The Arakan Army (AA)has rejected the political dialogue as proposed by themilitary councilchairman senior generalMin Aung Hlaing and descriedit as a meaningless act, saidAA spokesman U Khaing Thukha.

During the Uniongovernment meeting on 4 December, the junta chief emphasisedon a political dialogue withthe armed groups. Min Aung Hlaing opined that if the ethnic armed groupscontinued their ‘unintelligent’ actions, it would lead to more suffering of thepeople across the country.

The AAspokesperson responded to the military chief’sstatement and argued that sincethe 1962 coup (in Myanmar)there were many discussionswith the successivegovernments, but nothing happened.

“Takingthe history intoconsideration, I want to ask them whatadditional assurances the ‘terrorist’military council can give. Hence,we consider thepolitical dialogues, now advocated bythe military councilchairman, are devoid of substance,”said Khaing Thukha.

Min Aung Hlaing inthe meeting stated his three main national focuses as non-disintegration of theUnion, non-disintegration of national solidarity, and perpetuation of nationalsovereignty. These were pursued with unwavering national conviction and wouldnot be affected by any way.

He also added that anyimpact on these causes by ethnic armed organizations will be endured solely bythe local residents, and if unintelligent actions persist, it will inevitablylead to the suffering forlocal people.

Finally he threatened that ‘if thearmed groups persist in their unintelligent actions, only the local people willsuffer the consequences’.

“The 'terrorist' militarycouncil troopsshould not use the term 'people’. Becausethey do not function as a protective organization for the people. Theyare always involved in unjust arrests, tortures,killings, abuses, arsonsin villages & towns, and alsolooting of the people'sproperty," asserted Khaing Thukha.

He repeated that the military councilis not a political organization but a terrorist outfit. So no politicaldiscussion will take place with them, addedKhaing Thukha.

"What arethey indicating by political discussions ? What methods theywill follow here?On what basis, these discussions will beconducted? The 2008 Constitutionand NCA are not acceptable to us.Hence any discussion with the basis of suchdocuments will result in nothing,” he added.

A former member ofRakhine State Pyithu Hluttaw commented that due to the defeat of militarypersonnel in various parts of the country, they are talking about politicaldiscussions, which will be superficial in nature.