The following is a speech delivered by U Aung Min, local witness at the Ceremony to mark the Eighth Anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on 15 October 2023 in Nay Pyi Taw.
I would like to express my greetings (Mingalarbar) to the Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) and Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, members of the State Administration Council, Union Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Lieutenant General Yar Pyae, Chairman of the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) and members of NSPNC, Saw Mutu Say Poe, eminent Kayin Ethnic Person and ethnic representatives, signatories of the NCA, representatives from political parties, representatives from all walks of life as well as honorable guests attending the Eighth Anniversary of the signing of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
First of all, I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the responsible officials for giving me this opportunity to deliver a speech at the anniversary of the NCA.
I would like to briefly present the background of the NCA. In 2011, U Thein Sein (former President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar) became the first President of Myanmar elected by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. The Government led by President U Thein Sein committed to strive for achieving ever lasting peace as the armed conflicts in Myanmar had lasted for 70 years and regardless of efforts made by successive governments while there were success and failures due to various reasons.
At the beginning of peace process, the then government paid emphasis on ceasefire. It was initially considered that since the country has been transforming into a democratic system, peace will be achieved eventually if all parties concerned can reach an agreement for ceasefire and participate in the democratic system.
However, many challenges have been encountered when working towards ceasefire.
The first challenge is that many Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) have disagreement over the State Constitution 2008.
The second challenge is instability that used to arise during democratic transitions.
The reform made in Myanmar in 2011 was mainly emphasized on the peace process as the center. Hence, it can be said that the NCA lays the foundation not only for ceasefire but also for the way to implement peace process.
Later on, it is observed that there were many new approaches which differ widely from our Government. After 2015 election, it became time to implement the NCA agreement. The newly elected NLD Government also made efforts to continue the implementation of the NCA.
However, the approach taken by the NLD government was different from the previous one. The previous approach: democratic transition based on peace process has changed to the new approach: political transition based on election results. Accordingly, peace process was no longer considered as a priority.
I vividly remember the speech delivered by former President U Thein Sein at the signing day of NCA. President U Thein Sein stated that the essence of the NCA depends on how all parties involved are going to implement this agreement. He also mentioned that, in implementing the NCA, the essence of the agreement will also depend upon how seriously accepted the elements contained in the NCA was by signatories to the NCA.
The NCA is the backbone of peace process which agreed on how political dialogues will be made, peace agreement will be achieved; how ceasefire will be strengthened and how civilians in ceasefire areas will be protected.
The peace process has been ongoing. We have not completed the agreed process. There are ups and downs like in other peace processes. It does not necessarily mean that the peace process ends. The process is still ongoing.
The NCA includes the very important point that the signatories to the NCA agreed to establish the Union, based on democracy and federal system.
We have already agreed how we would build the future system of our country. This is vital political agreement in the history of Myanmar. As long as we keep holding this agreement, the peace process would be flourishing.
There are judgments that the NCA is not working. In my view, the implementation of the NCA would be affected as long as political solutions are being opposed.
There are also claims that the NCA is no longer active. This is not correct since today’s event serves as a testimony.
During the visit of the Prime Minister to Lashio, Northern Shan State, he met with the public on 10 September 2023. During the meeting, he explained explicitly on the background of the armed conflicts in Myanmar since 1948 until present. He further stated that we are taking the path of the multi-party democratic system, and that efforts have been made for the parliamentary democracy to be back on track peacefully. There should not be any further conflicts based on politics, ethnicity or religions. He noted that the NCA was signed between the Government, Parliament, Tatmadaw and respective Ethnic Armed Organizations on 15 October 2015. The Observers from Myanmar as well as from the international community including the United Nations were present at the event. He also stated that the NCA, a historical agreement approved as the Union Accord by Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, would never be invalidated. He reiterated that the Tatmadaw would firmly stand on the NCA in implementing the peace process. In the Five-point Road-Map of the State Administration Council, it is stated that emphasis will be placed on achieving enduring peace for the entire nation in line with the agreements set out in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement as much as possible. Furthermore, building a union based on democracy and federalism is one of the political objectives of the SAC.
In conclusion, implementing the NCA plays an important role in making the democratic transition of Myanmar a success. Accordingly, political issues could be addressed by political means as per the NCA.
I would like to urge all to contribute all-out efforts to achieving the democratic federal Union for our future generations, that is, the ultimate goal of the NCA.
I thank you.
