A new peace facilitating center set up
As if having three independent facilitating centers
for peace is not enough, another center has been recently established and
registered, according to a reliable source from Rangoon.
This latest setup has been named the Center for Peace
and Reconciliation (CPR). “The name was taken from the Deed of Commitment (DoC)
for Peace and Reconciliation (which was signed between the President and 4
ethnic armed organizations on 12 February last year that became the accelerator
for the completion of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement that was signed on 15
October),” said the source.
The three other existing peace facilitators are
Rangoon based Nyein Foundation, Chiangmai based Ethnic Nationalities Affairs Center
(founded by the United Nationalities Federal Council), and the Pyidaungsu
Institute for Peace and Dialogue (PI), which has offices both in Chiangmai and
Rangoon.
Most of the members of the Myanmar Peace Center (MPC)
which was founded by the President Thein Sein in 2012 will be joining the CPR,
said the source. Meanwhile, the incoming government led by the National League
for Democracy (NLD) has reportedly nominated Dr Tin Myo Win, Aung San Suu Kyi’s
personal physician, to head the office.
“The reason is that trustbuilding between the NLD and
the military is still in its preliminary stage,” explained the source. “And we
don’t want any misunderstandings between the two parties because of us.”
There are still several issues on which
Miss Suu Kyi and the Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing do not see eye to eye,
especially the suspension of Article 59 (f) which bars her from becoming
President. “The C-in-C wants to keep it as it is, at least for the next two
years,” said the source.
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The Myanmar
Peace Center on Shweli Road, Rangoon
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The military and its surrogate political
arm, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), are also reportedly unhappy
with the NLD’s appointment of its former chairman Gen (ret) Thura Shwe Mann as head
of the Commission for the Assessment of Legal Affairs and Special Issues
(CALASI) on 5 February. “While the NLD says it has consulted the military
chief, military sources denied he has given the go-ahead,” said the source.
CPR has long been an acronym for more than 200
definitions including eye catchers like Chopper, Critical Power Ratio, Center
for Policy Research, Center for Professional Responsibility, Critical Point
Region, and Child Protection Registry.
In the meantime, international funding for the peace
process will be on hold until the new government takes over. Questioned by SHAN
whether the status of the EAOs, whether being NCA signatories or
non-signatories, would be a criterion, the source replied he didn’t think so.
Tags: News, Politics
