Armed ethnic groups see Myanmar charter as barrier to political dialogue

2015-04-01

Naing Han Thar, leader of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordinating Team, speaks during a press conference after a meeting at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon, March 31, 2015. AFP

The leader of a coalition of Myanmar's armed ethnic groups said Wednesday that the country's junta-backed constitution will present an obstacle to political talks with the government following the signing of a formal nationwide cease-fire agreement.

Naing Han Thar of the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) group representing 16 rebel factions said political dialogue following the signing of a final peace deal would be difficult if the military adheres to a six-point statement of its demands in the peace process.

"We don't agree to this six-point policy, especially the last two points which say that everybody has to follow the current laws and everybody has to work according to the 2008 constitution," he told RFA's Myanmar Service.

The six points call for ethnic armed groups to have a "genuine wish" for peace, keep the promises they make in the peace process, refrain from exploiting peace agreements, not become a burden on the people, follow the rule of law in the country, and respect the constitution drafted by the former military regime in 2008.

The NCCT and government's Union Peace Working Committee (UPWC) signed a tentative framework for a nationwide peace pact on Tuesday, and a final version of the deal could be inked as early as this month.

Naing Han Thar said the military's six-point policy was not included in the draft nationwide cease-fire agreement because the armed ethnic groups are at odds with it.

"We don't accept these points because the 2008 constitution is not a democratic constitution, and there are no rights for ethnic people in it," he said.

The army's six-point statement was devised by military commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing last year.

Government negotiators wanted to include it in the cease-fire document, but instead decided to include it in the political-dialogue phase, according to a report by the Irrawaddy online journal.

The ethnic groups object to the point about following the 2008 constitution, because they believe it could be interpreted as requiring them to disarm.

They object to this point unless a comprehensive political settlement is reached that addresses their longstanding demands, such as greater political autonomy for their regions, the report said.

The armed ethnic groups have backed efforts by the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi to reform the constitution, which the party has said contains clauses that are holding Myanmar back from its transition to a democracy after five decades of military rule.

The NLD wants a constitutional amendment that will curb the political power of the military, which controls a quarter of the seats in parliament through appointment and holds an effective veto over charter reform.

Sticking to the six points

The military, however, is adamant about sticking to the six-point statement.

"We will not abandon our six-point road map," Lieutenant General Myint Soe said at a press conference Tuesday evening, following the signing of the tentative peace deal. "We will keep our six points. If our six points are accepted, there will be permanent peace in the country."

Naing Han Thar, who also attended the press conference, said the ethnic armies would not accept orders to disarm.

"We will discuss what the government, ethnic groups and democratic forces want during the political dialogue," he told RFA. "We have to accept whatever it is that most agree to, according to democratic principles. When we talk about this, the 2008 constitution should be amended as needed."

President Thein Sein said he expects to sign the final national cease-fire agreement this month, but ethnic leaders said they could not unless they received a go-ahead from their top level leaders.

"Although the president wants to do this in April, we can't guarantee it because all ethnic groups have to submit the draft NCA (nationwide cease-fire agreement) to our top level leaders," he said. "Even if all leaders agree on it, it would likely be after the Water Festival on April 13-16."

One of the difficulties will be establishing the military's role in the future, especially if the military will adhere to the six-point statement, he said.

The draft agreement calls for holding political talks within three months after signing the final document.

Some lawmakers voiced concern Wednesday that Myanmar would never attain nationwide peace if the military insisted on the six-point statement.

"If the military sticks to this six-point statement, ethnic people will not trust them because nobody likes their policy," said Ngwe Thein, a lawmaker from the Mon National Democratic Front. "They [military generals] will not accept what the people and political parties want."

Nang Htwe Myint, an NLD lawmaker, agreed.

"If the military continues to stick to its policy, it will be impossible to have peace," he said. "The military asked us to follow the 2008 constitution, which we all want to amend."

Reported by Thin Thiri and Khin Khin Ei of RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website