US will not pressure EAOs to sign NCA: report
The United States will not
put pressure or any ethnic armed organization (EAO) that is yet sign to the
Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), according to an EAO report that came out
following that meeting with US ambassador Scott Marciel in Rangoon on Tuesday,
3 October.
“The US embassy wants to inform stakeholders its
action and intention to support the ongoing peace process,” he was quoted as
saying. “It will support the building of a federal union and most assistance
will be done under USAID program. Furthermore, it will not put any pressure on
any group that has not signed the NCA.”
The statement appears to be in response to media
reports late last month that he, during a visit to Kachin State capital Myitkyina,
had urged the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA) to sign the NCA
with Naypyitaw, says the report.
“The United States wants to keep an open and transparent
relationship with all sides,” he added.
Mr Marciel is also scheduled to meet students, youth
groups, professional groups and think tank groups.
He expressed concern over ongoing fighting and
difficulty in delivering humanitarian assistance to IDPs, and would raise these
issues with the Burmese authorities, he said.
The meeting’s co-host was Lt-Gen Anthony
Crutchfield, Deputy Commander of US Pacific Command, who reportedly explained
that arms embargo would remain in place, and military to military relations
would focus on promotion of rule of law and civilian rule.
9 EAO representatives, 4 representing
non-signatories and 9 representing signatories, had attended the 2 hour long
meeting.
Tags: News, Politics
