BANGKOK — On Tuesday, the leader of Myanmar’s military regime extended an invitation to ethnic armed factions to engage in peace negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflicts within the country. This announcement marks the second time in a short span of less than a month that the military has publicly advocated for discussions regarding peace.
The address by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was aired on state television to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the nationwide cease-fire agreement. While approximately half of Myanmar’s 21 recognized ethnic armed organizations endorsed this pact, several have since abandoned it.
In a preceding announcement made last month, the military issued what was considered its most explicit call for peace talks since assuming power from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. This initiative aimed to reach out not only to the ethnic factions but also to the broader pro-democracy forces that have taken up arms against the regime, yet it was promptly dismissed.
During Tuesday’s brief televised message, Min Aung Hlaing stated that the military council is committed to adhering to the established cease-fire framework and urged ethnic armed groups to address their grievances through peaceful dialogue.
He emphasized that achieving desires cannot be accomplished through violent means, but rather through political discussions that seek peaceful resolutions to the conflicts.
Myanmar has experienced several decades marked by cycles of cease-fires, which have resulted in sporadic periods of peace. However, none of these agreements have successfully led to a comprehensive political framework that would grant ethnic minorities the autonomy they seek in their respective regions.
Currently, the military faces challenges on multiple fronts, contending with ethnic militia groups across much of the nation, in addition to numerous armed resistance factions referred to collectively as the People’s Defense Forces, which formed in opposition to the military’s takeover.
Over the past year, the military has suffered significant defeats on the battlefield, with the momentum appearing to favor resistance forces.
The cease-fire agreement initially saw eight ethnic armed organizations sign on in October 2015, followed by two additional groups that joined in February 2018 under Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian administration. The military regarded the cease-fire as a pivotal move toward curtailing long-standing ethnic insurgencies, as maintaining this agreement with as many factions as possible is vital to prevent a cohesive and formidable opposition.
However, not all influential groups supported the cease-fire, notably the Kachin Independence Army and the United Wa State Army, which criticized the agreement for its lack of inclusivity.
Min Aung Hlaing pointed out that some factions that initially signed the cease-fire later violated it following the 2021 military takeover by aligning with the shadow National Unity Government, which serves as the primary opposition to military rule.
Armed groups representing the Karen, Chin, and Pa-O ethnicities, alongside the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front, have publicly rejected the notion of engaging in peace talks.
Aye Lwin, the spokesperson for the students’ democratic front, remarked that the military’s approach seems to only serve to extend the duration of military control in the country. He added that there are currently no compelling reasons to engage in dialogue led by the military.