Myanmar: Peace Negotiations

(asked on 29th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to support the resumption of negotiations under the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement in Myanmar.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 13th July 2020

The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) remains an important mechanism to prevent conflict across the country that disproportionately affects civilian communities. It is vital that all parties engage in good faith. The UK provides support to Myanmar's Peace Process through the multi-donor Joint Peace Fund. This fund provides support to mechanisms established within both the NCA and bilateral ceasefire agreements, as well as providing specific technical support to conflict management mechanisms and negotiation groups involved in the process ahead of formal dialogues. Through the fund we can provide the direct support needed for coordination and the development of common positions in order to enable negotiations.

We welcome the announcement of the intention to hold a Union Peace Conference this summer. However, we are concerned that the formal process is not inclusive of all groups so will have a limited impact on conflict in large parts of Myanmar. We acknowledge the Government's recent attempts to resume talks with non-signatories digitally. Outside of the NCA, the Tatmadaw's recent unilateral ceasefire was welcome but excluded large parts of the country.

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