commission and KNPP had met in Loikaw, Kayah State on 27 April 2018. Negotiations were conducted on signing the NCA and progress was achieved on the matters of troop movement and communication, holding regular state level meeting, mutually agreeable communication channel for the short time period prior to signing of the NCA as well as agreement on troop matters.
On 10 March this year a working meeting was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand where difficulties faced by both sides were openly discussed and outcome of this was today’s meeting. Therefore, discussion in today’s meeting should also be conducted openly and discussions are requested on matters in which the government side should do said the Union Attorney General.

Next KNPP Peace Implementation Committee group leader Khu Oo Reh said in order to resolve the 70 years long problem between KNPP and government discussions had been held for seven years from 2012 March to 2019 March. There were progress during these seven years of discussions but there still remain some problems out of which some were still being under negotiation. This meeting is finding a solution to the problems and the problems need to be recognized by both sides. Problems recognized by both sides also need to be resolved in a way that is acceptable to both sides. Only when there are the same understandings on the problems can an answer acceptable to both sides could be identified.

It is an honest assessment that mutual recognition during the seven years of discussion had become firmer but mutual understanding had been waxing and waning. But this doesn’t mean there is a lack of trust between the two. Official and unofficial meetings were between the two groups for many numbers of times. All meetings were conducted not only to find a solution or submit a matter but to discuss what were the understandings of both sides on the matters and to find solutions that were the best for the country.

Therefore in the day’s meeting too KNPP will discuss agreements reach at bilateral level and difficulties faced on the ground. It’ll discuss matters to be discussed in the next levels and agreement related to NCA (Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement). In today’s meeting military matter will be left out to be discussed with the Tatmadaw next day. Some ongoing works conducted in the region will also be discussed by representatives. While expecting for the best, it is strongly believed that there’ll be some progress said Khu Oo Reh.

Next regional development matters, holding monthly state level coordination meetings, signing of NCA, future peace process works and general matters were discussed.

Afterwards Khu Oo Reh said the day’s meeting was beneficial and was thankful to see both side eager to openly discuss requirements in the seven years of meetings. It is expected that an agreement stage with better guarantee and solution will soon be reached and felt that both sides were satisfied with the outcome of the day’s meeting. Therefore it is hoped that next meeting will achieve better results said Khu Oo Reh.

In return NRPC member Union Attorney General U Tun Tun Oo said NRPC and KNPP had spent a lot of time to thoroughly discuss matters. Discussion toady was on education, health, regional development and training and is believed that the matters can be implemented soon. The matter of conducting regular monthly meeting will be implemented with the State government and it’ll enable achieving better results in the peace process.

Agreement was reached to hold another meeting before end of April and signing of NCA discussed in today’s meeting will be continued. As KNPP is also joining the forthcoming meeting with other non-signatories of NCA on 21 March all are urged to strive toward signing of NCA said the Union Attorney General.

After the meeting Peace Commission Support Group member U Kyaw Lin Oo and KNPP spokesperson Nei Neh Plo met with the media and responded to questions raised by the media.

The meeting was attended by NRPC members Union Attorney General U Tun Tun Oo, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and Lt-Gen Min Naung, secretary Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Tin, Peace Commission secretary Lt-Gen (retired) Khin Zaw Oo and member U Aung Soe and Kayah State minister for planning and finance U Maw Maw. KNPP Peace Implementation Committee group leader Khu Oo Reh and members Saw Bi Htoo, U Phone Naing, Khu The Bu, Khu Daniel, Mann Saw and Khu Taw Reh (S) also attended the meeting.—MNA
(Translated by Zaw Min)