Military junta sets new BGF deadline for ethnic armed groups

Written by Hseng Khio Fah

Monday, 23 August 2010 13:02

The ruling Burmese military junta has scheduled another Border Guard Force (BGF) program
deadline for two of Burma’s ethnic ceasefire groups: United Wa State Army (UWSA) and
National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) aka Mongla group at their latest meeting on 20
August, according to sources from the Sino-Burma border.

The two are ‘instructed’ to give their agreement on transforming themselves into BGF program
by the first week of coming September, said a source from Shan State North’s Tangyan, where
the meeting between the UWSA and Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Chief of Military Affairs Security (MAS),
was held.

In accordance with Naypyitaw’s invitation, the UWSA and NDAA on 20 August met with junta’s
negotiators led by Lt-Gen Ye Myint and Maj-Gen Kyaw Phyoe, Commander of Golden Triangle
Region Command respectively on the same day, but at different venues.

The UWSA led by Bo Lakham, Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference, met Lt-Gen
Ye Myint at Tangyan, 83 miles southwest of Shan State North’s capital Lashio for about half an
hour from 9:30 to 10:00 and the NDAA led by its vice chairman Khun Hsang Lu and Sai Kham
Mawng, deputy commander of General Staff, met Maj-Gen Kyaw Phyoe at Shan State East’s
capital Kengtung at 13:00(local time).

“At the meeting between Ye Myint and the UWSA, Ye Myint said that the election was drawing
near so he would urge the UWSA to reconsider its decision over the BGF before the elections,”
the source said.

If the groups failed to convert themselves into BGF by the deadline again, it will be automatically
designated as “an unlawful association or illegal organizations.”    

Nevertheless, Panghsang was said to have given no response to Ye Myint other than saying
they were not authorized to make up any decision without their supreme leader’s guidance.

Mongla was given the same message like Panghsang, said an informed source. “The group just
said that they had nothing new to inform.”

Concerning the BGF program, many deadlines had been set up for the ceasefire groups, the
latest one was 28 April 2010. But after the 28 April deadline, the junta and ethnic ceasefires
groups came to meet for a couple of times; one was in May and the second was in June 22.
According to resolution from the latest meeting on 22 June, there would be no new deadline for
the groups because the military junta just would hand it over to the new government to handle
on if the elections are held.

Anti-BGF program groups are: the UWSA, the MNDAA, Kachin Independent Army (KIA), Shan
State Army (SSA) ‘North’’s First Brigade, the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP) and New Mon
State Party (NMSP). All decided to remain unchanged unless their autonomy demands are met
and they will not also support or participate in the general elections.

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Military junta sets new BGF deadline for ethnic armed groups

Written by Hseng Khio Fah

Monday, 23 August 2010 13:02

The UWSA and NDAA said they will up holding the following 4 principles: 1) will not surrender,
2) will not transform into BGF unless their autonomy demands are met, 3) will not shoot first, but
they are ready to protect themselves and they will not secede from Union, sources said.

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