‘‘We have already reached a number of agreements on the NCA Implementation Framework,’’ says U Myo Win

U Myo Win, NCA-S EAOs representative
Interviewed by Ye Gaung Nyunt

The government representatives group involving the representatives of the Government, the Tatmadaw, and the Hluttaw (the parliament) and the representatives of Ethnic Armed Organizations—Signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA-S EAOs) held their fifth coordination meeting of at National Reconciliation and Peace Centre (NRPC) on 2 and 4 July to sign the part three of the Union Accord at the Union Peace Conference: 21st Century Panglong.


The Myanmar News Agency (MNA) interviewed U Myo Win, the representative of the NCA-S EAOs and the NCA Implementation Framework Coordinator, about the topics and results of the 5th coordination meeting and the latest developments on the holding of the Union Peace Conference: 21st Century Panglong.


Q: What were the topics of the fifth coordination meeting?


A: Not so much different from the previous meeting. This time, the meeting was in two sections, and the first one was on the Union Accord that will be reached at the fourth meeting of the coming Union Peace Conference: 21st Century Panglong. Another part concerned with the Union Peace Conference: 21st Century Panglong.

 

Q: Well, as regards the part three of the Union Accord, which has three parts, which ones have been agreed and which ones remain unsettled?


A: We have already reached a number of agreements on the NCA Implementation Framework, the first part of the three-part Union Accord. Precisely, we have 13 agreements, and they include two framework agreements and 11 other agreements. The remaining four points will be discussed again at the coming meetings.


The table (1) indicates the stage-wise work programmes and implementations of the part two of the Union Accord after 2020, and the table was agreed at the previous coordination meeting. Further discussions will continue, and today’s meeting will focus on how the table 2 will be discussed, how the agreement will be reached at the conference and how the Union Accord will be signed. Both the Government and the EAOs have the proposals, and the ways to include the agreed points of the proposals in the Union Accord will be sought. As regards the basic consensuses which are important agreements of the part three of the Union Accord, we are getting closer in coordinating the compiled points based on the proposals of both sides. We have compiled the points that are agreeable for both sides, and they will be discussed by the relevant groups. All in all, we have the agreements as well as disagreements in the bilateral discussions, and we will cement the agreed ones and hold a continuous dialogue on the disagreed ones. They are all concerned with the part three of the Union Accord.


Q: Well, what about your response on the Union Peace Conference: 21st Century Panglong, which is the remaining section?


A: This section is the holding of the Union Peace Conference: 21st Century Panglong. It is a common knowledge that the estimated date of the Conference was set in the second week of August 2020. Besides, there are the JICM meeting and the UPDJC meeting which are related with the Conference, and after those meetings comes the Union Peace Conference: 21st Century Panglong. First, we will set the provisional dates for the meetings, and the Government, the Tatmadaw and the EAOs will be informed. So, we can set appropriate dates and topics for the coming Conference and the meetings before it.


Q: So, you have confirmed the final dates?


A: It’s still too early to announce the dates. We can confirm the dates only after acknowledging the relevant leaders. What we need is the preparation for the part three of the Union Accord through coordination. Then only will the Union Accord be systematic and politically approved. We are taking coordinated measures in advance in formulating the Union Accord that will shape the Union through political dialogues held after 2020.


Q: What will be date and the topics of the sixth coordination meeting?


A: We all will meet again on 25, 26 and 27 of this month in Yangon, and our representatives meeting will be followed by pre-JICM meeting of both sides in Nay Pyi Taw. Afterwards, the JICM and UPDJC meetings will be held in Nay Pyi Taw. We are now focusing on holding the Conference in the second week of August.


Q: Well, you said “We all will meet again”, so it means the representatives previously taking part in the Online Video Conferencing will attend the meeting in person this time?


A: Right! We are now coordinating with the Government for the inclusive participation of all EAOs representatives in the coming meetings. As the EAOs representatives will come from different places, we will coordinate with the Government for their timely arrival at the meeting that will be held for three days from 25 to 27 July 2020 under the Covid-19 preventive measures. 

 

(Translated by TMT)