The Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) leaders say they may not hold further talks with the Union Peace-making Work Committee (UPWC) if there is no agreement on the remaining points of dissention in the ceasefire accord.

MPC and MCCT meeting in Chiang Mai

“We have made proposals about these points of dissention in the draft ceasefire agreement to UPWC. We are now waiting for their response. If we find they have positive views, the talks will be continued,” NCCT leader Nai Han Thar NCCT leader said.

NCCT members held a meeting on 30 November-1 December in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai to discuss the points of disagreement in the ceasefire accord. During the two-day meeting, details of these points were not revealed, but they are likely to include the Burmese military’s rejection of the term federal union, and of the proposal to form a federal union army that was already agreed upon in August.

“Until now, we haven’t heard a reply from UPWC, but if the result of the meeting is good for not only a single ethnic group but for the whole country, we will hold talks with them,” said a person close to NCCT.

If both sides can agree, the nationwide ceasefire agreement may be signed before the end of this year.

NCCT Vice Chairman Nai Han Thar and Gen Gun Maw Sumlat, Vice chief-of-staff of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), met Myanmar Peace Centre representatives Hla Maung Shwe and Aung Naing Oo in Chiang Mai on November 27, 2014.