UNFC Discusses Continuous Participation in Peace Process

The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) held its central executive committee meeting at the Thai-Burma border on Sunday (August 26) to discuss its continuous participation in the ongoing peace process.

The Central Executive Committee member U Twan Zaw told Karen News that the UNFC reviewed the obstacles in the dialogue between the Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) and the Union Peace Commission and discuss its continuous participation in the ongoing peace process.

“We have the attitude to continue to follow this NCA path. When the UNFC tries to implement it, there are obstacles in the latest attempt made by the DPN. We reviewed how to proceed and continue based on it,” he said.

The DPN has met with the Union Peace Commission to create an arena for signing the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) by trying to negotiate the differences in the definition of federal democracy and seek a pledge to get justice on the killing of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) troops and a civilian. However, the Peace Commission has halted the negotiation with the DPN and it has also halted the dialogue with the UNFC member, Arakan National Council (ANC), one-sidedly, U Twan Zaw continued.

Although two UNFC members – the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) – have signed the NCA on February 13, the remaining members – the KNPP, the ANC, and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) – are still unable to sign it.

The UNFC was established with 11 member organizations on February 16, 2011. Now, only the NMSP, KNPP, LDU, ANC, and SSPP remain as members.

All member organizations attended the Central Executive Committee on Sunday.