2:49 PM
Waa Haa Haa
March 01, 2012, NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar--Myanmar's government believes it
is within sight of truce deals with minority groups that would halt more
than 60 years of ethnic unrest.
U Aung Min, who is heading Myanmar's government's peace effort, talks to the Asahi Shimbun on Feb. 29. (Takeshi Fujitani)
U Aung Min, the rail transportation minister who also heads a peace committee set up by Myanmar (Burma), told The Asahi Shimbun on Feb. 29 that the deals, which the United States and governments in Europe have said are necessary for sanctions to be lifted, are close to completion.
“Truce talks with all the ethnic forces will be settled in three to four months,” he said.
The government has already agreed truces with seven rebel groups from 11 ethnic groups. Negotiations with three small groups have not yet started, but talks with the Kachin Independence Army, a major group, are going well, according to Aung Min.
Asked why the cease-fire negotiations had made such quick progress in recent months, Aung Min said the government had been making major concessions. He had been instructed by President Thein Sein to go as far as the law allowed in accepting the demands of the ethnic groups, he said.
With the democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi preparing to re-enter politics and political prisoners being released by the government, Myanmar's democratization process appears to be making real strides, but deals with the minority groups will be vital to Myanmar's international rehabilitation.
If truces are agreed, the next stage of the peace process will be agreeing autonomy deals and returning refugees to the affected areas, Aung Min said.
After that, a national assembly including representatives of all the ethnic groups and political parties will discuss revising laws to accommodate the groups. Constitutional amendments are also possible, Aung Min said.
A large number of refugees are expected to return.
Cleaning up land mines left by the hostilities and luring companies will be major challenges for the repatriation process as it progresses, and Aung Min said Myanmar would need international support. He said he expected Japan to join European countries that have already expressed their readiness to help.
He said he wanted Japan to target aid at Kayin and Mon states, the home of the Karen and Mon tribes, where the largest number of returnees are expected.
Myanmar's intentions have been conveyed to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, according to sources close to the government, and Japanese officials plan to use official development assistance (ODA) for developing countries for the purpose.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted field research in Kayin state in late February and a plan to provide free construction equipment to the area is being considered.
U Aung Min, who is heading Myanmar's government's peace effort, talks to the Asahi Shimbun on Feb. 29. (Takeshi Fujitani)U Aung Min, the rail transportation minister who also heads a peace committee set up by Myanmar (Burma), told The Asahi Shimbun on Feb. 29 that the deals, which the United States and governments in Europe have said are necessary for sanctions to be lifted, are close to completion.
“Truce talks with all the ethnic forces will be settled in three to four months,” he said.
The government has already agreed truces with seven rebel groups from 11 ethnic groups. Negotiations with three small groups have not yet started, but talks with the Kachin Independence Army, a major group, are going well, according to Aung Min.
Asked why the cease-fire negotiations had made such quick progress in recent months, Aung Min said the government had been making major concessions. He had been instructed by President Thein Sein to go as far as the law allowed in accepting the demands of the ethnic groups, he said.
With the democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi preparing to re-enter politics and political prisoners being released by the government, Myanmar's democratization process appears to be making real strides, but deals with the minority groups will be vital to Myanmar's international rehabilitation.
If truces are agreed, the next stage of the peace process will be agreeing autonomy deals and returning refugees to the affected areas, Aung Min said.
After that, a national assembly including representatives of all the ethnic groups and political parties will discuss revising laws to accommodate the groups. Constitutional amendments are also possible, Aung Min said.
A large number of refugees are expected to return.
Cleaning up land mines left by the hostilities and luring companies will be major challenges for the repatriation process as it progresses, and Aung Min said Myanmar would need international support. He said he expected Japan to join European countries that have already expressed their readiness to help.
He said he wanted Japan to target aid at Kayin and Mon states, the home of the Karen and Mon tribes, where the largest number of returnees are expected.
Myanmar's intentions have been conveyed to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, according to sources close to the government, and Japanese officials plan to use official development assistance (ODA) for developing countries for the purpose.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted field research in Kayin state in late February and a plan to provide free construction equipment to the area is being considered.
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