Myanmar has long way to go for completing peace process

The Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups are drafting a framework for holding political dialogue as part of the implementation of the National Ceasefire Accord (NCA) signed in mid-October.

The framework is being drafted by a special drafting committee of the tripartite Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC).

The 10-point document would focus on major issues including the basic principles, representation and participation of stakeholders in the dialogue, decision making method, management of the dialogue, signing of a union agreement and the process for implementation.

The framework is expected to be formed by Dec. 14 in accordance with the timeline of the ceasefire term and the first round of formal dialogue would start before Jan. 14, 2016.

The UPDJC comprises more than a dozen each representatives from the government, ethnic armed groups and political parties that include the opposition National League for Democracy party, the current ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, Arakan National Party and Shan National League for Democracy, among others.

Prior to the formation of the tripartite UPDJC, a union-level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JCMC) was formed in order to implement the NCA signed by the government and the eight ethnic armed groups on Oct. 15.

Under the NCA, the two sides agreed on some post-ceasefire steps and the unfinished peace process includes bringing in seven other ethnic armed groups that have signed the ceasefire accord to complete the truce signing process.

The two sides agreed to draw up a political framework within 60 days after the formal signing of the NCA and start a political dialogue within 90 days.

Apart from the eight ethnic armed groups and the seven other groups, there are more ethnic armed groups that have not been invited in the peace deal and are proposed to be included in the signing process by the ethnic side.

The government agreed earlier for three of them - the Lahu Democratic Union, Arakan National Council and Wa National Organization, to take part in the political dialogue.

Separate talks are set to be held between the government and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army, while the Taaung National Liberation Army (TNLA) is likely to sign the NCA if it reaches agreement with the government.

Currently, intermittent fighting still occurs between the MNDAA and TNLA.

Observers say there is still along way to go for Myanmar to complete its ongoing peace process, which began in November 2013.