The committee designed to defuse tensions between the Kachin Independence Organisation and the Myanmar’s government’s army has been called ineffective by KIO spokesperson U La Nang, Speaking to media persons at Manipur village of Behiang, Singngat Sub-division of Churachandpur district which was bordering with Khenman village of Myanmar on yesterday. The Conflict Negotiation Committee, formed May 28, has met monthly as a result of the agreement reached between the parties on October 10, 2013.
But U La Nang has described the meetings as impotent, due to a lack of authority invested in the government negotiators to respond to the KIO’s suggestions for conflict resolution.”Colonel Than Aung and his colleagues do not have the power to make decisions in the meeting, they say that they will submit a report to their superior officers, but the results of this are never seen,” said the KIO spokesperson.U La Nang claims the KIO have made suggestions in the meeting they believe would have avoided the loss of life on November 19, when 23 KIO cadets were killed as the result of artillery fire from the Myanmar army.”
The KIO suggested both sides should appoint special liaison representatives in the conflict-prone areas, said U La Nang.”The Conflict Negotiation Committee seems to be ineffective. It is weak in implementing agreements, both sides have weaknesses, the government side’s weaknesses are bigger,” said U San Aung.
He added an example of an agreement negotiated by the Conflict Negotiation Committee. If one side wants to undertake a military activity they must inform the other party, but U San Aung says this agreement has not been adhered to.
