Six armed organizations from Myanmar called on the U.N. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) not to attend the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) 10th anniversary ceremony in Naypyidaw Oct 15-17.
Nay Phone Latt, the National Unity Government (NUG) spokesperson, told DVB that anti-regime groups are holding their own talks to achieve “genuine peace” and to reach common ground at an undisclosed location.
Five former NCA signatories, the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF), the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), claimed that the NCA became null and void during the 2021 military coup.
The New Mon State Party (NMSP), which abides by the NCA but its splinter faction called the NMSP Anti-Dictatorship, joined the anti-regime faction stating that the end of military dictatorship in Myanmar is the “only answer” to the country’s political crisis since 2021.
Pro-regime media reported that Naypyidaw is hosting a “peace forum” in conjunction with the NCA 10th anniversary ceremony. This is the second peace forum since the previous one held in Naypyidaw June 25-27.
Four pro-regime NCA signatories, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), the KNU/KNLA PC, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), have reportedly sent delegates to Naypyidaw for the event.
Sai Htay Aung, the chairperson of the Tai-Leng Nationalities Development Party, told DVB that representatives from 57 political parties will also attend.
Salai Htet Ni, the CNF spokesperson, told DVB that the international community can still support anti-regime groups through diplomacy and by speaking out against human rights violations committed by regime forces.
Eight armed groups signed the NCA on Oct. 15, 2015, under the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) government led by Thein Sein, while two more joined on Feb. 13, 2018, under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
A total of 57 parties have registered with the regime Union Election Commission (UEC) to contest the phased general elections scheduled to begin on Dec. 28. Six parties, including the USDP, will contest nationwide.
The USDP governed Myanmar from 2011-2016 until it was defeated in landslide victories by the NLD in the 2015 and 2020 general elections, which were regarded as “free and fair” by international observers.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD State Counsellor, and Win Myint the NLD President, have been held incommunicado by the regime since the coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
The UEC dissolved the NLD party in March 2023 for not re-registering after the coup. NLD party members have been targeted with arrest and extrajudicial killing by regime forces. Many have fled underground or into exile to seek safety.
