CNI News
14 October 2025
Some Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) jointly issued a statement on October 13, 2025, urging representatives from the United Nations (UN), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the international community not to attend the 10th Anniversary Ceremony of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
The joint statement was released by NCA signatories — the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), Chin National Front (CNF), Karen National Union (KNU), New Mon State Party (NMSP - breakaway group), Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU).
In their statement, the EAOs said that during the NCA implementation process, the Myanmar military had dominated and controlled the process, blocked it with its military-centered policies, and repeatedly violated the agreements, thereby preventing the NCA’s true implementation. Nevertheless, the groups stated that they had continued to pursue peace and the goal of building a future federal democratic union with patience and perseverance, and as a result, were able to reach some agreements.
They added:
“However, the February 2021 military coup completely destroyed the essence, principles, and objectives of the NCA. The implementation process was halted, turning the NCA into nothing more than a piece of paper.”
EAOs seen issuing their joint statement
The EAOs also emphasized that participating in the junta’s ceremonial events would amount to supporting the Myanmar military, which continues to bomb and kill civilians daily and forcibly conscript young people into its army. They urged the UN, ASEAN, and international diplomats to stand with the people of Myanmar by refraining from attending the NCA 10th Anniversary Ceremony organized by the military regime.
The NCA was originally signed on October 15, 2015, by the Karen National Union (KNU), Chin National Front (CNF), All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army – Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC).
Later, on February 13, 2018, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) also signed the NCA.
Seven NCA signatories in discussion with the NSPNC
However, on February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup d’état, claiming that the National League for Democracy (NLD) government had failed to address alleged voter list irregularities in the 2020 general election and was attempting to form a new government. The coup triggered widespread public opposition and armed resistance movements nationwide.
Among the NCA signatories, the ABSDF, KNU, and CNF withdrew from the NCA and have since taken up arms against the Myanmar military. Within other signatory groups such as PNLO, NMSP, LDU, and ALP, internal divisions have emerged — with some factions joining the armed resistance against the military while others continue to adhere to the NCA framework.
