Myanmar Junta Renews Peace Talks Invitation to CNF, KNU, and ABSDF
Myanmar military regime leader Min Aung Hlaing has renewed his invitation to the Chin National Front (CNF), the Karen National Union (KNU), and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) to participate in peace talks.
The appeal was made on October 15 during ceremonies in Naypyitaw marking the anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
"We’ve already invited not only organizations that have signed the NCA but also non-signatories to meet and hold talks," Min Aung Hlaing said. "In particular, I would like to invite again the KNU, CNF, and ABSDF, which have not held talks with us over the past five years, to take part in peace negotiations. I also urge People’s Defence Force (PDF) groups to put the interests of the people first and return toల్య their legal fold."
He added, "Instead of just demanding what we want in the name of peace, I urge everyone to meet, discuss, and work together to find solutions based on what is appropriate and achievable."
Responding to the renewed offer, CNF spokesperson Salai Htet Ni dismissed the proposal, saying that peace efforts anchored to the junta's defunct NCA framework are no longer viable under current political realities.
"Working under the NCA framework is no longer practical given today’s political situation. So, we have no comment to make on the junta’s invitation," he said. "Ultimately, it would be more appropriate to hold talks involving all stakeholders, as called for in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Five-Point Consensus (5PC)."
In April, the regime similarly extended a 100-day window for NCA-signatory ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to hold peace talks—an overture flatly rejected by major groups, including the CNF.
The CNF has partnered with other key resistance actors, including the KNU, the National Unity Government (NUG), the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), and the Karenni resistance coalition, to form the Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF).
Allied resistance groups maintain that the military's 2021 coup completely nullified the NCA, as they continue pursuing shared political goals to dismantle military dictatorship and establish a federal democracy.
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