As nation’s future totally depends on peace, prevailing peace in the country is a must
Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham attaches great importance to peaceful Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW, 12 Aug- Chairman of Union-level Peace-making Working Committee Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham addressed meeting (1/2012) of the committee at Thabin Hall of the Presidential Palace here at 2 pm today.

The meeting was also attended by members of the committee Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander- in-Chief (Army) General Soe Win, Union ministers, Region/State chief ministers, commanders, the deputy minister for Border Affairs, the deputy attorney-general, national races Hluttaw representatives from Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw and the directorgeneral of Union government office.

Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham said in his address said that it is the firstever meeting of the committee. The purposes of the meeting were getting all the members together, explaining progress of peace measures being taken by the government, rallying participation of all stakeholders in peace making process in regions where initial peace deals have been reached, and acquiring suggestions for establishing peace in regions where peace is yet to be established.

The 11-member Unionlevel Peace-making Central Committee was formed on 3- 5-2012 with the President as the chairman by the Order No (11/2012) of the President Office.

The working committee was formed on the same day with 52 members including himself. It is responsible for submitting report to the central committee after accomplishing duties.

Peace-making process has three steps: discussion at the State level, discussion at the Union level and discussion at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

The discussion at the State level includes ceasefire, staying only in designated area, not holding weapons beyond the designated area, opening liaison offices and fixing dates and venues for Union level discussions.

The discussion at the Union level includes living forever in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, accepting Our Three Main National Causes, lawful business activities, participation in anti-narcotics drives, participation in politics by establishing political parties, accepting the constitution and amending at the Hluttaw if they want to and transformation into only one armed organization.

The third stage, the discussion at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, signing the eternal peace deal by all national races at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.

There were 11 armed groups which had not reached peace deal for various reasons. The government led by the President offered the olive branch to all armed groups with Notification No (1/2011) dated 18-8-2011.

Agreements have been reached with 10 out of 11 groups at the State level or the Union level and engagement is being made with each of the groups.

Responsible persons for all daily stuff of these groups would made explanations.

Signing peace deals would not merely establish peace.

Being a fragile situation, it can be reversible at any time.

The government must render assistances to the families of peace groups for making their livings in the legal framework and ensuring their social security.

Only when they are empowered to participate in the country’s social, economic and political sphere, burying the hatchets, will the eternal peace be established.

Peace centres must be established for social, economic and political affairs, local and foreign aids and settlement for internally displaced persons (IDP).

Efforts should be made to encourage their education, health and literature matters, and at the same time, to encourage them to do their business in the legal framework.

Regarding the military affairs, the President have clearly gave guidance not to take any offensive and even not to fire except in self-defense. To maintain the relations between the two sides, liaison offices will be set up to solve the problems.

The ultimate goal of the government is not to force armed groups who exchanged arms for peace to serve as border guard forces and the militias always but it is a
temporary arrangement. In the long run it is aimed at building a single Tatmadaw in which all can serve in accordance with the Constitution which protects the sovereignty of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

The reason why the government is committing to peace is to develop the socio-economy of the country. The over 50- year armed conflicts have wasted time and wealth of the country. Myanmar is rich in natural resources and has a sizable population, was once one of the Asian’s vibrant economies. Failure to gain peace is one of the reasons which cause Myanmar to fall into the status of the least developed countries.

Under the objective conditions, it can be said that the nation's future totally depends on whether there prevails peace or not, so peace must be reached in any way and this is one and only option.

Some Asian and African nations which are experiencing armed struggle have proved the fact that peace is directly proportional to economic development of a country and armed conflict is to the poverty.

The Union government as parent, elder brother and sister of a family, needs to have tolerance and show benevolence for bringing peace to the country.

The Vice-President called on responsible personnel and organization for keeping in touch with armed peace groups until the country gains the eternal peace and stressed the need for organizing more negotiation groups to keep on working for bringing peace to the country and urged them to make efforts for gaining aids from the peace center and for fulfilling the socio economy needs of those who exchanged arms for peace.

Afterwards, Vice-Chairman of the Union Peace Making Work Committee Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Soe Win clarified the works of the committee.

Vice-Chairman of the work committee Union Minister for Rail Transportation U Aung Min and Vice-Chairman of the work committee Hluttaw Representative U Thein Zaw clarified works of the work committee.

Afterwards, members of the work committee “Wa” ethnic U Hsai Paung Nap, a representative of Amyotha Hluttaw, “Naga” ethnic U Hla Tun, a representative of
Pyithu Hluttaw Representative, and “Kayin” national U Saw Tun Mya Aung took part in the discussion.

In his conclusion remarks, Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham said the government has been committing to peace and he stressed the importance of peace to bring about development to the country and to bring the country out of the LDC list.

Myanmar needs to grow its economy first to become a strong country, and to develop its economy, she must bring peace to the country, the Vice-President said.

As Myanmar becomes a democratic country, all are to make efforts for gaining equal rights. To keep abreast of other nations, the country must be at peace, he added.

He called on members of the Union Peace Making Working Committee to make all-out efforts for bringing peace to the country.

After the meeting, the Vice-President posed for documentary photos together with participants of the meeting.