Irrawaddy-Mar 21
Leaders of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), a coalition of seven ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) based in northern Myanmar, met the Chinese special envoy to Myanmar, Deng Xijun, in China last week. The meeting, which was held in Kunming, Yunnan province, followed discussions between the FPNCC members in Panghsang in Myanmar’s Wa State, an autonomous enclave run by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), on March 15-16.
“We welcome and support China’s involvement to end the domestic conflicts in Myanmar,” the FPNCC said in a statement following the March 15-16 meeting, adding that it would “continue working together with the Chinese government to improve the stability of border areas.” The FPNCC is made up of the UWSA, Kachin Independence Army, National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. The FPNCC opted out of signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the Myanmar government and military, and is seeking alternatives to build peace and solve political problems in Myanmar. In its statement, the FPNCC vowed to establish a federal, democratic Union by making permanent peace with Bamar-majority areas. “There might be various ways to establish the Union, but in the end, we ethnic people will have to rely on ourselves,” it said. Read more at:
