(UCAN): Key ethnic armed groups from predominantly Christian regions of conflict-torn Myanmar have joined others in rejecting an invitation for peace talks from the military junta which seized power in a coup d’etat on 1 February 2020.
The Karen National Union [KNU], Kachin Independence Army [KIA], Chin National Front [CNF] and Karenni National Progressive Party [KNPP] decided not to attend meetings with the junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing.
The groups said the peace talks must involve all stakeholders and be guided by a genuine political will to ensure a future federal democratic union.
“The invitation for peace now, however, is limiting the participation of all stakeholders, and will result only in an unsuccessful endeavor to obtain a genuine peace and effectively ending armed conflict,” the KNU said.
Min Aung Hlaing had called talks and offered to personally meet with representatives of established ethnic armed groups in May. However, the invitation was not extended to the new people’s defense forces [PDFs], which have been fighting junta troops in several townships across the country.
PDFs and Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government [NUG] have been labelled terrorist groups by the junta and Min Aung Hlaing said on March 27 that he would not negotiate with them.
The NUG, as well as several anti-coup activists and rights groups have little trust in the junta’s offer of peace talks, believing it merely a show for the international community.
Many observers also see the move as an attempt by the military rulers to divide and rule ethnic groups as has been done for decades. The current regime, though, has been struggling to control the nation amid growing resistance from PDF groups.
However, the Kachin Independence Organisation, a political wing of the KIA, said: “We need to solve political problems only through political means.” But the four ethnic armed groups dismissed any talks with the junta which is actively engaged in an offensive using airstrikes and heavy weaponry against civilians.
Thousands of people have been uprooted from their homes and become internally displaced persons while others fled into Thailand and India as refugees
The ongoing military assault in the Christian areas has seen a steady rise in attacks on churches and houses in recent months. Arbitrary arrests, killings, torture and rape at the hands of the military have become the order of the day.
Christians in Chin, Kayah, Kachin and Karen states have faced severe persecution during the decades-old civil conflict in the country.
Myanmar has 20 established ethnic armed groups fighting for self-autonomy for more than seven decades in one of the longest-running civil wars in the world.
