Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, center, sits with Myanmar’s President Htin Kyaw, (Right), and Vice President Henry Van Hti Yu as they smile for a photo session following the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong at the Myanmar International Convention Centre, Aug. 31, 2016, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.
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Visiting United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was the only global representative who addressed the participants.
However, under the former president’s watch inter-communal religious tension, fomented by nationalist sentiment, erupted between Muslim and Buddhism communities, including the deadly 2012 violence in Rakhine State, and subsequent episodes throughout the country.
“If the peace process takes longer than the appropriate time, there may be more outside instigations, interferences and manipulations disturbing the process”, he said.
Last week Suu Kyi picked former United Nations chief Kofi Annan to lead a commission to stop human rights abuses in Rakhine. Leaders of the United Wa State Army also had a discussion with the nation’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi before joining the talks.
To ensure a successful peace process, the State Counsellor said Myanmar citizens must do their part and put in their effort to see this through. “Only if our country is at peace will we be able to stand on an equal footing with the other countries in our region and across the world”.
“You’ve got several decades of conflict in this country and to move forward and get to a peace accord on certain issues”. Among others, top lawmakers and ethnic leaders also pledged to support the aims of the conference.
Organisers have been pushing for a unilateral ceasefire, but hopes have been shattered by renewed outbreaks of fighting, according to negotiators. Organizers have been vague on detail, and there is no published agenda. “There is so much, much more to be discussed and negotiated after the first 21st Panglong Conference”, the expert said, while also calling for all parties to “be committed and to work together in full steam to achieve a sustainable, inclusive and transformative peace”.
Delegates expect to meet every six months, and will tackle issues ranging from security and political representation, to sharing of mineral resources, economy, language and culture.
Hundreds of representatives of Myanmar’s ethnic tribes gathered Wednesday in the country’s capital for historic peace talks with the government aimed at ending decades of separatist insurgencies that have claimed thousands of lives.
Most armed groups have agreed to attend the peace talks – even those that did not sign a ceasefire previous year.
Ways to combat the insurgent groups active in northeast and ensuring better border management were deliberated upon.
In a separate development, fighting was reported in the northern states of Kachin and Shan, toward the Chinese border.
Both sides say they are willing to talk, but the military has demanded the rebels lay down their arms first.
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Delegates in elaborate ethnic costumes, sporting silver necklaces and hats adorned with peacock feathers, mingled and took photographs with military officers, mainstream majority Bamar politicians and diplomats at the start of the conference.
