Myanmar junta promises to establish peace within 5 years

Min Aung Hlaing, who came to power in a military coup and then became President through an election, has promised to establish peace in Myanmar within the next five years. To this end, he has also formed a new peace advisory committee. In the committee, priority has been given to those who were involved in the peace initiatives during the era of former President General Thein Sein. Former Minister Major General (retired) Aung Min has been appointed as the head of this committee.

According to a report by The Irrawaddy, the task of this advisory committee, formed on August 27, will be to advise the junta-led “National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee” (NSPC), led by Lieutenant General Yar Pyae. The five-member advisory team includes former Minister of the President’s Office Aung Min, former Communications Minister Thein Zaw, Aung Naing Oo, Dr. Min Zaw Oo, and Thet Naing.

During Thein Sein’s tenure, Aung Min was one of the top figures of the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC). Aung Naing Oo and Dr. Min Zaw Oo were also important members of the organization. On the other hand, former Minister Thein Zaw previously served as the head of the lower house of parliament’s “National Ethnic Affairs and Internal Peace Establishment Committee.”

Thet Naing, a close relative of Lo Hsing Han, known as the “Opium King,” was also involved in previous peace committees. He is known to have close contacts with ethnic armed groups based in northern Myanmar, especially the United Wa State Army.

Other experienced MPC figures such as Hla Maung Shwe and former Lieutenant General Khin Zaw Oo have long been involved in junta-run peace committees. However, Aung Min’s group joined Min Aung Hlaing’s committee officially for the first time. It may be noted that the MPC at one time faced harsh international criticism over a lack of transparency in the use of funds.

The main responsibility of this new advisory team will be to provide necessary advice to the NSPC, present realistic proposals for implementing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) across Myanmar, determine who will participate in the peace process, and work in coordination with various ethnic armed organizations, civil society, experts, and domestic and foreign peace mediators. The team’s necessary funding and honoraria will be provided from the budget of the “National Solidarity and Peace Implementation Department.”

According to analysts, the main purpose behind creating this committee led by Aung Min is to create divisions among the rebels as part of the junta’s familiar “divide and rule” policy.

While giving a so-called message of peace on the one hand, the junta forces have continued their airstrikes. They have not even stopped bombing resistance bases affected by floods. The China-mediated ceasefire situation in northern Shan State is still quite shaky. Taking advantage of the relatively peaceful environment in northern Shan State, the junta forces have recently intensified air and ground operations against the Arakan Army in Rakhine.

Although it calls on ethnic armed groups to hold peace talks, the junta is continuously pressuring the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) to surrender.

After the 2021 military coup, many ethnic armed organizations, including signatories to the NCA, declared the agreement void. But the junta still insists on maintaining peace under the NCA framework. On October 15, 2015, eight ethnic armed groups first signed this NCA. Later, in February 2018, two more groups joined, bringing the total number of signatory groups to 10.