The rind of lemon Talks

To sign the Bilateral Ceasefire Agreement between the Myanmar Army and Northern

Alliance – Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Palaung National Liberation Army

and MNDAA  -  on 17/9/2019, in Kengtung, Shan State, Northern Myanmar, Leaders and

representatives from both sides had met.

During the meeting, both sides discussed to cease fighting each other but clashes between

two sides are still happening in Arakan and Shan State everyday, killing and wounding villagers.

The talks is just like rind of lemon under which one can gradually taste sour later because when Arakan Army discussed and proposed to base its Headquarters in Arakan during the meeting, Myanmar Army’s delegation intentionally avoided and postponed it. It was just clear point that both ruling party led by Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar Army were unwilling to let Arakan Army to base Headquarters in Arakan. However, thousands of soldiers of Arakan Army were already in Arakan and gained strongholds across the Northern Arakan.

Therefore, Myanmar Army is desperately launching offensive military operation against the Arakanese people’s Arakan Army everyday in Arakan, causing Internally Displaced Persons up to 70,000 and killing and wounding hundreds. 

On the eve of Bilateral Ceasefire Talks, Myanmar air force ‘s three helicopters strafed rockets and bombs position of Arakan Army on the mountain in Minbya Township in Arakan. And Myanmar Army is still launching offensive attacks against the Arakan Army in Arakan after meeting.

After talks, some politicians remarked that there is positive result of talks while others expressed that there is still clashes in Arakan because Myanmar Army left Arakan when it declared unilateral ceasefire in entire Myanmar to crush Arakan Army.  

Dr Nyo Twan Aung, deputy chief of the Arakan Army, told media that the discussion for signing bilateral ceasefire agreement had to take time because both side misunderstood the points in the agreement.

However, both sides consented or agreed to hold talks again in October in this year.