• Burmese
Saturday, June 14, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
27 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Panghsang Attendees Form Peace Negotiation Bloc

Nyein Nyein by Nyein Nyein
April 20, 2017
in Burma
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
A UWSA solider on patrol during a summit of Burma’s ethnic armed groups in Panghsang. / The Irrawaddy

A UWSA solider on patrol during a summit of Burma’s ethnic armed groups in Panghsang. / The Irrawaddy

6.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CHIANG MAI, Thailand – After a five-day meeting of seven ethnic armed organizations in the Wa stronghold of Panghsang, the groups have formed a political negotiation committee to represent them in talks with the government.

The meeting, held from April 15-19, was a follow-up to talks in February this year, also in the region controlled by Burma’s largest ethnic armed group, the United Wa State Army (UWSA). A total of seven armed groups currently engaged in active conflict with the Burma Army participated.

The statement published in Panghsang on Wednesday said that all attending organizations would enter talks with the government as an alliance led by the UWSA, and that it rejected the path to peace determined by the government’s nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

RelatedPosts

The Farce of Mediation: Anwar, ASEAN and Myanmar

The Farce of Mediation: Anwar, ASEAN and Myanmar

May 28, 2025
987
Nine Women Loyalists of Myanmar’s Military Regime

Nine Women Loyalists of Myanmar’s Military Regime

March 18, 2025
4.1k
Myanmar NUG Acting President Vows Reforms in New Year Speech

Myanmar NUG Acting President Vows Reforms in New Year Speech

January 3, 2025
1.8k

Two prominent members of ethnic bloc the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)—the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIA/O) and the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/SSA-N)—took part in the Panghsang meeting, even though the UNFC—which has not yet signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement—has maintained that they will remain on the NCA path.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)—also known as the Mongla Group, the ethnic Kokang Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Arakan Army (AA).

The political leadership committee formed in Panghsang will be led by UWSA chairman Bao Youxiang; a secretariat team and a political delegation were also formed, according to Maj-Gen Tar Phone Kyaw, the secretary of the TNLA.

“We seek a new approach for the political dialogue as the current NCA path is not a true means to practically solving the political problems,” said Tar Phone Kyaw, highlighting a need to bring an end to fighting in Burma’s northeast.

The NCA, he said, “is a Tatmadaw-manipulated agreement and its implementation is similar to the 1993 National Convention, which ended up with the 2008 military-backed Constitution.” He added, however, that the Panghsang attendees understand the geopolitics concerning the southern non-state armed groups who have signed the NCA already, or are considering signing later.
Tar Phone Kyaw said that the political delegation team formed in Panghsang would “communicate with the government as soon as possible, for negotiation and to share our common policy paper,” but that they had pledged “not to meet individually for negotiations [with the government].”

The alliance’s policy paper outlines the ethnic national liberation efforts, the need for a guarantee for autonomy and the principles required to form a genuine federal Union. The positions are redefined from the UWSA’s policy paper shared during the first 21st Century Panglong peace conference session held last August.

A Call for Common Leadership

Four years ago, the UNFC firmly adopted the stance that all of its original 11 members engage in peace talks and political dialogue negotiations under the leadership of the UNFC. But the signing of NCA in October 2015 divided the bloc, leaving it with only seven members.

The coalition has said that its members will sign the NCA if nine proposed points they have put forward are agreed to by the government. Until last month, the UNFC had urged for “all-inclusivity” for more than 20 ethnic armed groups to be recognized by the Tatmadaw and to be part of peace negotiations.

This month, some of these groups—including the KIO and SSPP—have again called for common leadership, but this time, led by the Wa.

The Irrawaddy was not able to reach either the KIO or the SSPP spokespersons for comment at the time of publication, but the organizations have maintained they will remain in the UNFC while its postponed congress is planned for June. The KIO still holds a leadership role in the ethnic coalition, which was formed in Nov. 2010, at the start of the administration of Burma’s former quasi-civilian government led by U Thein Sein.

“It is unclear what position the KIO and SSPP are in,” said U Zaw Htay, spokesperson for the State Counselor’s office, adding that these groups have not yet officially said whether they will leave the UNFC to ally with the Wa-led committee.

The spokesperson added that he “wonder[s] how the KIO and SSPP will engage in the peace process.”

The government peace negotiation team led by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had expressed hope that the UNFC member groups would sign the NCA before the 21st Century Panglong conference, slated to be held next month.

The time for the second session of the peace conference has not yet been set, but the government and the NCA signatories will meet on Monday, April 24, to negotiate a date.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Ethnic IssuesPeace ProcessUnited Wa State Army (UWSA)
Nyein Nyein

Nyein Nyein

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Myanmar Civil Society, Burmanization, and the Bars and Coffee Shops of Thailand
Guest Column

Myanmar Civil Society, Burmanization, and the Bars and Coffee Shops of Thailand

by R. J. Aung and Tony Waters
November 18, 2023
10.9k

After the 2021 coup the donors, NGOs and CSOs of ‘Peaceland’ decamped from Yangon to Thailand, but their Western, ‘we-know-best’...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Christian Leader Rearrested Hours After Release in Amnesty
Burma

Myanmar Christian Leader Rearrested Hours After Release in Amnesty

by The Irrawaddy
April 18, 2024
9.3k

Sources said Dr. Hkalam Samson, his wife and a third person were taken from the Baptist minister’s home early Thursday....

Read moreDetails
Charting Myanmar Strongman Ne Win’s Tragic Legacy
Books

Charting Myanmar Strongman Ne Win’s Tragic Legacy

by Mon Mon Myat
July 18, 2024
8.9k

In a new book, Saw Eh Htoo and Tony Waters examine the late dictator’s policy of Burmanization and how it...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Causes Thailand Problems
Guest Column

Myanmar Junta Causes Thailand Problems

by Paul Greening
March 7, 2024
6.8k

The multiple crises on Thailand’s border sparked by the Myanmar junta’s failed coup could present opportunities for Bangkok, but so...

Read moreDetails
Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered
Analysis

Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

by Wai Min Tun
November 28, 2023
6.1k

The Spring Revolution and Operation 1027 have debunked once and for all the notion that the Myanmar military is the...

Read moreDetails
Nine Women Loyalists of Myanmar’s Military Regime
Women

Nine Women Loyalists of Myanmar’s Military Regime

by The Irrawaddy
March 18, 2025
4.1k

From performing critical legal functions to formulating financial policy, these nine women play pivotal roles that support and sustain Min...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Taungpon Gyi police handcuff three Rohingya Muslims (front), a former soldier and two reporters at the border check point in Taungup valley road. / Phoe Zaw / Facebook

Former Soldier and Two Reporters Arrested For Smuggling Rohingya in Arakan State

U Win Tin, pictured in 2013. / The Irrawaddy

Win Tin’s Lessons for Burma

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Will Myanmar’s Military Replace Its Embattled Leader?

Will Myanmar’s Military Replace Its Embattled Leader?

1 week ago
2.5k
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

3 days ago
939

Most Read

  • Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

    Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Advances into Karenni State

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.