Ethnic Armed Organisations Summit - Aug 2015

Ethnic Armed Organisations convened another senior leaders' summit in Chiang Mai from August 21 to 24, 2015. This summit was held less than a month after the previous senior leaders' summit. Fifteen out of the seventeen EAOs' representatives attended the summit.

The recent ninth round of negotiation talks between ethnics' Senior Delegation and government's UPWC did not resolve all the issues related to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). This summit approved the results from the previous talks and searched for alternative ways to move forward with the current negotiations.

The summit discussed lengthily about the inclusivity of all EAOs to be signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. Conclusively it ended that EAOs representatives agreed they would strive for an all-inclusive principle but also look for alternative practical approaches to move forward.

The summit also discussed about ethnic high-level delegation trip to Naypyidaw. Senior leaders from the Karen National Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), and the SD leaders totalling eight representatives will travel to Naypyidaw early September, and will hold a final negotiation talks with the President and Commander-in-Chief before the signing of NCA.

P’doh Saw Kwe Htoo Win spoke to journalists saying; "The EAOs senior five leaders will hold final talks with the President and Commander-in-Chief early September. They will discuss the all-inclusive principle and other matters.” He continued, “During the meeting, both sides will search for alternative practical approaches that will satisfy all parties so they can move forward together. Our senior leaders have full mandates from this Summit to negotiate, decide and affirm the final decisions."

Chiang Mai, Thailand
25 August 2015