Provisional Government Meets Political Parties to Seek Assistance in Encouraging Resistance EROs to Engage in Peace Talks

The National Unity and Peace Consolidation Committee (NSPNC) of the provisional government is holding meetings with political parties recognized by the government to seek their assistance in encouraging ethnic armed organizations (EROs) that are resisting the military coup to cease hostilities and engage in peace negotiations. The NSPNC has been holding two-day meetings with a working committee formed by political parties recognized by the government, including the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which is a proxy of the military junta and won the fraudulent 2025 elections, starting from September 17 and continuing until today, September 18, in Nay Pyi Taw. During these meetings, NSPNC Chairman Lt. Gen. Hla Hlae, reportedly stated that he wants political parties to negotiate and assist in bringing EROs, who have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and have been left out, back to the path of peace, and to encourage the revolutionary groups to surrender. Furthermore, state-run propaganda newspapers reported that discussions were held on restoring conflict-affected regions to their previous state, on methods for peace by political parties in ERO-controlled areas, on issues related to the 2008 constitution that were previously discussed, and on the return of displaced persons to their homes. To this end, the coup-installed provisional government had invited these political parties to Nay Pyi Taw on August 17 and formed a working committee, with significant representation from the proxy USDP, similar to the working committee of the former political parties' alliance. The current meetings are the second such occasion. At the current meetings, NSPNC Chairman Lt. Gen. Hla Hlae also stated that a permanent working committee of 16 members from the political parties' alliance will be selected to continue peace talks. Meanwhile, it is reported that the NSPNC Advisory Board was formed in August with the aim of creating divisions among the revolutionary forces. While a working committee of the political parties' alliance was systematically formed in the past to represent political parties in Myanmar's peace process and political dialogues, observers point out that it became defunct due to the military junta's coup and that the current formations are merely for show. Before its fraudulent 2025 elections, the provisional government had re-established the first working committee of the political parties' alliance, led by the current State Counsellor and People's Party Chairman U Ko Ko Gyi. However, it has not yet announced which party is leading the current working committee. Similarly, despite inviting for peace, the resistance forces, including the EROs, are distrustful and have not accepted the invitation due to the ongoing military operations, including airstrikes, troop movements, arson, and killings, to compensate for military defeats. It is reported that these actions by the provisional government have resulted in civilian casualties and displacement. Photo – MOI