Day Two. Saturday, 10 December 2016
Call me a coward because I am all for peace
Tell me that I am evil because I am all for peace.
No matter how I am labeled, I will not shy away from making peace.
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(Photo:KNU HQ) |
Gen Mutu Saypoe, quoted by Aung Naing Oo's Pathway to Peace, published December 2016
The Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), made up of top leaders of the NCA signatory EAOs, can be compared to the government's National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC). Both are decision-making bodies.
Whereas the Coordination Team (CT), now to be known as Peace Process Working Team (PPWT), can be compared to the government's Peace Commission (PC). Each of them implements its decision-making body's policies.
Today's meeting is about the reports from PPST, CT, JICM (EAO component) JMC (EAO component) and UPDJC (EAO component).
Here are the highlights:
· Following the signing of the NCA, 3 principles were laid out by the signatories:
1. Cooperation among signatories
2. Implementation of the NCA to its completion
3. Strong relationship with the non-signatories
· The PPST is given preferential treatment by the State Counselor, who has so far never turned down any of its request for a meeting. The only complaint is that the government component in the JICM is not made up of top leaders as in the EAOS component. But the government may have a good reason for it: Many EAO top leaders usually send their deputies to the JICM.
· The CT meanwhile is very efficient and usually takes the lead in most meetings, either with the government's PC or its own PPST. One evident complaint is that the PPST is having a hard time trying to keep up with its supersonic subordinate.
· As for the JMC, it has already had its ToR for liaison offices approved. What it needs is to have it authorized by the JICM.
· The UPDJC, in the meantime, is busy setting up work committees and supervisory committees for the National Level Political Dialogues (NDs) in states and regions. The UPC#3, otherwise the UPC 21 CP#2 as the NRPC prefers, is due to start in February and it has only a little over one month to complete them.
One problem in the UPDJC is the war on words:
a) One side still maintains the use of "21st Century Panglong" (21 CP) is illegal, as the NCA only recognizes "Union Peace Conference" (UPC). The Lady then proposed before August that it be UPC 21 CP, which the opposition had grudgingly accepted. At least for the time being, as the Framework for Political Dialogues (FPD) could be amended every six months.
b) Another is the use of the "7 Step Roadmap" of the 7 point policy put forward by the government on 15 October 2016, the anniversary of the NCA signing which may be dangerously running neck to neck with the NCA's roadmap:
| The Political Roadmap (NCA) | The National Reconciliation and Peace Roadmap (Government) |
| 1. Signing of the NCA 2. Drafting and adopting the Framework for Political Dialogue 3. Holding National political dialogue and negotiations on SSR/DDR (Security Sector Reform/Dis-armament, Demobilization and Reintegration) 4. Holding Union Peace Conference 5. Signing the Union Accord 6. Submitting the Union Accord to the Union Assembly for ratification 7. Implementation of the Union Accord | 1. Review of Framework for Political Dialogue (FPD) 2. Amendment of Framework for Political Dialogue (FPD) 3. Holding the UPC 21 CP in accordance with the amended FPD 4. Signing the Union Accord based on the results of the UPC 5. Amending and ratifying the constitution in accordance with the Union Accord 6. Holding multiparty democratic elections in accordance with the amended and ratified constitution 7. Establishing a democratic federal union in accordance with the results of the multiparty democratic general elections |
Due to objections, the government agreed to change the wording to "policy" replacing "roadmap." "But it hasn't soothed the generals much," a participant at the meeting which took place after the ceremony marking the NCA anniversary reports. "And when one of the government officials spoke against the CinC's reiteration of his Six Peace Principles, it only served to change the atmosphere from bad to worse."
(The Six Peace Principles, first promulgated in Myitkyina in November 2013, are:
1. Genuine desire to make lasting peace
2. Commitment to peace agreements
3. Abstaining from taking unfair advantages from the peace agreements
4. Not to put burden on local population
5. Strict adherence to existing laws
6. Cooperation in democratic reform processes based on the 2008 constitution, our Three Main National Causes, and the essence of Democracy.)
The meeting also discusses the following:
· Provision of rice and medical supplies has stopped since the new government took office
· Need to request for a new UN special envoy to succeed the outgoing Vijay Nambiar
· U Aung Min, the government's chief negotiator, was also a President's Office minister, and had direct link to all union ministers. Which made it convenient for the signatories to get access to them through him. This link needs to be re-established.
· China, according to a Chinese expert, thinks Burma's peace process will be "a long and winding road." It also is deeply suspicious of Burma's growing normalization with the West. It will therefore be for maintaining the status quo, at least, in the forescable future.
· The designation of the Northern Alliance Burma (NAB) as terrorists is deemed to be premature. The signatories should steer the middle course and try to mediate both sides. However, staying in the middle also means it might get crushed by them, if one's not smart enough.
· Getting a new constitution doesn't always mean getting a new government. Cambodia has had a new constitution since 1993. But Hun Sen, who's been prime minister since 1885, is still there.
· The EAOs should push for the acceptance of the 8 constitutional principles adopted in 2005 and presented at UPC#3. Even one government negotiator has agreed that reaching an agreement on them would make a most significant milestone in the peace process.
(The 8 constitutional principles are:
1. Sovereignty of the people
2. Equality
3. Self Determination
4. Federal Union
5. Minority rights
6. Democracy, Human Rights and Gender Equality
7. Secular State
8. Multiparty democratic system)
The meeting adjourns at 17:05
