Kyaing Hein Lin, Narinjara News, 26March 2025 

In the midst of a continued national conflict, the military junta is conducting three days of peace negotiations with affiliated armed forces and political parties in Naypyidaw. 

The peace discussions are occurring from March 24 to 26 at the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Centre located in Naypyidaw. 

The goal of the peace negotiations is to increase public understanding that lasting stability can only be attained through non-violent methods. Furthermore, the discussions aim to pinpoint both immediate and long-range measures to rapidly diminish internal conflicts, thereby enhancing the country’s political and economic landscape, as reported by newspapers under junta control on March 25.

A total of 118 attendees are present at the peace discussions, comprising members of the National Unity and Peacemaking Coordination Committee (NSPNC), former military personnel, delegates from the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), political party representatives, members of ethnic armed groups that have endorsed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), specialists, professionals, media, directors-general, and officials from Union ministries, academics, representatives from associations, and observers.

In his inaugural speech, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, the Union Minister for Border Affairs and Chairman of the NSPNC, emphasized the importance of collaboratively finding answers to the major issues in politics, security, peace, and the economy. He stressed the significance of endeavors to minimize conflicts and execute both immediate and extended strategies for economic and social progress, with the goal of establishing a federal democratic union. The negotiations for peace also seek to produce positive suggestions from the political, security, economic, and national development areas to further enhance the achievement of the peace effort.

Nonetheless, CDM Captain Zin Yaw, in an interview with Narinjara News, condemned the junta’s strategy, asserting that lasting peace is unattainable if the junta fails to collaborate with the armed factions currently battling across the nation. He mentioned that interacting solely with factions that the junta interacts well with leads to a biased peace. 

"This is a negotiation for peace involving the military government and factions with which they maintain positive ties. It will result in a biased peace because armed groups actively opposing them are not involved," he commented. 

Intense clashes persist nationwide between junta troops and ethnic armed groups, including the People's Defense Forces (PDF), resulting in many civilian casualties and wounds. 

Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee, and the junta’s airstrikes have obliterated villages and homes. 

Wai Hin Aung, a writer helping displaced individuals in Arakan State, informed Narinjara News that peace cannot be achieved unless the junta engages in negotiations with the armed factions actively participating in the conflict. 

In a similar vein, Ko Ba Kaung, a young politician from Arakan, asserted that the ongoing peace negotiations will solely favor the military junta and so-called revolutionary groups, failing to provide any true advantages to the populace or authentic revolutionary organizations. 

"From the junta's viewpoint, these peace negotiations serve them by highlighting their efforts to the international community and neighboring nations. Conversely, it provides a chance to commend the alleged revolutionaries. However, for those individuals and the revolutionary forces actively engaged in the struggle for revolution, it amounts to little more than a joke," he stated.

The current peace negotiations are tackling vital issues, such as the "Political and Security Sector," "Initiating a Process to Decrease Conflict and Secure Ceasefire," the "Economic and State Development Sector," and "The Impact of Economic Development on Efforts to Achieve Peace and Progress." 

The peace negotiations also saw the participation of Dr. Aye Maung, head of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), which supports the military government; Daw Saw Mra Raza Lin, leader of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP); and U Zaw Aye Maung, the junta-appointed deputy minister of the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs. 

Moreover, U Ba Shein, the former Pyithu Hluttaw MP from Kyaukphyu Township, Daw Khin Saw Wai, the former Pyithu Hluttaw MP from Rathedaung Township, and U Tha Htun Hla, the chairman of the ANP Party, also took part in the event. 

On July 1, 2024, the junta denied the ANP's request for party registration, claiming it contravened Section 7 of the Political Parties Registration Law. 

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