Pursuit of Lasting Peace : Historic milestone for peace process

The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) was signed on October 15, 2015, in the presence of international witnesses, including representatives from the United Nations, European Union, China, India, Japan, and Thailand.

During the tenure of the State Administration Council, the Head of State personally met with representatives of the EAOs to engage in discussions regarding the peace process. In pursuit of peace dialogue, the National Solidarity and Peace-making Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) has engaged in a variety of communication methods.

These include informal meetings, video conferencing sessions, and formal meetings with various dialogue partner organizations. These concerted efforts have borne fruit, as evidenced by the period spanning from February 2021 to September 2023, there were 73 meetings held with NCA Signatory EAOs, 25 meetings with Non-Signatory EAOs, 16 meetings with Political Parties, and 7 meetings with Peace Support Groups, altogether 121 meetings.

Member, National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee, Col. Wunna Aung said " We have been holding dialogues with 7 NCA Signatories EAOs, 3 Non-Signatories EAOs, Political parties, and religious leaders, and are making cooperative efforts for peace and development of the nation. Through these meetings, we have reached agreements for joint implementation for the emergence of a strong multi-party democracy system, building a union based on democracy and a federal system, aspired by the entire people, joining hands for peace and development of the union, rule of law, regional stability, and contesting in the free and fair multi-party democracy general election. We have also reached a 21-point agreement for the amendment of the 2008 constitution."

The NCA is the treaty that encompasses the agreements between the government and EAOs, and it serves as the fundamental cornerstone for both State Building and Nation Building. Chairman

PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO) , Khun Okkar said " We must protect the NCA while striving to march forward. Because through the NCA platform, we can only achieve lasting peace for the country. NCA is the foundation for holding political dialogues, and through these steps, we can achieve national reconciliation, and building a union based on the federal system. As long as this door is opened, we have to avoid conflict and choose dialogue through the NCA platform."

The period from the invitation for peace to the final implementation of the NCA on August 7, 2015, spanned 1,450 days and involved over 5,000 meetings. These historical records vividly illustrate the sacrifices made to achieve peace.

Chairperson , Arakan Liberation Party , Saw Mra Yarzar Lin said " NCA is not achieved easily. It was achieved after making so much effort and it is a historic milestone for Myanmar. With the strenuous efforts by the government and the NCA Signatories EAOs, we are now celebrating this achievement. I'm really appreciative of this. We will continue our efforts as much as we can for achieving peace and prosperity in the nation."

The NCA is an agreement that has been reached through a series of negotiations involving the government, Hluttaw, Tatmadaw, and EAOs, based on the desires and proposals put forth by the EAOs. NCA will remain the opportunity for national reconciliation, the establishment of a federal system, and, a united country, striving for prosperity and harmony.