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News
April 29 - May 5, 2013
China ‘shocked’
over comments
on talks: embassy
By Tim McLaughlin
A CHINESE official says he is “deeply
shocked” by a government minister’s
comments that Kachin peace talks
planned for earlier this month were
delayed because China refused to allow
international observers to attend.
Mr Xiong Guofeng, secretary to the
China’s ambassador to Myanmar,
was responding to an April 19 report
on Radio Free Asia in which Minister
for Environmental Conservation and
Forestry U Win Tun was quoted as
saying that China opposes the presence
of monitors from the United States,
United Kingdom or United Nations at
the talks.
“China seemed to be reluctant to
invite representatives of the United
Nations, the US and Britain to be
present at the talks. China showed its
reluctance to the Kachin side, not to the
government side. The invitation was
made by the Kachin side,” U Win Tun
was quoted as saying.
Mr Xiong said the he was not
authorised to comment on whether
the minister’s comments would affect
China’s role in the peace talks.
U Win Tun’s comments came after
China rejected allegations from the
Kachin Peace Network that the
delay was over its reluctance to allow
observers. The talks were due to be held
on April 6 in Myitkyina.
The Chinese embassy said in a
statement on April 7 that it “feels regret
for [the] lack of factual basis” in media
reports in which the Kachin activist
group alleged Chinese interference in
the peace process.
“Chinese side is willing and always
ready to render its humble support and
assistance to the peace talk between the
two sides in the future, as requested
by the Myanmar government, helping
them get long-term peace through peace
talk,” the statement said.
But KIO spokesperson U La Nan
backed up the Kachin Peace Network’s
allegations.
“China proposed to us that it was
proper to invite Asian observers. They
are not willing to let Western countries
sit at the round table and see what they
are discussing in regards to the Kachin
issue,” he told The Myanmar Times
earlier this month.
A spokesperson for the Peace-talk
Creation Group, a Kachin-based
organisation that is helping to arrange
the meetings, said on April 24 that no
date had been set for the next round
of talks.
PNLO chairman Colonel Khun Okkar (right) at a press conference on March 23. Pic: Boothee
PNLO chairman to resign this week
A LONG-TIME opponent of the
government is to step down from
his post citing health reasons
this week. Colonel Khun Okkar,
chairman of Pa-O National
Liberation Organisation, said
it was time to hand over his
responsibilities to the next
generation.
He will formally resign at the
organisation’s annual conference
to be held from April 28-30 in
Mae Hong Song, Thailand.
Col Khun Okkar has been
campaigning for the rights of
the Pa-O ethnic group since
1972, and has been chairman
of PNLO since 2009. He is also
general secretary of the United
Nationalities Federal Council
(UNFC), a position he will
continue to hold.
According to the Pa-O National
Liberation Organisation
constitution, a chairman’s term
is three years.
“I don’t want to serve another
term. I’m ready to hand over to
whoever is duly elected chairman
by the conference,” said Col
Khun Okkar, adding: “But that
doesn’t mean I’m giving up
politics. I will continue fighting
for genuine democracy in any
other role.”
Thailand. Pa-O political
forces, civil societies, women’s
organisations and observers
will attend the conference to
discuss local politics, foreign
relations, social issues and future
directions.
During Col Khun Okkar’s
chairmanship, the PNLO signed
a ceasefire agreement with the
government in August 2012 and
then held union-level peace talks.
“I’m satisfied with my actions
during those three years,” said
Col Khun Okkar.
– Ei Ei Toe Lwin