Military wants new ‘dialogue’ with armed groups; A ‘Federal Steering Council’ established by resistance?

Military wants new ‘dialogue’ with armed groups

Regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reportedly invited ethnic armed groups to initiate dialogue with the military during a speech delivered in Naypyidaw on Tuesday. He briefed those in attendance on developments in the country over the last five years since he led a military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 that ousted the National League for Democracy (NLD) administration, that governed Burma from 2016-21, and jailed its leaders.

Richard Horsey, the senior advisor on Burma at the International Crisis Group (ICG), told DVB that Min Aung Hlaing wants “resistance forces to surrender,” adding that the National Unity Government (NUG), established by ethnic nationality leaders and NLD lawmakers elected in 2020 but ousted in 2021, will not discuss peace with the military without setting preconditions around a genuine dialogue that leads towards federalism.

Min Aung Hlaing stated that peace talks with ethnic armed groups who are signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) have been held 89 times and 25 times with “non-signatories” since 2021. He promised that “state authority” will be transferred to the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) administration in April after parliament convenes on March 16 for the first time since the 2021 coup.

A ‘Federal Steering Council’ established by resistance?

A source close to the NUG told DVB on the condition of anonymity that an online meeting was held with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and the Chin National Front (CNF), to discuss the establishment of a “Federal Steering Council” on an unspecified date last week after a previous meeting in February.

“We believe that effective political leadership is needed at this time. We need a framework that can guide us to a practical political approach in order to win the revolution,” Aung San Myint, the KNPP Secretary 1, told DVB. Aung Thu Nyein, an independent political analyst, told DVB that this council is expected to bring together the NUG and all ethnic armed groups opposed to the 2021 military coup.

Nay Phone Latt, the NUG spokesperson told DVB that the NUG is still meeting with the KIO, KNU, KNPP, and CNF to discuss the formation of a “Federal Steering Council” and can’t comment any further. KIO Deputy Chairperson Gunmaw Sumlut stated on Feb. 5 that a “strong union government” will emerge when discussions conclude between the NUG and the four ethnic armed groups.