The following is the speech delivered by a Kayin ethnic leader Saw Mutu Say Poe at the ceremony to mark the 8th anniversary of the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in Nay Pyi Taw on 15 October 2023.
Distinguished officials, leaders of political parties and ethnic armed organizations and ambassadors attending the 8th anniversary of the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), first of all, I would like to wish you the best of luck and auspiciousness.
I would like to say that I am very proud and grateful for allowing me to deliver a speech on behalf of the ethnic armed organizations attending this glorious ceremony in a historic day.
In order to end the armed conflicts that has been going on for many years since our country’s post-independence period, representatives of the government and representatives of ethnic armed organizations spent almost two years of discussion to reach the agreement for the NCA.
Based on the aspiration of finding a solution through meetings and dialogues between the two parties, the NCA was achieved, and a new chapter of history has emerged.
The emergence of NCA is the result of the spirit of compromise, the desire to solve difficulties together, the commitment of wanting to solve political problems by political means, the ability of maintaining harmony and trust between the representatives who participated in each side of the discussion. In the current period, I would like to encourage all of you to make more efforts with the same spirit and will.
The signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) is not an accomplishment of inking an ordinary ceasefire agreement, but the first important step of a long journey towards the establishment of a democratic federal Union, and many challenges also await.
Therefore, in the past, the implementation of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-(NCA) was not as successful as it should have been, and due to the political crisis, the implementation of the NCA was also halted. I would like to request all parties concerned to find a solution based on mutual respect and national reconciliation, rather than putting forward their own aspirations.
In conclusion, I would like to highlight the fact that our country is a multi-ethnic country, although each ethnic group is different from others, we need to look ahead to be able to live together in peace. In order to put an end to the armed conflict that we have experienced bitterly throughout our lifetime, and to leave a legacy of “peace” for the future generations of the nation, I would like to encourage all of you to overcome the current political crisis to be able to establish a federal democratic union by means of engaging in dialogues between the parties based on justice, dignity, accountability and transparency.
