The United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), the alliance of 11 armed movements, presented its alternative 6 point peace roadmap yesterday to President Thein Sein, who is on a visit to the United States, according to the UNFC delegation in New York.

The roadmap includes:

• Meeting of armed and civil society organizations to lay down points to be included in the Framework for Political Dialogue
• Meeting between the Union government and the armed movements’ representatives to establish the Framework for Political Dialogue
• Conferences of the ethnic people in state and regions
• A national conference of the ethnic nationalities
• A Union conference held in the Panglong Spirit and participated by equal number of representatives from the ethnic forces, democratic forces and the government, to discuss and sign the Union Accord
• A precise timeframe for the peace process

Lt-Gen N.Ban La, Vice Chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and Chairman of the UNFC, told the President in his letter: “Though it is possible to negotiate for the resolution of the points from (1) to (4), contained in the peace negotiation program at the Union level, issued by the government under your leadership - our view is that Point (5) Setting up a political party; Point (6) To accept the 2008 Constitution and to carry out amendment in the parliament according to the approval of the majority; Point (7) For eternal peace, the armed organizations are to enter the legal fold, enjoy equality, live and earn a living in accordance with the Constitution; and Point (8) Negotiation for transformation of armed organizations into one and only one armed organization, in accordance with the Constitution - are measures to control our armed ethnic resistance organizations and mould them into an entity as desired by the government, before any political settlement is achieved. As these deny equality, freedom and justice, it is not possible for us to accept them. Accordingly, we would like to urge you to review and modify them so as to prevent the internal peace building process from stalling and breaking up.”

Points 1-4 are:

• To remain forever in the Union
• To accept the Three National Causes i.e. Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of national solidarity and Perpetuation of national sovereignty
• To cooperate in economic and development tasks legally
• To cooperate in the elimination of narcotic drugs

The 6 point peace roadmap is the offshoot of the Ethnic Nationalities Conference held in Chiangmai, 14-16 September and participated by more than 130 representatives from armed and civil society organizations.

Though it was not immediately apparent how the President would respond to the rebels’ roadmap, U Aung Min, the government’s top negotiator told reporters at the UN on 21 September:

“We’re willing to make all necessary compromises to bring peace to the country.”

The two sides are also scheduled to meet in December.