Warning for the Statement on Ceasefire and Eternal Peace

WARNING FOR THE STATEMENT ON CEASEFIRE AND ETERNAL PEACE 

1. The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, with the aim of restoring a lasting eternal peace in the country, issued the “Statement on the Ceasefire and Eternal Peace” on 21 December 2018.

 2. In the statement, all military operations in the areas of five military commands were halted from 21 December 2018 to 30 April 2019 to hold negotiations for Ceasefire and Eternal Peace. During the time the military operations are halted, a way is paved for the armed ethnic groups are to hold talks with the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre, and if necessary, hold negotiations with the coordination committee formed by the Tatmadaw. 

3. It is also announced that all the armed ethnic groups are urged to seriously follow the four points – to make a promise in accord with the accords of the six peace principles of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, not to take advantage on the peace accords, not to become a burden on the local people, and to observe the existing laws enacted by the State. The statement has also warned against the armed fights between armed ethnic groups, intimidation of native ethnics, causing disturbances to the government administrative machinery at all levels, and harming the secure and smooth transport, and harming public lives, property and interest. 

4. The Tatmadaw issued the said statement with the intention of enabling the armed ethnic groups to hold talks on matters relating to peace in a peace of mind during the time there is peace and stability in the areas and enabling local ethnics to enjoy peace and stability during the time. But some armed ethnic groups which have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-NCA and some armed ethnic groups that are holding talks to sign the NCA are launching surprise attacks against Tatmadaw columns, launching hostile attacks against one another, committing cruelties against local people, making movements beyond the designated areas, collecting extortion money, and recruiting new members, as follows:

(a) Northern Command area: KIA recruited new members in Moenyin and Tanai areas for four times

(b) North-East Command area (1) Armed conflicts between the armed ethnic groups: Ten times by RCSS/SSA, TNLA and SSA (Wenghai joint force) in Hsipaw, Namhsam, Namlan- Naungkawgyi and Namtu areas

 (2) Movements beyond the designated areas: Ten times by KIA in Kutkai and Nantphatka; 65 times by TNLA in Namhsam, Namtu, Nantphatka, Mongngaw, Kyaukme, and Mongwee; three times by MNDAA in Kunglon and Namtsalat; 34 times by SSA (Wenghai) in Naungkawgyi, Kyaukme and Mongsi; 17times by RCSS/SSA in Hispaw, Kyaukme and Namtu; 10 times by MNDAA-TNLA joint group in Mongyaw and Kunglon and seven times by TNLA and SSA (Wenghai) in Namhsam, Namtu and Moneyin regions

(3) Extortion collection: Three times by RCSS/SSA in Husun Village of Kyaukme Township, Mankyan Village of Hsipaw Township and Pankun Village of Namtu Township

 (4) New recruitment: Two times by TNLA in Sainaung and Takunt villages of Namkham Township, seven times by MNDAA in Panhone, Tashauktee, Phattu and Manpan villages of Kunlong Township, one time by SSA (Wenghai) in Namakhaw Village and one time by RCSS/SSA in Mansan Village of Namtu Township

(c) Eastern Command area

 (1) Armed conflicts between the armed ethnic groups: One clash between RCSS/SSA and PNLO in Kadugyi region

 (2) Movements beyond the designated areas: One time by RCSS/SSA in Mongpyin region of Hopon Township

 (3) New recruitment: One time by RCSS/SSA in Indaw-Kyaukgu region

  (d) Eastern Central Command area

 (1) Armed conflicts between the armed ethnic groups: One clash between RCSS/SSA and PNLO in Panpi-Pantawi region and one clash between RCSS/SSA and SSA (Wenghai) in Tatmauk- Naungshaw region

(2) Movements beyond the designated areas: 13 times by RCSS/SSA in Tonlaw, Panpi, Pantawi, southern Mongpun and western Moenye regions and one time by SSA (Wenghai) in Tatmauk-Naung- shaw region

(3) Extortion collection: Five times by RCSS/SSA in western Moe-nye region

  (4) New recruitment: Two times by RCSS/SSA in southern Mong-pun and one time by SSA (Wenghai) in Mongshu region

 (5) Ambush on Tatmadaw: One time by RCSS/SSA in Panpi-Pan-tawi region

 (e) Triangle Region Command area

 (1) Movements beyond the designated areas: Seven times by RCSS/ SSA in Tongtah, Mongtung and Mongpugyi regions

 (2) New recruitment: One time by RCSS/SSA in Narkaungmu Village of Mongtung Township

 (f) South-East Command area: One time extortion collection by KNU in Hlaingbwe region

(g) Coastal Region Command area:One time extortion collection by KNU in Myeik region (h) Southern Command area
(1) Ambush on Tatmadaw: Nine times by KNU Brigade (5) on Byatkawpu-Yonsalin Road and Bawsekho-Lwemupalaw Road
 (2) Car mine planting: Two times by KNU Brigade

 (5) on Byat-kawpu-Yonsalin region 5. Fearing clashes between RCSS/SSA and PNLO, extortion collection, forced recruitments and threats in Panpi region of Mongpan Township in southern Shan State since October 2018, local people fled to Langkhao on 6 January and Tasan Village of Mongpan Township and Naungpalyan Village of Mongpan Township on 3 and 9 January. The Tatmadaw and regional government organizations encouraged and sent them back to their homes. Moreover, Tatmadaw columns are taking close security measures to protect their lives.

 6. As such, armed ethnic groups committed clashes among them 13 times, movements beyond respective areas 168 times, collection of extortion money 10 times, recruitments of new members 20 times, ambush on the Tatmadaw 10 times and planting of car mines two times from 21 December 2018 when the Tatmadaw started ceasefire to 24 January 2019. They severally broke paragraphs (5), (6) and (7) included in the “Statement on Ceasefire and Eternal Peace”.
7. During over one month period when the Tatmadaw realizes ceasefire, armed ethnic groups should discuss peace processes promptly with genuine stances but theyfocused on recruitment and building their movement areas, causing harmful to life, property and interest of local people. Consequently, their acts make increased number of displaced persons, harm secure and smooth transport and peace processes the people long for.

8. If armed ethnic groups actually wish to secure eternal peace, they need to abide by pledges. Hence, RCSS/SSA which signed the Union level agreement in Kengtung on 19 May 2012 should strictly abide by the agreement which designated the area in the exact map reference. SSPP (Wenghai) should follow the map proposed by the Tatmadaw included in the paragraph (2) of the meeting held at Yadana Theinga Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on 15 December 2015. So also, TNLA, AA and MNDAA need to abide by the statement on armed struggle line issued on 12 December 2018. Likewise, KNU and KNLA (PC) should strictly follow points in the NCA. Only when they abide by these promises, will it reduce impacts on eternal peace and promote mutual trust.

9. Therefore, the information was released that respective armed ethnic groups were urged not to commit activities of harming interest of the local people and peace process, and those organizations committing skirmishes to seize the areas each other were warned to retreat back to their respective areas included in the agreements, not later than 12 February 2019, and they have to negotiate peace with the National Reconciliation and Peace Center or the coordination committee of the Tatmadaw in a short time in line with the “Statement on Ceasefire and Eternal Peace” of the Tatmadaw. Tatmadaw True News Information Committee