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Leaders of ethnic armed groups remain doubtful after Burma Vice-President Tin Aung Myint Oo claimed Naypyidaw would welcome peace talks with minorities fighting the government.
During his visit to see flood victims in Mon State capital Moulmein, southern Burma, Tin Aung Myint Oo—one of two vice-presidents of Burma—said the government would always try to make peace with ethnic armed groups who were willing to cooperate, according to state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar on Monday.
But ethnic armed leaders claim that fighting in the countryside between government troops and minority groups happens almost every day, especially in Karen, Kachin and Shan states despite Naypyidaw’s statement.
Zipporah Sein, general secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU), said, “If the government really offers talks to solve the political deadlock, it is the right thing. And it is what we always wanted.”
“But if the talks do not aim to solve political problems, it is not going to happen,” she added.
However, ethnic armed groups will currently talk with the government under the leadership of an ethnic armed alliance, the United Nationalities Federation Council, rather than group-by-group as in the past.
The remaining ethnic armed groups that have not reached a peace agreement with the government are the KNU, Shan State Army (SSA), Karenni National Progressive Party and New Mon State Party.
The two ethnic groups of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army recently broke their ceasefire agreement with the government and are currently involved in violent clashes.
Tensions between the government and KIO’s military wing, the Kachin Independence Army, remain ever since serious battles broke down its ceasefire agreement on June 9.
La Nan, joint-secretary of the KIO, said that he thinks Tin Aung Myint Oo’s comment is just a propaganda statement which has arisen due to international pressure on Burma.
“[The Burmese government] wants to show that they are trying to hold peace talks with ethnic armed groups. They want to show that they are in the process [of getting a ceasefire],“ said La Nan.
Burma is currently being urged by opposition groups and the international community to make tangible progress countering human rights abuses and ethnic violence.
Some 23 Burmese parliament representatives have voiced support for the government's peace efforts, calling on people who want a ceasefire to work with goodwill in the interest of the nation and stay away from actions that may break up the nation.
In June, the US raised concerns over Burma's bid to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc, citing the renewed violence in Kachin State and other regions of the country. The US State Department called on Naypyidaw to bring an end to hostilities.
Maj Sai Lao Hseng, a spokesperson for the SSA, said that he welcomed the statement made by Tin Aung Myint Oo, but still maintained deep doubts.
“The government should contact ethnic armed groups officially if it really wants to open peace talks,” added Sai Lao Hseng.
The KNU also said that members of Asean, especially Thailand, should persuade Burma to talk with minority groups to solve political problems and maintain a nationwide peace.
Since 1989, under an initiative by former junta spy chief Gen Khin Nyunt, the regime held separate talks with many ethnic armed groups and signed individual ceasefire agreements with 17 of them.
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