Myanmar’s military-appointed president has announced plans to initiate peace negotiations with armed opposition factions by July 31st, though major rebel organizations quickly turned down the proposal on Tuesday.
According to state-controlled media, President Min Aung Hlaing addressed government officials about his intention to bring non-ceasefire groups into discussions within a 100-day timeframe. Min Aung Hlaing orchestrated the military takeover five years ago that sparked ongoing civil conflict throughout the Southeast Asian nation.
“For groups that have not yet engaged in dialogue and negotiation, we also invite them to come participate in discussions by the final deadline of July 31,” Min Aung Hlaing stated during the meeting. He specifically referenced opposition organizations including the Karen National Union, the Chin National Front, and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front.
The president’s comments referenced parties to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), a previous accord that became uncertain following the 2021 military takeover.
Karen National Union representative Saw Taw Nee rejected the administration’s proposal outright.
“The KNU has already withdrawn from the NCA since the 2021 coup. We have no plans to return to negotiations or follow the NCA path,” Saw Taw Nee declared.
Chin National Front representative Salai Htet Ni explained his organization’s pursuit of a federal democratic structure without military interference.
“Since we are fighting a military-political battle for this, we have nothing to discuss with those who currently call themselves an ‘administration’ after merely changing their appearance from the military,” Salai Htet Ni stated.
The nation has experienced chaos since the military overthrew Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically chosen administration. The 80-year-old leader received a 27-year prison term on charges supporters claim were politically driven, though authorities reduced her sentence by one-sixth last week.
Lawmakers selected Min Aung Hlaing as president this month after a contested election that opponents and Western nations condemned as fraudulent, designed to maintain military control under democratic pretenses.
Only a handful of nations have acknowledged the new military-supported government’s legitimacy.
