Ceasefire groups get warnings from nons

Hkun Okker, Chairman of the Pa-Oh
National Liberation Organization (PNLO)
Thursday, 10 November 2011 | S.H.A.N

If the ceasefire groups have friendly suggestions for armed groups that are either negotiating or yet to negotiate with Burma’s new government, the latter also has some counter-suggestions for the former too, according to a key member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), the alliance that has been calling for direct talks between it and Naypyitaw.

“My message is both for the groups that have reached ceasefire agreements with the Thein Sein Government and those who are still negotiating,” said Hkun Okker, Chairman of the PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO), one of the 12 member organizations of the UNFC.

The first thing to keep in mind, according to him, is to have a time frame for political negotiations, the second step to be taken following the ceasefire agreement. “We cannot afford to let it drag for another 20 years without a proper dialogue and then let the regime drop a bombshell on us like it did in 2009 with the BGF (Border Guard Force) program,” he said.

The present government’s predecessor, in 1989, had told the groups that entered ceasefire agreements with it “to negotiate with the next government”. Their proposals for greater autonomy were ignored. Then in April 2009, they were given an ultimatum to become BGFs under the control of the Burma Army or else return to their armed struggle.

“The next thing,” he continued, “is to uphold the ceasefire not only with the Burma Army but also with other armed movements. Otherwise, not to become embroiled in warfare with other groups.”

He cited several examples to prove his point:
The war between (non-ceasefire) Mong Tai Army and the (ceasefire) United Wa State Army (1989-1996)
The confrontations between the (non-ceasefire) Shan State Army “South” and the UWSA (2001-2005)
The armed struggle between the (non-ceasefire) Karen National Union and the (ceasefire) Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (1995-2009)

“Ceasefire or non-ceasefire, we are working toward the same goal and hence are not enemies but allies,” he concluded.

So far, Naypyitaw has held peace talks with 8 groups: KIO, UWSA, NDAA, Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (renamed Kloh Htoo Baw), Karen National Union (KNU), Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), New Mon State Party (NMSP) and Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP). It had been successful with the UWSA, NDAA and Kloh Htoo Baw. The war with the KIA however is still ongoing.

2 comments:

azmi said...

I think it is making a big mistake to do a ceasfire with the hypocrates, injustice, illegal Burmese criminal regime. Because they have dissolved the agreement with our community in 1962 then they have been starting 19 military actions against the innocent helpless Rohingyas in Arakan State.

azmi said...

I think it is making a big mistake to do a ceasfire with the hypocrates, injustice, illegal Burmese criminal regime. Because they have dissolved the agreement with our community in 1962 then they have been starting 19 military actions against the innocent helpless Rohingyas in Arakan State.