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Myanmar’s military chief demands groups sign ceasefire
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Ethnic Shan women, who were displaced due to fighting between the Myanmar government army and ethnic Shan State Army North (SSA-N) on Oct. 6, 2015, stand in front of a camp for refugees in Hai Pa village, northeastern Shan state, Myanmar, Feb. 5, 2016. (AP/Esther Htusan)
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efore armed groups join the national-level political talks they should sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement, said Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during a ceremony to mark a year since eight rebel armies signed the accord.
The Kachin and Wa were among the rebel armies that did not sign the ceasefire agreement.
The military chief said in Nay Pyi Taw that the ceasefire was designed around the needs of the rebel armies.
“History will show what we did, what our attitude was and who helped to implement the peace process. I am urging all groups to participate to implement the ceasefire for the inspiration of future generations,” he said.
The ceremony came as the ceasefire process became even more fragile when about 10 policemen were killed in Rakhine State last week.
The government was implementing the peace process as its top priority and if it took too long, development would be delayed, Min Aung Hlaing said. So all ethnic armed groups needed to sign the peace deal to prevent any more time being wasted, he said.
"Ethnic-minority areas where armed groups are based are peaceful and have seen no more fighting since the groups signed the ceasefire. Mutual trust proves that. So I am urging other armed groups to learn from the example," Min Aung Hlaing said.
“We walk towards the democracy which people want and we need to do so in line with democratic standards. We need to find answers by discussing and negotiating. We are open to every possible way to negotiate. Ignoring the opportunities while demanding rights using armed force is the opposite of democracy. It can damage the peace process and I am warning all groups to consider that what they do will affect the country negatively,” said the commander-in-chief.
He said the 2008 Constitution was based on a federal system, allowing for the government to release power through step by step legislative means. The use of violence was counterproductive, Min Aung Hlaing added.
