Establish ‘Peace Committee’: Ethnic Parties
4 August 2011: The ‘Ethnic Brotherhood Forum’, a five-member ethnic alliance, on Wednesday appealed for the establishment of a “Peace Committee,” that will tackle the problems of civil war and displacement in Burma.
The appeal was made after the parties met in Rangoon yesterday, where top ethnic party leaders also discussed the issue of humanitarian aid in the impoverished country.
The parties said they regret that armed conflicts continue in the ethnic areas after the 2010 elections.
“Better focused attention needs to be paid to the issue of internal peace and more effective ways explored,” the parties said.
They suggested that the new government establish a ‘Peace Committee’ composed of experts and Parliamentarians, including those representing the five ethnic parties that will discuss ways to advance internal peace in Burma.
Saying that the protracted conflicts have inflicted immense suffering of innocent civilians, the parties also called for humanitarian assistance to the displaced populations in ethnic areas.
Making reference to quotes from the inaugural address of President Thein Sein on March 30 in which the Ex-General said peace was a requisite for development in ethnic areas, the parties also urged other stakeholders to issue statements calling for a nation-wide ceasefire.
Yesterday’s meeting was the fifth time the alliance has met since Burma’s elections.
The parties include the Chin National Party (CNP), Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), the All Mon Region Democratic Party (AMRDP), the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP), and the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP).
