JAKARTA - Myanmar's military regime released an announcement on Sunday inviting ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), but excluding those who have been declared 'terrorist groups', to attend initial peace talks on upcoming 'Union Day', which will fall on Saturday this week.
The offer comes as Myanmar struggles for control of the country a year after the coup, facing intense clashes across the country from civil resistance forces and allied armed ethnic groups.
The regime, known for brutal killings, shootings, air strikes and atrocities against civilians, including in ethnic countries, claimed in Sunday's announcement that achieving lasting peace for the entire nation is a policy that is part of its roadmap.
"It is necessary to focus on lasting peace by finding solutions in appropriate negotiations, with democratic practices to resolve (existing) political problems in successive eras," reads the regime's announcement as quoted by The Irrwaddy February 8.
Except for groups that are declared terrorist groups, the regime has invited not only ethnic armed organizations that signed the National Armistice Agreement (NCA), but also non-NCA signatories to the 'Diamond Jubilee Union Day' ceremony and pre-coordination meetings on the 'perpetual peace talks. .'
The junta has declared a parallel civilian Government of National Unity (NUG), its parliamentary body the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and arming the People's Defense Forces as a terrorist group.
"The regime has violated the NCA. The military is the main enemy and destroyer of peace, and therefore we don't need to talk about anything with them," said Padoh Saw Taw Nee, head of the State Department for the Karen National Unity (KNU), one of the armed ethnic groups. Myanmar and a signatory to the NCA.
"That is why we are working to overthrow military dictatorships, which is the public's strong desire, first and second is to build a federal democracy," he added.
It is known, as a long-standing revolutionary group, KNU has provided military training to youths who oppose the military regime. Its armed groups have attacked regime bases near the Thai border in response to the junta's crackdown on protesters. KNU has also urged the regime to step down.
Meanwhile, spokespersons from the Arakan Army (AA), Shan State Recovery Council (RCSS), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Shan State Advancement Party (SSPP) gave a vague response to the offer.
They said they had not received the offer and invitation from the military regime, and therefore had not decided whether to accept or reject it.
The Myanmar Coup. VOI editors continue to unify the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continued to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.
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