CNI News

22 August 2023

It is still maintaining the essence of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), said the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) in its statement released on 21st August. 

Although the NCA intended to change the ruling system through dialogue, implementation could not move forward because it was unable to compromise between the members and the government, mentioned in the statement.

 They can't say that the NCA has been void, said Lt-Col Ohm Khay of the RCSS to CNI News.

RCSS's statement

"Although the implementation of the NCA generally doesn't move forward, you can't say that the NCA has been void." he said. 
Because the Tatmadaw has taken power, the NCA has been void, said Pado Sawta Do Hmu, general secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU) on 10th August.

That the NCA was void or not depended on the observer's own assessment of the NCA, said Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt, spokesperson of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) that is made up of 10 NCA signatories to CNI News. 

Seven EAOs that have signed the NCA were meeting with the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC)

" We signed the NCA in October, 2015 and it was submitted to the Hluttaw and approved in unison. I talk about its officiality again according to our experience. At a time like this, I can't say exactly when the NCA is void. As it's an abnormal political landscape now, there may be various kinds of views relating to whether the NCA is void or not. It's just related to the observer that I want to conclude." he said.

The NCA has been signed by the RCSS, KNU, the Chin National Front (CNF), the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), the New Mon State Party (NMSP, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council, the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).

Of the NCA signatories, KNU, CNF and ABSDF are at battles against the Tatmadaw.