CNI News

16 August 2023

There was no reason to invalidate the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), said Col. Khun Okka, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization, to CNI News. 

There are organizations that do not follow the points in the NCA.

But liaison offices that were established in accordance with the NCA are still operating, said Col. Khun Okka.

" Because someone has told that the NCA has been void, it can't be void. The speech that NCA had been void was intended to respond to what the chairman of the SAC had said that there are organizations that do not follow the NCA. It's like a debate. In practice, there is no reason to be void because liaison offices in Pha-an and Myawady would be closed if the NCA was void. But now liaison offices are open and working." he said.

Leaders of the PNLO, RCSS, KNU and KNU/KNLA Peace Council who signed the NCA on 15th October 2015

Pado Sawtw Do Hmu said that the NCA had been void at the 100th day press conference held on the 10th of August after the Karen National Union (KNU)'s 17th congress. 

The NCA was signed by KNU, PNLO, the Restoration Council f Shan State (RCSS), the Chin National Front (CNF), the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).

KNU, RCSS, CNF, ABSDF and NMSP resigned from the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) which is made up of 10 NCA signatories and reduced their cooperation levels after the Tatmadaw took power on the first of February, 2021. According to the NCA, humanitarian aids were being provided, but there was no more of ability to perform the political sector, said Col. Khun Okka.

An NCA signing ceremony was being held on 15th October, 2015

"There are 7 chapters in the NCA, including the introduction. And it has 33 provisions. Like what KNU leader said, some organizations violated basic principles. The Tatmadaw violated some principles and so did some NCA signatories. There are also some provisions that we can engage. For example, there are provisions that we protect the civilians and that we must collaborate with international organizations to provide humanitarian aids. If we follow the NCA, we can work with these provisions. Among the 10 NCA signatories, three organizations are fighting against the Tatmadaw. The rest seven organizations have kept the ceasefire accordance with the NCA and are carrying out to provide humanitarian aids to the people in our territories and are collaborating with international organizations. We find it difficult a little to perform the political sector. But that the NCA has been void is not possible."he said.

At present, battles are breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the three NCA signatories _ KNU, CNF and ABSDF.