Last Sunday, 16 March, President Thein Sein made an unprecedented visit to Myitkyina, capital of the Kachin State. Unprecedented because he was accompanied by the defense chief Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing, who was with him when he delivered his address to the Kachin Baptist Federation.

The following are the highlights of his speech:

• The day to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) has drawn near. We hope the Kachin State will also join the peace process.
• Whatever differences there are in race and religion, our common goals are stability, peace, unity and prosperity. It is important to build up Unity in Diversity and transform diversity into a collective power
• Political round table long desired by all the national races will immediately follow the NCA
• No one, not just the KIO/KIA, can be left behind in the peace process

That the Army is on board is not just an idle argument this time, according to the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC). During the 9-10 March meeting between the Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) and the Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC):

• 4 lieutenant generals (Myat Tun Oo, Myint Soe, Thet Naing Win and Kyaw Swe) had participated
• Myat Tun Oo, Chief of Staff, was in touch with his superior by phone every hour
• It was the Army that took the lead in the meeting on the government’s side, by presenting a sanitized version of the NCA draft that had caused “confusion” at Myitkyina and suggesting that a single text document approach be adopted

“Clearly, the Tatmadaw (Burmese military) has good intentions,” said an MPC member. “Only their wordings may be different from us.”
A case in point is its latest 6 point “wish list” to the ARMs:

• To genuinely desire peace
• To keep one’s promises
• Not to take advantage of the peace process
• Not to be a burden to the local populace
• To strictly observe existing laws
• To uphold The Three Causes (Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of National Solidarity and Perpetuation of National Sovereignty) by adhering to the 2008 constitution in the democratization process (The Burmese version is not clear here — Note)

“The six-points should be presented as a proposal for both sides to consider and adopt, instead of as a one sided demand,” commented an ARM source. “Because all of them are violated more by the Tatmadaw than the resistance movements.”

All in all, the President’s tireless efforts must be lauded and supported by all. However, at the same time, the President should not forget to keep reminding himself (we don’t want him to feel let down either) that people are still taking his words with a large pinch of salt. And that what they want are deeds not just words.

Whatever he had said, is saying and is going to say, people are certain to measure them with the results on the ground. Because, as always, actions speak louder than words — or images.