Northern Alliance Ethnic Armed Delegation to Meet Govt Reps
A TNLA spokesperson said that ‘both sides agreed’ to the October meeting but were ‘still negotiating’ an exact date.
By NETWORK MEDIA GROUP (NMG)
Monday, October 1, 2018
Representatives of the Northern Military Alliance of ethnic armed organizations and from the Burmese government’s peace commission will meet this month, according to a spokesperson from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
Maj Mai Aik Kyaw of the TNLA’s information department, said that “both sides agreed” to the October meeting but were “still negotiating” an exact date. The three groups representing the Northern Military Alliance will be the TNLA, the Arakan Army (AA), and the ethnic Kokang Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
He added that the meeting will likely take place in China, and that China’s Special Envoy on Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang will serve as the primary negotiator between the ethnic armed organizations and the Burmese government delegates.
“What we are going to discuss is how to reduce clashes. We will also discuss how to move forward,” Maj Mai Aik Kyaw said.
Representatives from the government’s peace commission and Northern Alliance members met in Kunming, China on September 5. Leaders from the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/A) and the United Wa State Army served as observers. Peace commission vice chairperson U Thein Zaw and secretary U Khin Zaw Oo participated in the meeting.
Northern Military Alliance members include the AA, KIO/A, MNDAA, and the TNLA.
