CHIANG MAI- The second ethnic armed groups’ conference, which began on January 20 at Law Khee Lar, in an area of Karen State controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU), was attended by almost all armed groups except for the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and its close ally the Mong La group.

Wa spokesman U Aung Myint (a.k.a. Li Julie) said: “Even though we are not attending the summit, it doesn’t mean we oppose ethnic unity and the peace process.”

U Aung Myint also said: “Since we are not in the process of drafting a proposal of for a nationwide ceasefire with NCCT (Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team), we decided not to join this time.”

The first ethnic armed organization conference was held in Laiza, the KIO/KIA headquarters, on October, 2013.

 It was speculated that the Wa were absent from the first Ethnic Armed Groups Summit in Laiza, held last year in Kachin State, because they did not want to upset either Beijing or Naypyitaw.

U Aung Myint also told SHAN that there are language barriers, as most ethnic armed organizations use Burmese, but the Wa top leaders are literate in Chinese instead of Burmese. When the UWSA receives letters, they need to be translated into Chinese and then submitted to the leaders, so that it takes time to respond to other ethnic armed groups.
The UWSA is the largest of the ethnic armed groups, estimated to have 20,000-25,000 men. The Wa’s close ally, the Mong La group, said it was not attending the conference due to the holding of its annual meeting since January 19.

A source close to the UNFC (United Nationalities Federal Council) revealed that there are different standpoints within UNFC: one faction is calling for political dialogue before a nationwide ceasefire, while the other faction wants to accept a nationwide ceasefire before political dialogue, as proposed by President Thein Sein. He speculated that resolving this discord will be the main challenge at this conference.